Head of Collection Services and Tenure-Track Associate Professor or Professor
Head of Collection Services and Tenure-Track Associate Professor or Professor—Search #67958 University Libraries
The University Libraries invites applications and nominations for the position of Head of Collection Services and tenure-track Associate Professor or Professor.
Founded in 1906, Georgia Southern University is a Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution with a focus on public-impact research, serving nearly 26,000 students on three beautiful campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, and Hinesville, and via a growing online program. Through our degree offerings at the associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels, Georgia Southern offers a distinctive combination of community collaboration, world-class scholarship, innovative teaching, and hands-on learning opportunities.
To equitably serve a fast growing and highly diverse student body and to fulfill the University’s commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, we actively seek candidates with a demonstrated commitment to Inclusive Excellence. Candidates whose work furthers the institution’s goals and who bring to campus varied life experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply.
Within this setting, the Head of the Collection Services Department will play an integral leadership role in supporting the Georgia Southern Libraries’ mission as it continues to evolve to meet the information needs of its three distinct campus communities.
Position Description:
Reporting to the Dean of Libraries, the Head of Collection Services provides leadership and oversight to the University Libraries’ services related to collection development and management, cataloging, institutional repository services, and discovery services. The department head is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council and collaborates with senior leadership regarding the strategic direction of the department and the University Libraries. The position is a fiscal year (12 month), tenure-track appointment, and the salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. Responsibilities include:
• Oversees and provides leadership to the department’s functional areas of acquisitions and budgeting; cataloging and metadata management; collection development; discovery services; and institutional repository services.
• Supervises four faculty who are responsible for the department’s functional areas.
• Oversees the development and implementation of all departmental policies, goals, and strategic initiatives.
• Prepares educational resources (materials) budget reports for the Dean of Libraries, Collection Development Committee, ACRL, etc. as requested.
• Facilitates and supports collection-related projects and initiatives across library units to meet the teaching and research needs of students, faculty, and staff.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications:
• Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited program of library/information studies.
• Experience in at least one of the department’s functional areas (acquisitions and budgeting; cataloging and metadata management; collection development; discovery services; and institutional repository services).
• Experience with budget planning, reporting, and effective stewardship of budget allocations.
• Experience supervising library professionals.
• Scholarship record that includes publications and presentations in professional venues.
• Willingness to engage with institutional student success initiatives.
• Commitment to engaging with best practice initiatives in instruction and pedagogy, mentoring, and curriculum design and development.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing a strong and growing research and scholarship agenda and the production of research/creative activities as appropriate to the discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years full-time post-MLIS experience in academic libraries at the assistant professor level is required for the rank of associate professor along with a strong record of research and service with publications and presentations in professional venues.
• Minimum of 5 years full-time post-MLIS experience in academic libraries at the associate professor level is required for the rank of professor along with a strong record of research and service with substantial publications and presentations in professional venues.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience with project management and initiating new services and programs.
• General working knowledge of metadata standards and practices.
• General knowledge of resource licensing and management of e-resources.
• General knowledge of institutional repository services and data management services.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multi-campus environment.
• Experience working in an integrated library system such as Ex Libris’ Alma platform.
Conditions of Employment:
• Must be authorized to work in the United States for the duration of employment without assistance from the institution.
• All work (with limited exceptions such as research and study abroad and outside activities such as grading and email correspondence) for Georgia Southern University must be completed while the employee is physically present in the state of Georgia, unless specifically authorized by the university for a specific purpose and limited period of time within current policy.
• Faculty are expected to contribute to the vibrant university community by engaging students, participating in events, and performing other responsibilities on-campus.
• Faculty may be required to teach, conduct research, or perform service duties on any of the three campuses. Georgia Southern provides accessible transportation options between campuses.
Screening of applications begins March 8, 2023 and continues until the position is filled. The preferred position starting date is July 1, 2023. A complete application consists of a letter addressing the qualifications cited above; a curriculum vitae; and the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses of at least three professional references. Other documentation may be requested. Only complete applications submitted electronically will be considered. Finalists will be required to submit to a background investigation. Applications and nominations should be sent to:
Beth Burnett, Search Chair, Search #67958
Georgia Southern University
Electronic mail: https://apptrkr.com/3930352
Telephone: 912-344-3015
More information about the institution is available through http://www.georgiasouthern.edu or https://library.georgiasouthern.edu/. The names of applicants and nominees, vitae, and other non-evaluative information may be subject to public inspection under the Georgia Open Records Act. Georgia Southern University provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, religion, age, veteran status, political affiliation, or disability. Individuals who need reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act to participate in the search process should notify Human Resources at 912-478-6947.
