Description:
Winthrop University seeks a visionary leader to serve as Dean of Ida Jane Dacus Library and the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections. The Dean serves as chief academic and administrative officer of the library and archives, overseeing twenty-three library faculty and staff members. Through robust collaboration with key constituents, the Dean will develop and implement a vision for the library and archives of the 21st century. The Dean will report directly to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, sit as a member of the Academic Leadership Council, and support the University’s mission, vision, and strategic goals as a public, regional, comprehensive institution committed to increasing student success and inclusive excellence.
Responsibilities
The Dean of the Library and Archives:
- Oversees the planning and development of university-wide library services in support of teaching, scholarship, and student learning and engagement.
- Provides leadership in strategic, long-range, and operational planning and the formulation of goals, policies, and procedures for Dacus Library and the Pettus Archives.
- Leads in defining and communicating the role of the library and archives within the larger academic community.
- Elevates the library and archives to the center of academic life at Winthrop and in the forefront of advances in technology, communication, instruction, outreach, and the curation and delivery of information.
- Collaborates with University Advancement to provide innovative leadership in fund-raising to further the goals of the library and archives.
- Provides leadership for management and supervision including hiring of library personnel and fostering a team environment among library faculty and staff via collegiality and open communication.
- Supports scholarship and professional development for library and archives faculty and staff.
Vision for the Future Dacus Library and Pettus Archives
Candidates for Dean must:
- Demonstrate a deep knowledge of the challenges and opportunities facing higher education and university libraries, and provide creative approaches for meeting the challenges and opportunities with an overarching vision of ways the library and archives can support and promote academic excellence.
- Show a clear understanding of the changes that are reshaping scholarship, publication, and the dissemination and preservation of knowledge.
- Find creative ways to use, expand, and improve existing facilities to meet student expectations and engagement.
Required Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from an American Library Association (ALA) accredited program and an established record of professional achievement appropriate for tenure at the rank of Associate Professor/Professor.
- A doctorate in a subject field or a second Master’s in a subject area is preferred.
- Five or more years of successful academic library administrative experience with increasing responsibilities.
- Experience at or above the department chair level is preferred.
Evidence of the following leadership and management skills
- Excellent managerial skills and a deep understanding of the operations, disciplines, and goals of academic libraries and university archives.
- Experience managing operations across multiple locations is preferred.
- Experience working with library systems, particularly in a consortium environment.
- Substantial experience in library and archives program development with evidence of innovative collaboration, creative thinking, and strong problem-solving skills.
- Significant experience planning, analyzing, and presenting complex library budgets within a university system.
- Familiarity with activity-based budget modeling and the operation of academic libraries within such models is preferred.
- Commitment to shared governance and transparency, with demonstrated ability to earn the trust and confidence of faculty, students, staff, and administrators.
- Commitment to mentoring and consensus-building with faculty, staff, and students.
- Demonstrated ability to support division heads in managing workflow and personnel in their departments.
- Experience collaborating with members of Senior Leadership on policies, procedures, finances, personnel management, and day-to-day operations.
- Proven track record in cultivating and advocating for a diverse community that fosters equity and inclusion and maintains a respectful work environment.
- Demonstrated understanding and appreciation for diversity in library personnel, services, programs, resources, and in those whom we serve.
This is a 12-month administrative position with academic rank.
Application review will begin on January 10, 2020. Applications received after the start of review may be considered if an acceptable candidate is not identified.
Submit the following materials:
- Cover letter
- C.V.
- Vision for the Library and Archives of the 21st Century
- Sample of scholarly activity
- Letters from three references
- Official or unofficial transcripts (official will be required for appointment)
Apply through Interfolio: https://apply.interfolio.com/72093.
Specific questions related to this search should be directed to Dr. Jack DeRochi, Search Chair and Dean, Graduate School and Associate Provost for Extended Learning and Community Engagement at derochij@winthrop.edu.
