*THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES *
*ANNOUNCES A SEARCH FOR A *
HEAD OF COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT
* *
Library Assignment: The George Washington University Libraries
Primary Location: Gelman Library, Washington, DC
The George Washington University Libraries (GWUL) seeks applications and
nominations of dynamic leaders in the library profession for the
position of *Head of Collection Development. *Reporting to the Associate
University Librarian for Collections and Scholarly Communication, the
/Head of Collection Development/ will lead and direct the work of the
collection development librarians and staff to build and manage
collections in all formats in the broad areas of the sciences, social
sciences, and humanities
Founded in 1821, GW is the largest institution of higher education and
the largest private employer in the District of Columbia, with a little
over 20,000 undergraduate and graduate students in nine schools, over
3,000 faculty, and more than 5,000 staff members. The George Washington
University is a community dedicated to learning, communication, respect,
service and teamwork. As the largest private employer in the District of
Columbia, the University seeks employees who support its dynamic
teaching, research, and public service mission of the University. The
University is dedicated to becoming a top-tier research university and
has made significant strides in the past few years to achieve that
status. Recently, these efforts at increasing the breadth and depth of
research on campus resulted in the Carnegie Foundation for the
Advancement of Teaching upgrading the University’s classification from
“high research activity” to “very high research activity.”
This position coordinates actively with a wide range of department
heads. Key relationships are with the Director of the Content Management
Group (CMG) and with the coordinators in the CMG, the Coordinator of
Reference, the Coordinator of the Education and Instruction Group, the
Director of the Special Collections Research Center, the Director of the
Global Resources Center, the Director of Library Development, and the
Heads of the Eckles and the Virginia Science and Technology Campus
Libraries. Proactive cooperation and collaboration are essential. The
successful candidate must be able to address the role of collections
development in traditional and emerging formats and delivery modes.
*Responsibilities:*
· Provide leadership and guidance for library personnel performing
collection development functions, including direct supervision of three
collection development librarians. Provide guidance to library
liaisons/subject specialists whose primary reporting lines are to the
Reference and/or the Education Instruction Groups. Recruit or assist in
recruiting, hiring, and evaluating unit staff. Carry out the formal
evaluation of direct reports.
· Work with the Associate University Librarian for Collections and
Scholarly Communication to make decisions to ensure expenditures of the
annual collections budget align with the Library’s intentionality of
support and the expressed priorities for research, teaching, and
learning needs of University
· Work with collection development librarians to analyze and adjust
budget allocations, including approval plans and subscriptions, so that
they align with current campus research and teaching needs
· Manage the serials and database review process to ensure that library
resources are supporting the research and teaching initiatives of the
university to the fullest possible extent. Coordinate with key
stakeholders within the library and in the wider GW community to ensure
the success of the review process.
· Provide regular reports and updates to the Associate University
Librarian for Collections and Scholarly Communication
· Work with the Associate University Librarian for Collections and
Scholarly Communication to develop goals, determine policies and
long-range and short-term plans within the context of the University’s
and Library’s priorities and objectives to meet the challenges of the
changing modes for scholarly communication
· In conjunction with the Director of Content Management, review
licenses for electronic resources and oversee management of license
information to ensure that conditions meet Library guidelines and
protocol. Ensure that presentation of resources is compliant with
licensing requirements and the needs of library users
· *Coordinate with Content Management staff to pursue consortial
licensing opportunities and new models of e-resources licensing.***
· Develop project proposals for digitization in consultation with the
Associate University Librarian for Collections and Scholarly
Communication, the Director of the Digital Services Center, the Director
of Content Management, and the Director of Special Collections
· Synchronize collection goals with Special Collections
· Serve as the official representative for the George Washington
University Libraries on appropriate university, local, regional and
national committees and consortia, including the NorthEast Research
Libraries Consortium (NERL)
· Participate actively in campus life, faculty liaison, and outreach efforts
· Keep current and report on trends and developments in the areas of
collections, research trends, and scholarly communication
internationally, nationally, as well as on GWU’s 3 main campuses
*Basic Qualifications:*
· Master’s Degree in Library Science from an ALA-accredited institution,
or similarly appropriate/equivalent advanced degree (e.g. MLIS, MIS,
etc.) is required. */__/*
· A Master’s degree in one of the subjects taught at the George
Washington University is required. */__/*
· Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop librarians to work
successfully in a team environment. */__/*
· Minimum of 5 years substantial management, supervisory and budget
experience in increasingly responsible positions within collection
development or another closely-related department or function, in an
academic or research library or equivalent setting. */__/*
*Additional Selection Criteria:*
· A doctorate of relevance to the curriculum at George Washington
University is preferred*/__/*
· Knowledge of the current state of scholarly communications and
licensing/negotiations is preferred as is experience in emerging
scholarly communications formats.*/__/*
· Knowledge of the variety of functions with which this position has key
relationships. Demonstrated experience in using data to assess
collections and in resource allocation. */__/*
· Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
· Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
· Ability to take initiative and work both independently and
collaboratively throughout the GWU Libraries.
· Ability to work effectively and creatively in a culturally diverse,
rapidly changing, and technologically complex environment.
· Commitment to learn and use emerging technologies in the provision of
library collections and services.
· Ability to plan large, complex projects.
*Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:*
· Subject expertise in physical sciences and/or engineering preferred.
*/__/*
· A reading knowledge of at least one modern or classical foreign
language preferred.*/__/*
· Knowledge of content management/technical services issues and/or
preservation issues preferred. */__/*
· A record of substantial participation and/or scholarly accomplishment
in the library or an academic field is strongly preferred.
· Documented record of professional involvement, such as committee
membership, working group participation, delivery of professional papers
at conferences, etc. at the regional or national level and/or
professional publication relating to a subject relevant to the research
and teaching initiatives on the GWU campus.
· Familiarity with Dspace, Greenstone, or other digital repository systems.
· Ability to apply systems thinking and use teamwork in problem-solving
and decision-making.
· Record of successful fund raising and donor cultivation.
· Record of grant writing and grant administration.
· Ability to create positive relations with donors and support groups.
· Creative programming (donor events, exhibit openings, etc.) experience.
* *
*Appointment Rank and Salary: *Rank and salary commensurate with
qualifications and experience.
*Review Date:* Review of applications will begin on April 20, 2011 and
will continue until the position is filled.**
* *
*Application Procedure:*
To be considered please send a letter containing a brief statement of
interest, submit an assessment of skills related to qualification in the
basic qualification, a curriculum vitae and complete contact information
for at least three references to:
Emma Mosby
Director, Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library Administrative Services Office
The George Washington University Libraries
2130 H St. NW, Room 201
Washington, DC 20052
The University and department have a strong commitment to achieving
diversity among librarians and staff. We are particularly interested in
receiving applications from members of underrepresented groups and
strongly encourage women and persons of color to apply for this position.
The George Washington University is an equal opportunity/affirmative
action employer.
Received on Thu Mar 31 2011 - 09:21:18 EDT