[LIBJOBS] USA - Washington DC - Director of Library

Library Director

The Middle East Institute has an opening for a director to lead, organize and promote the activities of its library. The library houses a collection of English-language source materials on the Middle East that is second only to that of the Library of Congress in the Washington, DC area. A valuable resource for scholars, students, policy analysts and corporate executives, the library comprises some 25,000 volumes, maps, DVDs, CDs and other materials. The collection also includes works in Arabic.

The successful candidate will join MEI at an exciting time, just as the library is about to undergo renovations and its computer system, a significant upgrade. The director will report to MEI’s president.

About MEI

For over six decades the Middle East Institute has endeavored to serve as an objective, non-partisan forum for dialogue and exchange in pursuit of its mission to promote knowledge of the Middle East among Americans and foster mutual understanding and respect between the peoples of that region and citizens of the U.S. MEI publishes the highly respected Middle East Journal. It offers a language instruction and a highly competitive internship programs.

MEI houses a Center for Turkish Studies, a Center for Pakistan Studies, and Oman’s Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center. More than 40 affiliated scholars and experts write and speak on Middle East issues. Please visit MEI’s Web site at www.mei.edu for more information about the scope of our programs and their impact.

The library was established the same year as MEI, in 1946. It is located in a pleasant, converted nineteenth- century coach house overlooking the MEI’s garden at 1761 N Street, NW, Washington, DC.

Responsibilities

The library director will:

• Organize, direct and promote the library’s activities;
• Assume responsibility for overseeing the library’s renovation and computer network upgrade;
• Set goals consistent with MEI’s strategic plan and pursue strategies for achieving them;
• Ensure that inquiries are answered accurately and in a timely fashion;
• Develop and introduce policies and procedures;
• Advise/consult with members of the Library’s advisory committee;
• Review cataloguing procedures and amend them as needed;
• Ensure that services respond to the needs of library patrons;
• Formulate a budget for operations and acquisitions;
• Procure materials approved for acquisition;
• Direct a public relations campaign promoting the library’s holdings and service s;
• Identify potential sources of funding in coordination with the Director of Development;
• Represent MEI and the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center at conferences and other events;
• Supervise interns and any part-time, paid library consultants or volunteers;
• Supervise a deputy librarian in close coordination with MEI’s Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center;
• Recruit, hire and train library staff

Experience and Skills

The successful candidate will have:

• An undergraduate degree and preferably a graduate degree in Library Science or Library and Information Science (MLS/MLIS);
• A minimum of five years of experience, including managerial responsibilities, in a university or public library
• Excellent writing and presentation skills;
• Strong computer skills;
• Fluency in written and spoken Arabic is highly desirable.

Special Working Conditions

Duties are performed indoors in an office environment. Duties may require extended periods of standing, walking sitting, and talking or listening. Duties require occasional climbing of stairs balancing, lifting/carrying items, keyboarding, reaching with hands and arms. Must be able to travel to work-related meetings, workshops, and conferences.

Salary and Benefits

Annual salary starts at $60,000, will depend on experience.

The Middle East Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability or ethnic background. The Middle East Institute provides generous health plans for medical, dental, life and disability, as well as a 403(b) plan. Employees are eligible for one free language class (Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish, Farsi) per year taught by MEI’s Department of Languages and Regional Studies.

To Apply

Please send cover letter, CV, and contact information for two references to hr@mei.edu.

--  Muhammad Saad Ahmed Financial Associate Telephone: 202-785-1141 x 162 Fax: 202-331-8861 mahmed@mei.edu   Respect Through Understanding