[LIBJOBS] Head, Koerner Library, UBC Library, British Columbia, Canada

Head, Koerner Library

UBC Library

(Full-time, ongoing Librarian position with 5 year renewable Head term)

 

UBC Library

 

The University of British Columbia Library is one of the largest academic libraries in Canada and consistently ranks among the top university research libraries in North America.  UBC Library has 14 branches and divisions, two campuses (Vancouver and Kelowna), one off-site hospital library, and the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre - a multi-purpose teaching and learning facility.

 

The Library’s collection of over 7M items includes 1.4M ebooks, 229,020 electronic journals, 850,000 maps, audio, DVD/video and graphic materials, and 1, 703 bibliographic and fulltext databases.

 

More than 300 knowledgeable employees – librarians, management and professional staff, support staff and student staff – provide users with the excellent resources and services that they need to further their research, teaching and learning.

 

The UBC Library Strategic Plan 2010-2015 can be viewed at www.library.ubc.ca/strategicplan/.

Position Overview:

The UBC Library is seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking librarian to serve as Head, Walter C. Koerner Library.  The Koerner Library provides a dynamic learning environment for students, faculty and visitors to the University of British Columbia.  Koerner Library’s print and electronic collections, services, and technology are designed to facilitate coursework, studying, and research with a focus on the Humanities and Social Sciences.  The Research Commons in Koerner Library is a hub for graduate students, faculty and researchers at UBC and signature collections, like the Videomatica Collection, attract users from across campus and the broader community.  The Head, Koerner Library, will be responsible for providing strategic leadership for people, services and operations including the development of collections, new user spaces and services to position Koerner Library as a vital resource for UBC, now and in the future. This work includes the organization, administration and operation of library staff and budgets across several areas including reference, research and circulation services. The Head will plan, implement and manage existing and new service models focused on meeting evolving user needs.  The nature and scope of responsibilities will be carried out within the context of a changing environment and in collaboration with colleagues and staff as appropriate as the Library organization and operational model evolves.

Qualifications:

·         A graduate degree from an accredited school of Library, Archival and Information Science is required.

·         Strong leadership and management skills and exceptional administrative ability developed and demonstrated by progressively responsible work experiences are required. 

·         Demonstrated leadership in collaboration and building relationships with colleagues both internal and external to the operational unit are required. 

·         Effective interpersonal and communication skills, including the demonstrated ability to win the trust and confidence of staff and colleagues and a track record of success in the motivation and mentoring of staff in a team based environment are required.  Supervisory experience is essential. 

·         An academic background or significant experience working in the humanities or social sciences is highly desirable.

·         Relevant professional experience including familiarity with faculty-library liaison models, user services, collection management, library instruction, scholarly communication trends and student and community engagement, as well as commitment to responsive and innovative information services are highly desirable.

·         The ideal candidate will have a strong sense of the future directions of libraries and be able to articulate this in meaningful ways to staff, colleagues, students and faculty.

Working Relationships:

The Head, Koerner Library works under the general direction and reports within the portfolio of the Associate University Librarian (AUL), Learning and Engagement.  The Head supervises a team of subject liaison librarians and directly and indirectly supervises the work of support staff and students in the Research Commons, Circulation Services and ILL/Document Delivery.  The Head consults with the AUL, Learning and Engagement and the Library Human Resources unit on matters affecting staff.  Similar liaison occurs with the Library’s Central Technical Services staff on matters of ordering and processing.  The Head will be responsible for the organization and operation of services within the parameters of the Library’s operational needs as determined by the AUL, Learning and Engagement.  This position collaborates extensively with the librarians and staff from other units within the Library as well as other stakeholders at UBC including the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Graduate Studies.  The nature and scope of the responsibilities for this position are expected to change as the Library organization evolves.

Duties:

In consultation with the AUL, Learning and Engagement, provides leadership for the operations of Koerner Library, so that it contributes successfully to UBC Library’s vision and mission. 

1. Develops and implements goals and objectives that support the UBC Library’s strategic plan;

 

2. Provides leadership directly and through subordinates for the librarians, M&P and CUPE staff in all areas of Koerner Library operations, including reference, research, circulation and ILL/doc delivery;

 

3. Assesses needs of library users and opportunities for new programs and services by consulting with users; keeping up with changes in curriculum and new areas of research, maintains strong relationships with key stakeholders including Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.  Ensures consultation with the Library on new/changed courses and curriculum.  Works with members of the external community on community engagement opportunities;

 

4. Prepares and monitors budgets, allocates and is accountable for the use of resources.  This includes setting unit priorities in consultation with staff and users;

 

5. Works closely with the AUL, Learning and Engagement and the Director, Human Resources, on personnel issues, including recruitment of new staff and staff development and training.  Manages the performance review cycle for staff, including the development and review of job descriptions, annual setting of goals and objectives and conducting annual reviews;

 

6. Oversees the development of collections in the humanities and social sciences ensuring that faculty and students are consulted on a regular basis.  Ensures that librarians consult with interested faculty about collection development;

 

7. In consultation with users, Central Technical Services and Koerner Library staff, oversees the management of the physical collections in the Koerner Library including the development of criteria for the transfer of materials to storage and weeding;

 

8. In consultation with the AUL and the Director, Library Finance & Facilities, plans new spaces to meet new and evolving user needs;

 

9. Creates and maintains a supportive, positive and effective work environment for staff and users, creating an environment within Koerner Library that is collegial and based on mutual trust and respect;

 

10. Participates in and supports the collaborative work of the UBC public service branches;

 

11. Engages in the management of the UBC Library by participating as a member of the appropriate committees;

 

12. Collaborates with other library units to ensure excellent service to users and to ensure effective use of resources;

 

13. Contributes to the initiatives of the Library Development Office in obtaining funding in support of the programs and services of the Koerner Library;

 

14. As requested participates in the preparation of grant applications and administration of grants;

 

15. Participates in professional and university wide initiatives.

 

Terms of Appointment and Salary:

 

This position will be filled as a full time ongoing position with a five year renewable administrative term as Head, Koerner Library. If eligible and qualified, the successful applicant may be appointed with a confirmed appointment. Otherwise, there will be an initial three-year probationary appointment.  Normally, such an appointment is reviewed by the end of the second year of appointment, and a recommendation is made at that time to grant or not to grant a confirmed appointment.

 

Salary will be commensurate with experience and academic/professional qualifications.

 

UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. The University especially welcomes applications from visible minority groups, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, and others with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply. However, Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.

 

Applications will include: a letter of application which includes a statement of the candidate’s citizenship/immigration status and indicates the candidate’s education, training, and work experience and a detailed and current curriculum vitae.

 

To view the complete job description and to submit an application, please visit the UBC Careers page at http://facultycareers.ubc.ca/ with Job ID 19599 by midnight on November 20, 2014.

 

(Sent on behalf of Ingrid Parent, University Librarian, UBC)