[LIBJOBS] Open Position: Head of Library Assessment, Penn State University Libraries, University Park, Pennsylvania

Head of Library Assessment

Pennsylvania State University

 

The Pennsylvania State University Libraries seeks applications and nominations for the position of Head of Library Assessment. The person appointed to this tenure-track faculty position will be responsible for leading the development of the University Libraries assessment program. The Head of Library Assessment reports to the Associate Dean for Learning, Undergraduate Services and Commonwealth Campus Libraries and is responsible for creating strategies and building partnerships to develop a comprehensive assessment program.

 

Responsibilities:

• Works in collaboration with University Libraries departments to develop strategies to measure the effectiveness of existing services and resources as well as new strategic initiatives.
• Coordinates the reporting of University Libraries data to internal and external partners.
• Generates assessment and benchmarking reports for University Libraries Administration.
• Works in collaboration with Libraries IT to report University Libraries data publicly.
• Provides leadership to and mentors the User Experience Librarian.
• Completes other projects as assigned/directed.
• Engages in research, scholarly publication, and professional service activities. Participates in local, regional, or national professional organizations; enriches professional expertise by attending conferences and continuing education opportunities.
• Represents Library Assessment on relevant library committees, task forces, etc.

Qualifications

Required:

• MLS/MLIS from an ALA-accredited program, or a Master’s degree in a related field.
• Experience designing assessment projects, defining research questions, documenting and analyzing data and providing recommendations for improvement.
• Experience conducting analysis and creating customized reports using data analysis or statistical software applications (such as Excel, SPSS, Nvivo, Atlas or R).
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work effectively, both independently and collaboratively, in a collegial environment.
• Potential to achieve the requirement for tenure and promotion in the areas of librarianship, research, and service.   Please visit http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/policies/ulhrg07.html to learn more about the University Libraries Promotion and Tenure Guidelines.

Desirable:

• Educational background or second Master’s degree in social science, assessment, or related field.
• Experience training and supervising staff, interns, or student assistants.
• Participation in the ACRL Information Literacy Assessment Immersion Program track.
• Experience with assessment management system(s).
• Experience conducting outcomes assessment of student learning.

Environment:

Penn State, a land-grant institution, is a member of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), a consortium of the Big Ten universities plus the University of Chicago. Based on current Association for Research Libraries investment rankings, The Pennsylvania State University Libraries are ranked among the top ten research libraries in North America. A student survey completed in 2014 found overall student satisfaction with the University Libraries to be at the top of its category. The University Libraries hold membership in ARL, CRL, CLIR, and DLF. Collections exceed 5.8 million volumes and include more than 102,000 current serial subscriptions. The University Libraries are located at University Park and 22 other locations throughout Pennsylvania, and they serve approximately 6,000 faculty and 44,000 students at University Park, and more than 92,000 students system-wide.

 

The University Park campus is set in the State College metropolitan area, a university town located in central Pennsylvania. State College offers a vibrant community with outstanding recreational facilities, a low crime rate, and excellent public schools. The campus is within a half-day drive to Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, or Pittsburgh. The University Park Airport is served by three major carriers with flights to Washington, Philadelphia, and Detroit. For more information, please visit http://www.libraries.psu.edu and http://www.cbicc.org.

 

Compensation:

Rank and salary are dependent upon qualifications and experience. Fringe benefits include liberal vacation, excellent insurance and health care coverage, state or TIAA/CREF retirement options, and educational privileges. In addition, faculty in the University Libraries are afforded funds for professional development travel annually. Faculty may be asked to travel as official representatives of the Libraries to certain events and those trips are reimbursed at full cost within limits established by the University.

 

Applications and all supporting materials must be submitted online at http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/jobs/facjobs/hdas.html. Interested candidates should upload a letter of application, resume or C.V., and the names and contact information of three professional references (including email addresses).   Review of applications will begin July 10, 2015 and continue until position is filled. Questions may be addressed to Lindsey Harter, Faculty Search Coordinator, at lap225@psu.edu.

 

Employment requires successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.  

 

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, disabled individuals, and other protected groups.

 

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS: For more about safety at Penn State, and to review the Annual Security Report which contains information about crime statistics and other safety and security matters, please go to www.police.psu.edu/clery/, which will also provide you with detail on how to request a hard copy of the Annual Security Report.