University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Philadelphia, PA
University of Pennsylvania Libraries
Assistant Director for Research and Instructional Services
The University of Pennsylvania Libraries seek an experienced, innovative, and energetic leader to develop a user-focused learning and teaching program. The Libraries provide an opportunity-rich environment for a dynamic individual who is skilled at both conceptualizing and implementing research and instructional services across a large, complex, and rapidly changing information landscape.
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League comprehensive research university in Philadelphia founded in 1740 by Benjamin Franklin and his circle. It comprises twelve schools, 3,800 faculty and an enrollment of 20,000 students, equally divided between undergraduate and graduate/professional school students.
The Penn Libraries include fifteen libraries and an off-site high density storage facility. System-wide scholarly resources number nearly 6 million books, 44,000 current serials (of which 16,000 are e-journals) and 700 databases. The library is a leader in the development of digital library services and collections and is aggressively experimenting with and adopting new technology in research and teaching, including courseware. As a founding partner of the Kuali OLE Project, Penn will be at the forefront of developing a next-generation community source technology environment to support academic library operations.
Position Summary:
Reporting to the Director of Public Services, the Assistant Director for Research and Instructional Services provides leadership in developing and managing services to support teaching and learning on the Penn campus. Overall responsibilities include: managing a department of 9 librarians who provide reference, instruction, collection development, and outreach services in the humanities and social sciences; developing strategic directions for information, research and outreach; collaborating with colleagues to coordinate instruction activities across libraries; fostering effective working relationships with library and academic colleagues; assessing and enhancing service quality; collaborating with academic support units on development of programs to support teaching and learning; and playing a key role in library-wide planning initiatives.
Responsibilities include:
• Developing, implementing, and assessing innovative reference, instruction, and outreach services and programs for the humanities, social sciences, and schools of Education and Social Policy and Practice in support of learning, teaching, and research.
• Developing effective relationships with University faculty and school administration to strengthen the collaboration between the Libraries and its clients in the schools.
• Leading a team of 9 librarians in the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center in managing, coordinating, and evaluating services and programs in the humanities and social sciences.
• Working in a pivotal role with the Director of Public Services, Director of Collection Development and Management, and other directors to facilitate a program of innovative service delivery; to develop user-focused collections; and to develop collaborative programs with service centers in departmental libraries and with academic units on campus.
• Participating in innovative program development for the Weigle Information Commons, a state-of-the art center in the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library that supports teaching and learning.
Qualifications:
MLS degree, or its equivalent in experience, training, and practice is required. An additional graduate degree is preferred. The successful candidate should have at least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in an academic or research library; demonstrated successful leadership in the innovative and effective use of scholarly information resources and emerging technologies; knowledge of issues and trends in reference services; understanding of teaching methods and instructional design; demonstrated teaching skills; demonstrated experience managing, supervising and motivating staff; evidence of a strong commitment to public services; demonstrated initiative in program development and implementation and project management; demonstrated ability to work well with a diverse user community; ability to facilitate change; demonstrated ability to work within a collegial framework and to collaborate effectively; excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills; strong analytical and decision-making skills.
To Apply: Potential candidates are invited to submit a letter of application that addresses the needs and qualifications of the position, along with their resume and the names, addresses, and phone numbers of three references who can address the suitability of the candidate for the position described, as well as complete an on-line employment application at http://www.hr.upenn.edu/jobs (Job Reference #100328072).
Direct link: https://jobs.hr.upenn.edu/...tral?quickFind=191131
Applications will be accepted immediately and until the position is filled. The Search Committee will begin its review in early April.
The University of Pennsylvania is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.
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