Lawrence University
Seeley G. Mudd Library
Position Description
Title: Director of Technical Services
Reports to: University Librarian
Department: Library, Technical Services Department
Appointment: Assistant Professor, full-time, 12 months
Last revised: 20091014
Purpose of Position: The Director of Technical Services plans, organizes, manages and guides all processes essential to accomplishing departmental objectives -- which include acquiring needed resources in a timely and economical manner and effectively organizing and presenting library collections. Manages overall operations of the Technical Services Department, which include acquisitions, cataloging, periodicals, and government documents. Supervises four support staff and several student workers. Researches and identifies promising new approaches to the acquisition, management, organization and delivery of traditional and digital collections. Participates in campus discussion and planning regarding development of digital collections and digital archiving needs and solutions. Through on-campus consulting, contributes expertise to faculty, staff and student projects involving the acquisition, organization and retrieval of information. Actively contributes to library-wide planning, policy-making, goal setting and development of new services and initiatives. Participates in departmental, library, and University committees/meetings.
Responsibilities:
Cataloging, acquisitions, and licensing
- Manages all activities in acquisitions, cataloging, periodicals, and federal and state documents, and, as the only professional librarian in Technical Services, performs all original cataloging of monographs, videos, and text CDs, including Lawrence-produced honors projects, theatre and opera performances, and speeches. Assigns Library of Congress Classification numbers as needed. Supplies subject headings for original cataloging and other cataloging records as needed. Assists support staff in locating elusive citations for requested items and/or locating sources for purchase of these items.
- Maintains authority control for the library's ILS system.
- Negotiates and signs electronic database licensing agreements.
- Monitors and evaluates trends and developments relevant to academic libraries, particularly in the areas of technical services, cataloging, automation, and digital collections.
- Works with library staff to resolve system problems and maximize use of system capabilities.
Technical Services Department management
- Supervises staff in Technical Services, including ongoing communication, performance appraisal, and individual goal setting. Determines need for revision of job descriptions on a regular basis. Establishes performance measures, evaluates staff, and provides annual performance appraisals for staff.
- Participates on library management team and contributes to setting goals, developing new services, and evaluating library programs. As a department Director, participates in library-wide planning, goal setting and development of policies, new services and initiatives.
- Coordinates departmental planning, goal setting, and prioritizing -- both within the department and in collaboration with other library departments. Evaluates accomplishments in meeting previously set goals and objectives.
- Develops efficient workflows and procedures and writes/revises TS policies and procedure documentation.
- Develops budgets and cost estimates for ongoing or anticipated needs and projects.
- Plans & coordinates projects, working together with others.
- Prepares regular and special reports, by compiling and analyzing data on technical services and related activities for both internal and external use. Coordinates the library's response to regular and special requests for statistics.
- Works on special projects or ongoing tasks needing additional staff, due to their complexity or time-sensitive status.
Collection management and development
- Supervises inventories and weeding of various library collections.
- Participates actively in library collection development.
- Supervises the repair and rebinding of books from the collection.
External relations
- Prepares library displays.
- Examines gift collections for possible addition to the library collection,
- Collaborates with Lincoln Reading Room donor in adding materials to the collection, maintaining the Room, and creating displays.
- May assist with reference or promotional services to students, faculty, and the community.
Faculty responsibilities
- Participates in departmental, library, University meetings, committees, events, etc., as appropriate or assigned.
- Participates in statewide, regional, and national professional organizations, as appropriate.
Required Qualifications:
- M.L.S. from an ALA-accredited library or information science program.
- Minimum of five years of relevant and progressively responsible experience in library technical services.
- Demonstrated effective leadership and supervisory experience, including training and coaching others.
- Experience with using a major integrated library system for all library functions.
- Demonstrated ability to plan, coordinate and manage projects.
- Ability to incorporate new technologies and innovations into existing operations.
- Interest and ability to contribute to the profession, including research, publication and participation in professional organizations.
- Sense of humor.
Desired Qualifications:
- Academic library experience highly desirable, preferably in a liberal arts college or university.
- Experience with Ex Libris ALEPH system.
- Knowledge of one or more non-English languages.
- Familiarity with RDA and FRBR
Salary is commensurate with qualifications.
Review of applications will begin immediately, and will continue until the position is filled. Lawrence University is an EEO/AA employer.
Candidates must submit a statement of interest, a resume, and the names of three professional references with their addresses and phone numbers to
Peter Gilbert
University Librarian
Seeley G. Mudd Library
Lawrence University
113 S. Lawe St.
Appleton WI 54911
Phone: 920-832-7353
Fax: 920-832-6967
Email: peter.j.gilbert@lawrence.edu
