Director library

Associate Director

Ryerson and Burnham Libraries, Research Center

For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world's most influential artists, designers and scholars.

Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program consistently ranking among the top four graduate fine arts programs in the nation by U.

S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago Museum, on-campus galleries and state-of- the-art facilities.

SAIC's undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world-as seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O'Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, and LeRoy Neiman.

We offer a competitive, comprehensive benefits package :

• Generous paid time off
• Paid holidays (up to 14 days)
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous parental, caregiver, and medical leave benefits
• Competitive retirement plan (up to 9% matching contribution)
• Tuition remission and Tuition Exchange Program
• Great employee discounts
• Complimentary general admission to participating cultural institutions

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

A hub for scholarship and training, the Art Institute Research Center brings together the museum's Ryerson and Burnham Libraries, the Art Institute of Chicago Archives, and the department of Academic Engagement and Research with the aim of fostering engagement and access to the Art Institute of Chicago's rich educational and research offerings.

The historic Ryerson and Burnham Libraries are among the preeminent art research libraries in the United States. The collection holds more than 670,000 print titles, 100,000 auction catalogs, 200 current serial subscriptions, and extensive digital resources.

The Libraries support the museum's eleven curatorial departments, representing myriad research fields spanning the globe and all time periods.

The Libraries are a vital resource for the art research community, faculty and students, artists and architects, as well as scholars and inquisitive public visitors from around the world.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Reporting to the Director and working closely with the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries team, the Associate Director, Access Services, is responsible for managing electronic resources for the library and providing a diverse group of patrons with reference, instruction, and interlibrary loan services in a fast-paced, public-service oriented environment.

This role manages the Libraries' Access Services staff, participates in collection development and curatorial department outreach, and manages offsite storage, including selecting material and managing the logistics of transportation.

The position serves as an active member of the Library leadership team in the creation of reading room and circulation policies and procedures.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Digital Resources : In partnership with the Associate Director for Digital Systems and Strategies, manages all aspects of the life cycle of electronic resources, including selection, licensing / negotiations, assessment, bibliographic control, budgeting, renewal, and ensuring consistent and reliable access.

Negotiates with vendors and content providers, administers new and existing licenses for electronic products, assists with license interpretation and consults with museum's legal counsel as necessary.

Applies knowledge of copyright and intellectual property principles to ensure that rights of library users are protected.

• Customer service : Responsible for helping patrons and librarians resolve access issues for electronic resources. Works with Library staff to create instruction materials and promote new resources to library patrons.
• Provides reference service at the reference desk on a regularly scheduled basis, and reference and research services to museum staff on demand;

responds to reference questions in various channels on a regular basis. Regularly scheduled for library instruction and orientation sessions on-site, as well as weekly shifts completing borrowing requests for interlibrary loan.

Promotes electronic resources through relevant web content.

Team management : Supervises and evaluates the performance of the Reference Librarian(s) and Fulfillment and Stacks Manager, assigns and directs the work of these staff, using discretion to organize and monitor work processes, resolve operational issues, and implement new procedures.

Communicates updated job descriptions to staff, advocates to Research Center management when resources are needed. Reviews applicant materials to identify candidates for positions and participates in search committees for leadership roles in the Libraries and Research Center, conducting interviews and making recommendations for hiring.

Departmental support : Works collaboratively with fellow staff to achieve Research Center goals and manage fundamental on-site operations.

The Associate Director manages the Library in the absence of the Library Director. Establishes and maintains effective workflows with Collection Services staff for all electronic resources.

Oversees annual database review and annual serials review, providing relevant statistical data and metrics, including usage and cost analysis, to support collection development decisions and serials budget expenditures.

Collection management : Assists in collection development of both print and digital resources working closely with staff in the curatorial departments.

Oversees offsite book storage, working with the Fulfillment and Stacks Manager to make decisions regarding use of on-site space and with colleagues at Northwestern University to provide bibliographic records for materials selected for remote storage.

Collaboration : Maintains clear communication with colleagues about ongoing priorities, goals, and projects. Participates in Research Center and museum-wide committees and task forces, and completes other duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Capacity with physical labor moderately required. Handling collection materials comprises approximately 30% of the role.
• Capable of stooping, bending, stretching, lifting up to 20 pounds, and pushing book carts weighing up to 150 pounds.
• Periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer; must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.
• Often moves about inside the office, stacks and across various museum spaces to serve patrons, access storage areas, move collections, and other related tasks.
• Often operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as scanners and printers, phone and email.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, ability to adjust focus, and the ability to sustain prolonged visual concentration.

QUALIFICATIONS

• MLS from an ALA accredited program required. Educational background in Art History desirable
• At least two years of supervisory experience
• At least two years of experience with electronic resources management and reference service is required. Library instruction experience strongly preferred
• Knowledge of cataloging rules, standards, and tools; cataloging experience with electronic resources
• A thorough understanding of issues related to electronic resources, including vendors, packages, aggregators, platforms, licensing, pricing models, and financial and statistical management
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff from all areas of the library and museum

The successful candidate should :

• be highly detail-oriented and organized,
• maintain a positive, flexible attitude while managing changes,
• have the ability to multitask,
• have excellent interpersonal communication skills, and
• embrace the museum's commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable institution.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

The Art Institute of Chicago is an equal opportunity, equal access employer fully committed to achieving a diverse and inclusive workplace.

We believe in a staff culture that benefits from a wide range of experience, backgrounds, and career paths, and we encourage nontraditional candidates to apply.

Salary Grade 8

Benefits

We offer a competitive, comprehensive benefits package :

• Generous paid time off
• Paid holidays (up to 14 days)
• Generous parental, caregiver, and medical leave benefits
• Competitive retirement plan (up to 9% matching contribution)
• Tuition remission and Tuition Exchange Program
• Great employee discounts
• Complimentary general admission to participating cultural institutions
• Want to stay abreast of the latest job openings at the Art Institute and the School of the Art Institute? Sign up for our Employment Opportunities E-announcements.

Closing Statement

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran status or citizenship.

The Institute complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities.

If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources atapply help@artic.edu.

Last updated : 2024-03-09