Director of Library Services

Director of Library Services

Sweet Briar is a liberal arts college for women with a long history of forging female leaders.  Sweet Briar College is repeatedly named by the US News and World Report as one of the most innovative liberal arts colleges in the nation.  Sweet Briar College is growing rapidly, attracting students who are drawn to it for its excellent liberal arts program, coupled with distinctive programs in women leadership, engineering, sustainability, arts and its legendary equestrian program. Its finances are robust, and validated by balanced budget and positive bond ratings.

Located in the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains approximately 12 miles north of Lynchburg and 54 miles south of Charlottesville. Its campus is one of the nation’s most spectacular, replete with nature sanctuaries, lakes, forests, trails, and most recently, vineyards, apiary and greenhouses.

The College boasts a modern core curriculum focused on women's leadership in the 21st century and undergraduate programs in the arts, sciences and humanities, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching. It is one of only two women’s colleges in the United States with an ABET-accredited engineering degree. The women’s leadership core curriculum is innovative and energizing.

When students graduate, they are persuasive communicators who know how to think on their feet and bring people together. No matter what they study or where they go, Sweet Briar women are prepared to lead. The campus community is a family of faculty, staff, coaches, and alumnae who support and encourage students and each other. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, students lead research, ask questions and forge supportive relationships with faculty that can last for decades.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Sweet Briar College is committed to enhancing our community and encourages applications from qualified individuals with varied backgrounds, experiences and ideas who would increase the diversity of the College.

Job Title:  Director of Library Services

Classification:  12-month, full-time, benefits-eligible faculty position

Reports To: Dean of the College

Job Summary/Objective:  Sweet Briar College seeks a Director of Library Services to contribute to our educational mission to develop women leaders. We seek an energetic and innovative individual with a strong commitment to undergraduate education. The incumbent will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Mary Helen Cochran Library at Sweet Briar College, working with a dedicated staff and faculty to support information literacy and access, as well as research endeavors for faculty and students. This individual will manage the day-to-day operations of the library including managing staff, collection development and curation, and works closely with faculty and students to provide education and support for accessing library resources, all to create an inviting learning environment for the Sweet Briar community. 

Essential Responsibilities:

• Supervise library faculty and staff to effectively manage library resources and support effective learning and utilization of library resources across campus and within the local community. 
• Oversee institutional archiving efforts. 
• Support staff training and development as well as oversee the annual staff evaluation process.
• Manage the library budget in collaboration with the Dean of the College.
• Develop and manage library collections in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Foster positive relations with faculty, students, and staff to maintain the library as a vital resource supporting learning and scholarship.
• Oversee management of technology required to support robust electronic resource offerings.
• Develop and provide reports and assessment for SACS and administrative purposes.
• Serve on college committees if requested.

Work Environment:  Office setting, working with students and visitors, computers, files and other materials.

Physical Demands:  Standing, bending, and lifting up to 25 pounds.

Travel:  Occasional travel to consortium-related meetings and for professional development.

Work Hours:  Flexible hours with occasional night and weekend responsibilities.

Other Duties: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

How to Apply:

To apply, visit the Sweet Briar College Career Center: https://sbc.edu/human-resources/faculty-staff-job-openings/. All applications should include: 1) cover letter; 2) CV; 3) a statement highlighting contributions to or future plans for promoting diversity and inclusion through work in this position; and 4) the names and full contact information for three professional references. Review of applications will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Library Science from an American Library Association (ALA) accredited institution or equivalent related experience. 
• At least three years of academic library experience including increasing responsibilities in supervision and/or management of library services or equivalent related experience. 
• Knowledge of current trends in library science and services.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students to engage, provide support to, teach, and motivate students.
• Demonstrated commitment to the library as an academic support unit.
• Demonstrated ability to create a library environment that is welcoming to a diverse college population.
• Demonstrated skill in organization, leadership, and management. 
• Demonstrated ability to support students’ access to library and information resources.
• Demonstrated effective leadership skills.
• Demonstrated effective problem-solving and strategic planning skills.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in various forms and strong presentation and facilitation skills.
• Ability to manage and maintain records and databases to track, compile, interpret, and present data.
• Ability to maintain confidential information.
• Ability to prioritize workload with multiple demands and frequent interruptions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Five or more years of experience in academic library administration.