Assistant Director for Public Services, Princeton Theological Seminary (PTSEM), Princeton, NJ

Posted November 3, 2020

Description:

Princeton Theological Seminary (PTSEM) is a professional and graduate school that prepares women and men to serve Jesus Christ in ministries marked by faith, integrity, scholarship, competence, compassion, and joy, equipping them for leadership worldwide in congregations and the larger church, in classrooms and the academy, and in the public arena.

The Seminary provides a residential community of worship and learning where a sense of calling is tested and defined, where scripture and the Christian tradition are appropriated critically, where faith and intellect mature and lifelong friendships begin, and where habits of discipleship are so nourished that members of the community may learn to proclaim with conviction, courage, wisdom, and love the good news that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Today, the Seminary and Library is seeking an Assistant Director for Public Services reporting to the Managing Director, providing leadership, planning, direction and management for access, reference, research and outreach services in support of learning and scholarship.

The Princeton Theological Seminary Library is among the world’s most comprehensive theological research libraries serving both the Seminary and the global community. The Library strengthens teaching, inspires learning, broadens access, fosters research, embraces change, and advances and preserves knowledge, in support of the Seminary’s mission. Shaped by two centuries of development, the Library embraces its role at the intersection of the theological record and the community of scholars; continues Princeton Seminary’s commitment to build collections of depth; and promotes an environment of broad access to the theological heritage. With over 1.2 million print and electronic books and journals in its general collections, a digital library (Theological Commons) of more than 150,000 resources, a robust Special Collections and Archives department, and an inspiringly beautiful building, the Library is a heavily utilized resource.

Responsibilities:

1. Serves as the seminary’s primary reference librarian and manages reference support services as well as student research instruction. Provides in-person reference desk service and virtual reference service, library orientation, and a program of library instruction and information literacy.
2. Leads and manages the Office Public Services, consisting of Reference, Instruction and Research Services, the Circulation Department, and Collection Development, with an eye toward existing services and streamlining models for future effectiveness.
3. Supervises the Circulation Office. This includes all access services such as borrowing/patron privileges, circulation desk assistance, stack management, course reserves, interlibrary loan, and library tours. Leads the effort to ensure that public services staff streamline and automate circulation desk procedures, eliminating dated manual and paper-based workflows. This includes work needed to transition to the library’s new ILS.
4. Supervises professional support and student staff. Establishes performance goals and performs ongoing feedback to ensure that staff thrive in their roles.
5. Establishes annual access, reference, research and outreach goals, objectives, and performance targets aligned with the strategic plan and institutional priorities and develops budgetary projections to meet goals.
6. Works with library leadership to build on current access and research policies, procedures and services that focus on the user and improved user experience of the Library. Recommends and implements new services for the PTS community at large as seminary educational needs change.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Library or Information Science or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Expertise in subjects and scholarly resources related to all facets of theology and religion.
• Knowledge of trends and issues in library access, research and outreach services.
• Working experience with various library management technologies.
• Ability to work collaboratively and contribute effectively as a member of a team.
• Commitment to public service, strong problem-solving skills, as well as effective customer service skills.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise staff engaged in public services

How to Apply:

For consideration, please submit a cover letter, resume and the names of three professional references to [email protected].

Princeton Theological Seminary reserves the right to amend this position description at any time.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by the law.