Library Director, UConn Hartford, Hartford, CT

Posted February 22, 2022

Description:

The UConn Library seeks a collaborative and people-focused leader to serve as the Director of the UConn Hartford Campus Library (UHCL).  Located within the Hartford Public Library, the UHCL serves UConn students, faculty, and staff advancing research, teaching, learning, and student success. The Hartford Campus Library Director partners with UConn Library, Hartford Campus, and Hartford Public Library team members to envision, sponsor, and enact services and programming for the UConn Hartford campus and the broader community. 

Reporting to the Associate University Librarian for Academic Engagement, the Hartford Campus Library Director is responsible for providing an excellent academic library experience for students, faculty, and staff. The Director supervises four full-time staff members to collectively support and advance the work of the UHCL. The Director will work primarily onsite to oversee the Library’s operations and to promote and represent the work of the UHCL. The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent leadership, communication, professional judgment, collaboration skills, relationship-building, and decision-making practices while reinforcing the principles of anti-racism, inclusion, and equity in daily responsibilities.  This position is ideal for the individual who thrives on establishing and maintaining strong professional relationships that interconnect multiple teams. 

Along with all UConn Library personnel, the Hartford Campus Library Director will demonstrate respect in all interactions within the Library and across the University and will exemplify the UConn Library values of kindness and trust, curiosity and inquiry, equity and inclusion, and having fun.

Responsibilities:

• Leads and manages the UConn Hartford Campus Library, oversees daily operations, staff, collections, services, collaborations, and initiatives, serves UConn Hartford students, faculty, and staff in support of advancing research, teaching, learning, and student success.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates Library policies and procedures as related to position responsibilities.
• Advances connection and collaboration with the Hartford Public Library, the pre-eminent partnership in the work of the Hartford Campus.
• Initiates and maintains successful relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including donors.
• Serves as a member of the UConn Hartford Campus leadership team, connecting the UConn Hartford Campus Library to research, teaching, and learning on the Hartford campus.
• Positions the UConn Hartford Campus Library to support research initiatives and community-engaged scholarship on the Hartford Campus, such as the Global Sustainable Cities Initiative.
• Serves as library liaison for one or more academic or administrative areas.
• Identifies community education and research needs and applies principles and best practices for in-person and online instruction.
• Reinforces and provides leadership to advance the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, working collaboratively with individuals of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives in advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts.
• Works closely with other regional campus library directors and service unit heads to advance collective efforts.
• Maintains active engagement and creates significant contributions in professional activities at a statewide, regional, and/or national level.
• Serves as an ad hoc essential services employee.

Shared Expectations for Supervisors:

1. Assigns, oversees, reviews, and evaluates work of direct reports.  Establishes work schedule(s) and approves timecard(s).  Maintains supervisory files.
2. Promotes collegiality and inclusivity and is communicative about priorities, opportunities, and challenges.  Encourages new thinking and ideas and actively fosters open communication.
3. Creates a positive workplace culture through actively practicing the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice.
4. Follows the Performance Management Guidelines as outlined by the Library, Human Resources, and the staff member’s contractually specified evaluation process.
5. Provides training and assistance to each direct report.  Supports involvement in professional development activities and provides internal development opportunities as appropriate to each position.

Shared Expectations for All Staff:

1. Applies the principles of the Library’s Strategic Framework and core values through active contribution and cooperation in achieving Library, Area, and Unit priorities and operational goals.
2. Demonstrates reliable and effective written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills to provide excellent professional service and collaborate with other departments and divisions within the Library and across the University.
3. Demonstrates active learning in and communication of ongoing trends and developments related to professional and positional responsibilities. 
4. Works effectively in current office applications, software, and communication tools as employed by the UConn Library and the University of Connecticut.
5. Exhibits appreciation of, sensitivity to, and respect for a diverse working environment, inclusive of social, economic, cultural, ideological, gender, racial, ethnic, and any other underrepresented backgrounds.
6. Performs duties parallel to position responsibilities as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. A graduate degree in Library and Information Science from an American Library Association-accredited institution (including international equivalents) or any graduate-level degree in a field relevant to the position.
2. Minimum of six years related professional experience.
3. Supervisory experience with proven knowledge of principles and best practices of employee supervision. Must demonstrate a commitment and ability to promote inclusive management practices.
4. Evidence of advancing programmatic or service initiatives in support of academic teaching, learning, or research.
5. Demonstrated ability to actively engage with stakeholder communities through outreach and networking paired with proven public service skills that build and maintain collaborations in support of community engagement.
6. Interest in and commitment to working at a large, diverse, and urban campus.
7. Knowledge of and commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
8. Advanced interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
9. Evidence of active engagement and creating significant contributions in professional activities at a statewide, regional, and/or national level.

Additional Minimum Qualifications for Appointment as a Librarian 4 – Manager:

1. Minimum of nine years related professional experience.
2. Knowledge of scholarly research and communications processes at a mastery level.
3. Evidence of leadership and/or creating significant contributions in professional activities at a statewide, regional, and/or national level.

Preferred Qualifications for both Appointment Levels:

1. Evidence of success in reinforcing and promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility and working collaboratively with individuals of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
2. Demonstrated knowledge of practices of anti-racism, equity, and inclusion.
3. Knowledge of assessment standards and best practices.
4. Experience working in an academic library, with an emphasis on regional campus experience.

How to Apply:

Please apply online at https://hr.uconn.edu/jobs, Staff Positions, Search #496019 to upload a cover letter, detailed resume, and contact information for three professional references.  Candidates must address in their cover letter and/or resume how their candidacy meets the position responsibilities, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications (if applicable). Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Nominations and inquiries should be sent in confidence to [email protected]. To ensure full consideration, inquiries and applications should be submitted by March 13, 2022. 

This job posting is scheduled to be removed at 11:55 p.m. Eastern time on March 13, 2022.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.