Director of Public Services, Smith College, Northampton, MA
Posted June 16, 2022
Description:
The Director of Public Services leads the evolving public services for Smith College Libraries including Neilson, Hillyer and Josten and Alumnae Gym Libraries. The Director stewards the visioning and strategic planning process for the libraries’ public services and is responsible for staff and processes in Access Services, Resources Sharing, (Interlibrary Loan and Stacks Management) and Operations. Coordinates public services aspects of the integrated curricular services (Central Service Point, Learning Commons, and the Digital Media Hub) located in Neilson Library as a member of leadership teams including partners from ITS, the Jacobson Center for Writing, Teaching & Learning, the Spinelli Center for Quantitative Learning, the Office of Disability Services, and other campus services. This position collaborates across the campus with Alumnae Relations & Development, Admissions, and the Museum of Art to coordinate the libraries’ role in campus wide events. The Director manages complex access, space use and security issues of the libraries and develops ongoing training for Access Services staff and student employees in public services roles. Employing user-centered methods, this position leads, designs, assesses and refines services to provide a user-focused, seamless experience for the Smith community in an inclusive, equitable and respectful environment.
Leadership & Planning (40%)
- As a member of the Library Leadership Team advocates for and represents public services in strategic planning and implementation, resource planning and oversight, leadership mentoring and organizational development for the Smith College Libraries.
- Liaises with library departments and ITS to coordinate public services engagement across the libraries.
- Cultivates a leadership role in developing strong partnerships with academic units and co-curricular programs.
- Contributes to college-wide and library-wide diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion initiatives.
- Collaborates with peers within the libraries, across campus and in the community to foster student success and further the College’s goals.
- Leads the User Services Team and working groups in continuous efforts to develop and assess user-focused policies that are kept current and clearly communicated.
- Researches, plans, develops, recommends, and implements long- and short-term goals, best practices, standards, principles, and innovative means for the provision of public library services to the Smith and local communities.
Management (40%)
- Responsible for management, policies, and workflows of public services departments, including Operations, Access Services, Reserves, Interlibrary Loan and stacks management.
- Collaborates with Collection Services ensuring services are maintained.
- Oversees library operations including user services, optimal space use, user data analysis and security. Liaises with Five College Inc. regarding storage and retrieval of Smith collections in the Library Annex shared repository.
- Continuously seeks avenues to optimize service and accessibility through the application of innovative technologies, policies, and services.
- Responsible for a staff of 12-15, numerous student employees, and directly supervises 3-4 FTE.
- Fosters exploration, curiosity, inquiry, discovery and creation by staff, students, faculty and the Smith community in library services.
- Strengthens existing and develop new services in consideration of user needs, new opportunities, evolving curriculum, teaching methods and technologies, organizational goals and trends in academic libraries and higher education.
Communication & Outreach (20%)
- Works with Library Communications staff to promote library services, hours, collections, news, tours, and events across campus and to the Smith and local communities.
- Responsible for providing current, engaging and informative content for use in library news and event promotion.
- Collaborates with Special Collections and other library departments and campus partners on planning for and promoting events, exhibitions, open houses, research support opportunities and other library experiences.
- Responsible for tours and planning events to create a welcoming environment and experience for library users, guests and visitors.
- Coordinates with library and campus partners to host Smith events taking place in the Libraries, including key campus activities such as graduations, reunions, family weekend and similar events to welcome new and current students, faculty, staff and alumnae.
- Responsible for ensuring that space use digital display systems are operating as needed and communicating appropriate information.
Other Functions
Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
- MLS, Master’s degree in education or a related field; 7 years of progressively responsible experience in library public services; or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
- Substantial supervisory and leadership experience; knowledge of library support of curricular, co-curricular and public programs and best practices in assessment.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in implementing equity and inclusion practices and creating an accessible, welcoming, respectful library work and study environment.
- Experience with library systems.
Skills:
- Demonstrated ability to lead and work in a collaborative and collegial environment.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to create a workplace environment that is user-focused, based on respect and prioritizes staff input and development.
- Demonstrated skills in managing teams that collaborate across departments in agile, quickly-changing environments.
- Ability to apply critical, analytical and innovative thinking to work.
- Ability to successfully manage projects, prioritize work, and identify and solve problems.
How to Apply:
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