Head of Reference and Instructional Services, Saint Anselm College, (Manchester, NH)
Posted July 11, 2023
Saint Anselm College, a private, liberal arts college in the Benedictine tradition, is seeking an energetic, forward-thinking Head of Reference and Instructional Services to join the Geisel Library and lead our collaborative reference and instruction department.
Saint Anselm College is a nationally prominent Benedictine, Catholic, liberal arts college founded in 1889. Located in Manchester, NH, the college enrolls approximately 2,000 students at a scenic, residential campus and has recently begun adding online classes and select graduate programs. The library’s collections include over 214,000 physical titles, 440,000 digital titles, 125 online research databases, and an extensive Archives and Special Collections.
The Reference & Instructional Services department supports a vibrant and comprehensive information literacy program that is integrated into new student orientation activities, freshmen composition, and advanced courses across the curriculum. The department is also involved with college-wide assessment efforts and staffs a reference desk providing personalized, one-on-one services for the college community, including students, faculty, staff, and the monastery. The Reference & Instruction librarians serve as subject librarians for their assigned academic departments. The overall vision of the department is to help empower the college community to navigate an increasingly complex information landscape as engaged and informed citizens. (See https://www.anselm.edu/about/offices-centers-institutes/geisel-library/services/research-information-literacy-instruction for further details.) As department head, the Head of Reference & Instructional Services is a member of the library’s management team, reports to the Library Director, and traditionally supervises two full-time and two part-time professional librarians.
Responsibilities:
- Provide strategic direction through the planning, execution, and management of all reference and instructional services.
- Lead the library’s information literacy program and participate in college-wide assessment efforts. Teach information literacy classes in assigned subject areas.
- Promote outreach initiatives and develop collaborative relationships with partners on-and off-campus.
- Develop, evaluate, and manage the reference collection, and assist with assigned subject areas.
- Provide general reference services by helping patrons with their information and research needs at the reference desk, during individual appointments, and online.
- Co-lead the library’s subject librarian program and serve as subject librarian to assigned academic departments, including subject-tailored information literacy instruction, creation of research guides, and general outreach.
- Supervise and mentor librarians and support staff within the department.
- Oversee the library’s online presence through website development, evaluation, and maintenance.
- Coordinate the library’s social media instructional presence, and LibGuides creation and promotion.
Required Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in library science from an ALA-accredited program with a minimum of five years of experience in an academic library
- Experience with meeting informational needs at a reference desk or similar setting
- Demonstrated supervisory experience
- Demonstrated successful experience working in a collaborative team environment
- Ability to manage and prioritize projects
- Ability to achieve short- and long-term strategic goals
- Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
- A strong disposition toward working with students at all levels of library service
- Significant experience with, and dedication to information literacy programs at the college or university level
- Knowledge of contemporary theories and methods of instructional pedagogy and familiarity with information literacy standards and frameworks
- Demonstrated teaching experience, including knowledge of effective instructional methods and experience with developing lesson plans and in-class exercises
- Commitment to systematic assessment strategies and their implementation
- Thorough knowledge of online resources relevant to a liberal arts curriculum
- Understanding of trends and technologies impacting library services in higher education
- Commitment to professional achievement and growth
- Flexible schedule to accommodate some nights and weekends during the academic term
Successful candidates will be able to assist the college in advancing its mission and strategic priorities which include institution-wide diversity and inclusiveness.
Please note, to receive full consideration, candidates must submit a cover letter, resume/cv, and a list of three professional references, along with completing the online application. The position is open until filled. Applications received by August 6, 2023 will receive first consideration.