Assistant Director of Technical Services, Rhode Island College, (Providence, RI)
Posted April 8, 2025
Description
The Assistant Director of Technical Services is primarily responsible for managing and leading cataloging and metadata services and acquisitions for library collections. General responsibilities include original and complex cataloging, authority control, collection data analysis and reporting, collection development, and budget reporting. Oversees the Library’s use of the HELIN Consortium’s automated acquisitions and metadata modules, including technical training and supervision of staff.
Responsibilities
- Supervises, mentors, and develops departmental staff by providing training and setting an atmosphere that promotes teamwork.
- Administers operations for cataloging library materials in all formats, developing and implementing comprehensive plans, policies, and procedures, and regulating work flow and workloads.
- Provides leadership in managing access to and maintaining accurate information about library materials in all formats.
- Performs original and complex adaptive cataloging of monographs, e-resources and all other formats.
- Works with the Special Collections Department and Digital Initiatives Unit to provide recommendations and support for metadata creation for digital collections.
- Establish, oversee, and evaluate procedures for the ordering of library materials, including books, non-book materials, and electronic resources.
- Using established purchasing procedures, select appropriate vendors for various library materials; negotiate discounts; monitor and evaluate vendor performance; communicate with publishers and other vendors regarding matters related to the acquisition of library materials.
- Establish bibliographic profiles to enable vendors to provide shelf-ready materials.
- Supervise and train support staff assigned to assist in any aspect of library acquisitions, including technical training related to the use of the library consortium’s automated acquisitions module.
- Advise faculty in support of library collection development activity, and on the means by which library materials may be acquired most efficiently.
- Prepare and send allocation emails to Library liaisons soliciting purchase requests and process orders received.
- Establish, oversee, and evaluate all workflow related to purchasing of materials, supplies and equipment for the library. Assist all library departments in determining their supply needs, and determine the best method of fulfilling all requests for supplies and equipment.
- Establish, oversee, and evaluate the Library’s shelf-ready materials program, including selection and evaluation of vendors, establishment of profiles for vendor processing of materials, inspection, and evaluation of such materials, and staff training in the receipt and processing of shelf-ready materials.
- Create, update, and maintain spreadsheets of financial records for all library expenditures; report financial information to the Director of the Library monthly or as needed.
- Work with library liaisons and other library personnel to update and weed the physical collections on a regular basis.
- Responsible for donor contacts, relations and acknowledgement of gifts. Establish, oversee, and evaluate policies and procedures for all transactions involving gifts of library materials in accordance with federal tax guidelines and College Development requirements.
- Create and revise the technical documentation and procedural manual for the library’s acquisitions and metadata modules.
- Provides cataloging/collection statistics to the Library Director and assist in the development of analytic reports for external agencies, such as IPEDS and ACRL.
- Manages special cataloging projects.
- Conducts performance evaluations for professional staff and student workers.
- Monitors and evaluates trends and developments relevant to academic libraries, particularly in the areas of metadata standards, cataloging practices, and authority control Participate in Library Director’s Council meetings.
- Participate in Library-wide and HELIN Consortium committee and task force work.
- Participate in local, regional, and national organizations as appropriate.
- Act as subject selector for the selection of books for one or more academic subject areas.
- Coordinate and facilitate the use of various college development funds for the purchase of library materials.
Qualifications
Education:
- Master’s degree in Library Science from an ALA-accredited program or Master’s Degree with related experience.
Experience:
- A minimum of three years of experience in acquisitions and cataloging, including experience with substantial original cataloging, and supervision of staff
- Experience using a bibliographic utility and an integrated library system
- Experience classifying materials in LC classification system
Hours and Compensation
$72,000-$74,000 yearly salary.
This position is eligible for benefits including:
- Comprehensive Health Benefits and Rewards for Wellness Incentives
- Generous Paid Time Off
- Family/Parental Leave
- Tuition Waivers at RIC, CCRI & URI
- Retirement Plan
- Long-term Disability Coverage
- Variety of voluntary add-on’s
How to Apply:
To view the official job posting and to apply, please visit the official job posting, linked here.
Applicants will be expected to submit a resume and cover letter.