Head of Special Collections - 521827

Department/Organization
219101 - University Libraries

Rank
Assistant Professor

Position Summary
The University of Alabama seeks an innovative, energetic, and entrepreneurial librarian to lead University Libraries Special Collections as Head of Special Collections. The successful candidate will possess a 21st-century vision for strengthening the discovery, visibility, accessibility, and impact of the unit’s nationally and internationally recognized collections. The successful candidate will be committed to managing all processing workflows, using More Product Less Processing (MPLP), and will evaluate and assess the work of faculty, staff, and students following MPLP. This position will be responsible for developing mission-oriented strategies in line with professional best practices and for facilitating growth of special collections programs.

Detailed Position Information
THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA LIBRARIES
Head of Special Collections

RESPONSIBILITIES: The University of Alabama seeks an innovative, energetic, and entrepreneurial librarian to lead University Libraries Special Collections as Head of Special Collections. The successful candidate will possess a 21st-century vision for strengthening the discovery, visibility, accessibility, and impact of the unit’s nationally and internationally recognized collections. The successful candidate will be committed to managing all processing workflows, using More Product Less Processing (MPLP), and will evaluate and assess the work of faculty, staff, and students following MPLP. This position will be responsible for developing mission-oriented strategies in line with professional best practices and for facilitating growth of special collections programs. A successful candidate will bring leadership, organization, vision, and support, and will work to align the focus and capacity of the unit with alignment to the University Libraries Strategic Plan. This position will collaborate closely with faculty and staff to maximize the impact of the unit’s collections and services through promoting engagement with holdings, incorporating new technology into archives operations, and participating in strategic collection development. The successful candidate will develop a deep understanding of the vast collections held in the W.S. Hoole Special Collections, the A. S. Williams Americana Collection, the Senator Richard Shelby Collection, and the Archival Facility. The candidate will identify forward-looking and synergistic opportunities and partnerships to advance goals of The University of Alabama and University Libraries. Reporting to the Senior Associate Dean, the Head of Special Collections will actively pursue opportunities for external funding and implement projects relevant to the mission of University Libraries and The University of Alabama. This position will also play a leadership role in assessment of unit activities and planning for major facilities enhancements. Responsibilities of the position will continually evolve to meet the needs of Special Collections students, staff, faculty, and researchers. Working collaboratively in the University Libraries, the successful candidate must be willing to continually learn, develop, and apply additional expertise through work related experiences and professional development opportunities. They must also possess the ability to deal with change, ambiguity, and complex problems in a research library setting.

Additional responsibilities include:

• Oversees direction and operations of Special Collections with particular emphasis on continuous process improvement and knowledge management.
• Plans, administers, and manages unit resources and services, including budget and grant and gift funding.
• Oversees the review and revision of digital records, finding aids, and other descriptive output to ensure accuracy, adherence to standards, and discoverability, using MPLP.
• Proposes and implements new workflows, processes, and systems to improve efficiency and facilitate access to special collections materials.
• Coordinates and prepares monthly and annual reporting on all Special Collections operations, as well as grant activities and progress.
• Establishes guidelines and priorities for collection development for digital and physical collections with a focus on unique materials that support original scholarship and innovative learning.
• Ensures the accessibility of digital assets and other special collections by determining their appropriate intellectual organization and digital storage structure.
• Applies archival ethics and departmental guidelines with regard to privacy, confidentiality, copyright, assets management, and description in coordinating access to collections.
• Advances decisions impacting digital special collections and advises library leadership on major issues related to the acquisition and lifecycle management of digitized content.
• Provides leadership and oversight in the comprehensive assessment and evaluation of unit operations and services in the context of library and university mission, values, and goals, following MPLP.
• Coordinates and tracks transfer of collections materials to the offsite Archival Facility.
• Oversees Special Collections public services activities, including reference, instruction, and outreach.
• Regularly prepares and submits grant applications, as well as manages sponsored funding projects, as part of the University Libraries commitment to strategic funding and research objectives.
• Oversees grant projects and other sponsored research initiatives in the unit.
• Provides recommendations for space planning and allocation relevant to Special Collections materials.
• Fosters and sustains strategic relationships with peer institutions, consortia, and relevant vendors.

SALARY/BENEFITS: 12 month clinical faculty appointment at the Assistant Professor rank. Salary range is commensurate with qualifications, experience, and advanced degrees. Strong benefits, including professional development support, tuition fee waiver, and matching retirement contributions.

Minimum Qualifications
• MLS/MLIS from an ALA-accredited program.
• At least five years of supervisory experience in a research library Special Collections.
• Demonstrated knowledge of archival encoding and descriptive standards (METS, MODS, Dublin Core, DACS, EAD).
• Demonstrated knowledge of archival principals and preservation strategies, specifically More Product Less Processing (MPLP).
• Demonstrated success in oversight of digitization projects, including selection, copyright evaluation, pre-project planning, scanning, metadata, and web delivery.
• Experience preparing and managing grant applications and activities.
• Experience with budget proposals and monitoring for personnel, equipment, digital infrastructure, and materials allocations.
• Public service and outreach experience in a Special Collections setting.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Familiarity with copyright and intellectual property issues relevant to archives and special collections including HIPAA, FERPA, and fair use.
• Commitment to engage in continuing professional development.
• Experience with digital repositories, digital asset management systems, and archival content management systems, specifically CONTENTdm, Omeka, and Aeon.
• Experience with project management applications such as Jira, Trello, or Basecamp.
• Experience overseeing large scale digitization projects, both in house and through external vendors.
• Experience with digital preservation activities and knowledge of contemporary trends in the field of digital preservation.
• Knowledge of and experience with environmental monitoring and planning to ensure physical stability of collections.
• Willingness to explore new technologies and to find ways to incorporate them in order to enhance services and complete tasks more efficiently.
• Responsibilities of this position change as the University Libraries continue to evolve.

Preferred Qualifications
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain relationships with donors and vendors. • Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of key issues, emerging technologies, and contemporary trends in archives and special collections. • Familiarity with current trends and protocols in born digital archiving and of tools and software used to capture and manage digital records. • Experience developing and submitting grant proposals. • Experience with Project Management.

Instructions and Required Materials for Application
Applications are accepted online only at https://careers.ua.edu . Click Faculty Jobs, then University Libraries. Please include your application, Curriculum Vitae, and names, addresses, phone numbers, and e- mail addresses of three references, including one current supervisor. Consideration of applications will begin immediately and will continue until position is filled. Applications received by March 1, 2024, are assured of receiving full consideration. Prior to employment the successful candidate must pass a pre-employment background investigation. For questions regarding the search, contact Michael Arthur, Senior Associate Dean, at [email protected].

About the Division/College/School
The University of Alabama Libraries, a system of four separate discipline-related libraries, is proud to support the research enterprise at the University of Alabama via a comprehensive and integrated network of resources, services, and technologies designed to meet the academic and research needs of students, faculty, and staff. We take pride in serving as a hub for innovation, knowledge creation and dissemination, research assistance, and collaborative learning.

Members of the University of Alabama family visited our physical and virtual spaces over 10 million times in 2022. Our print collections span over 6 million volumes, and we offer access to 2.5 million E-Books, 220,000 AV titles, and 98,000 E-Journals via our 685 databases.

University Libraries provides strong mentorship for faculty and staff, with ongoing collaborative opportunities, and administrative support for innovative services and ideas. We provide excellent support for needed technology and conference travel, and we are invested in academic freedom with teaching and research.

Our staff routinely update and maintain cutting edge programs of service in support of our stakeholders. Our faculty librarians have developed a robust instruction program, including a series of research data services and workshops, that consistently performs at the top of the SEC. We are heavily invested in performing the same high value research that our stakeholders produce, and that assists us in our data-driven strategic planning for the future. Our librarians have produced 75 peer reviewed journal articles in Tier 1 journals in the last 2 years.

If working with a talented group of professionals who value service, innovation, and high achievement, earning a nationally competitive starting salary, in a thriving college town, with a low cost of living, close to Birmingham, Atlanta, Nashville, New Orleans, and the Gulf Coast sounds interesting to you, start your application process with us to learn more!

About the University
The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state’s flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides an inclusive, forward-thinking environment and nearly 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus.

A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. The University of Alabama has R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity status by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and is among the top doctoral research universities in the United States.

As the state’s largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.

About Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa is so much more than a college town.

It's a vibrant community that’s filled with legendary history. Located along the Black Warrior River, the city features a walkable downtown that’s complete with live music, locally owned shops, outdoor spaces to explore and local restaurants to meet every palate. With a geography ranging from suburban to rural, the area offers a variety of housing options along with excellent public and private schools and a wealth of recreational and entertainment options.

With a metro area population of 235,000, the Druid City lies about an hour southwest of Birmingham, in west-central Alabama. It’s within a few hours’ drive of Gulf Coast beaches and major cities like Nashville, New Orleans and Atlanta, making it a great base for growing better acquainted with the South’s finest offerings.

Background Investigation and EEO Statement
Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants to and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. Follow the link below to find out more. "EEO is the Law" https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf