Director, Science and Agricultural Libraries

   

Cornell University Library stands at the center of intellectual life at the university, fostering connections and knowledge that help faculty, students, staff, and researchers from around the world excel in research, scholarship, and creative expression. It supports and enhances faculty and student productivity through its extensive collections, cutting-edge services and facilities, and a deep network of digital resources.

The Library seeks a forward-looking Director, Science and Agricultural Libraries. Reporting to the Associate University Librarian for Public Services, the Director provides vision, leadership and administration for the programs, collections, and services of Cornell University Library’s science libraries, including Albert R. Mann Library, the Mathematics Library, the Edna McConnell Clark Physical Sciences Library, and the Flower-Sprecher Veterinary Library. The Director manages staff supporting physical and life sciences, agriculture, and several applied fields in the social sciences; current direct reports include heads for collections, instruction, and outreach, and the lead for evidence synthesis. The Director builds and maintains awareness of programs and strategic directions for the sciences and agriculture at Cornell and works with other library directors to ensure that library services meet the needs of those communities.

The Science and Agricultural Libraries unit currently includes 16 full-time Research, Teaching, and Extension faculty librarians and 15 full-time staff members. In addition to providing services related to collections, instruction, and research, the libraries collaborate with other unit libraries and with the Digital Scholarship Services and Research Data and Open Scholarship units. The libraries also work in coordination with state, national and international networks and organizations such as Cornell Cooperative Extension, USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), USAIN (United States Agricultural Information Network), AgNIC (Agriculture Network Information Collaborative), the Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL), and SUNY (State University of New York).

Required Qualifications : 

• Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited program or related field or international equivalent.

• At least 6 years of professional librarian experience combined with at least 3 years of demonstrated evidence of leadership and management in an academic or research library setting, including supervising, developing, and coaching staff.

• Demonstrated ability to foster an environment of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

• Demonstrated ability to foster effective working relationships with University faculty, students, staff, and administrators.

• Record of scholarship, professional involvement, community engagement, and service.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills: ability to listen actively, speak and write clearly, and effectively present information and ideas to groups.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Academic background or library experience with a focus on sciences and/or agriculture.

• Experience managing research life-cycle services such as evidence synthesis, systematic reviews, research data management, or data curation.

• Experience preparing and managing grants.

• Demonstrated expertise in planning and budget management.

This position is located in Ithaca, New York. The selected candidate will work on the Ithaca campus at least 4 days per week, with potential for entering into a flexible work arrangement to allow remote work 1 day per week. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time.

Relocation assistance may be provided.  

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Benefits :  Our comprehensive benefits package includes 22 vacation days, 13 paid holidays, health insurance, life insurance, university retirement contributions, childcare and adoption assistance, and child tuition reimbursement. Funding is available to support professional development. More information regarding Cornell’s generous benefits for contract college employees can be found here . This appointment will be at the Associate Librarian or Librarian rank with an anticipated salary range of $86,000-$136,000, dependent on experience and qualifications.     

Background : Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Its inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff imparts an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contributes creative ideas to further the University's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement. In addition to the main campus in Ithaca, NY , Cornell's expansive global presence includes the medical college's campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, as well as the new Cornell Tech campus being built on Roosevelt Island in New York City. The Ithaca campus sits on 2,300 acres in the heart of the Finger Lakes region. Ithaca, located roughly halfway between Manhattan and Toronto, offers a wealth of arts, culture, and activity while maintaining an eclectic college-town feel. Outdoor enthusiasts can take advantage of the multitude of rolling hills, breathtaking gorges, hiking trails, and lakes offering countless outdoor activities. The city has been named one of the top 100 places to live, a top 10 recreation city, a best green place to live, and one of the "foodiest" towns in America.

One of the leading academic research libraries in the United States, Cornell University Library is a highly valued partner in teaching, research, and learning at the university. With an operating budget of approximately $65 million and a staff of more than 350 FTE, the Library supports 2,700 faculty, 22,000 students and 94 PhD fields. Its world class collections, expert librarians, responsive services in physical and virtual library spaces inspire and nourish scholarship and learning. Cornell University Press, the first University Press in the US, has a staff of approximately 40 FTE, reports directly to the University Librarian.

Diversity and Inclusion :  As a university founded to be a place where “…any person can find instruction in any study,” diversity and inclusion are at the core of our values and mission. We strive to be a welcoming, caring, healthy, and equitable community where students, faculty, and staff with different backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn, innovate, and work in an environment of respect, and feel empowered to engage in any community conversation. As a member of the Cornell University community, it is important to recognize our shared responsibility to each other to cultivate a culture of inclusion for all.  Cornell Core values     

Our Vision : Empowering Cornell’s research and learning community with deep expertise, innovative services, and outstanding collections strengthened by strategic partnerships.  

Our Mission : Cornell University Library promotes a culture of broad inquiry and supports the University’s mission to discover, preserve, and disseminate knowledge and creative expression. It engages with the ongoing transformations of society to deliver world-class physical and digital content and services critical to research, education, and outreach, now and in the future. The Library acts globally, supporting Cornell’s land grant mission in New York State and beyond, and builds partnerships within and outside the university. It invests in its staff, collections, and physical and virtual libraries. And, it serves as a neutral and trusted party supporting information access and scholarly communication. 

How to Apply :  All candidates must apply online via the Cornell Careers site . For full consideration, please include the following with your application: 

1. A cover letter;

2. A Curriculum Vitae;

3. A statement supporting diverse communities which may be incorporated into the cover letter or presented as a separate statement. Candidates are invited to outline their experiences and approaches to working with diverse communities through their research, teaching and service. Guidelines for candidates are here . 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until a viable pool of applicants is identified; early submission is strongly encouraged. Although we prefer to receive your application as one, multi-page pdf document, we will accept multiple documents in other formats.

   

Familiarize yourself with Cornell's COVID-19 workplace guidance as well as the university's COVID-19 services and information .

  

University Job Title:

Librarian I

Job Family:

Research

Level:

006

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

Pay Range:

$86,000.00 - $136,000.00

Remote Option Availability:

Hybrid Remote

Company:

Contact Name:

Bonnie Bailey

Job Titles and Pay Ranges:

Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position

• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline (faculty pay ranges reflects 9-month annual salary)

To learn more about Cornell’s non-union staff job titles and pay ranges, see Career Navigator .

Union Positions

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement. To learn more about Cornell’s union wages, see Union Pay Rates .

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Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law. 

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

2024-02-19