University Librarian

Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Vice-President, the University Librarian provides strategic leadership in all aspects of library and archival services for the University of King’s College including the planning, development and implementation of library and records management policies, leading and managing staff, administering the library budget, and long-range visioning and planning.

The University Librarian collaborates with Dalhousie University to ensure the provision of effective, contemporary and efficient user-centred services, including reference and research services, instruction, access services, information literacy, e- learning, research data management, copyright and scholarly communications. The University Librarian works collaboratively to build and manage the library collections and ensures the design and maintenance of library facilities – both physical and virtual — meet student, faculty and staff needs.
The University Library will be responsible for overseeing records management policies, procedures and related services for the university and will assume responsibilities for copyright, privacy, and academic integrity for the university, i.e. serving as the University’s Academic Integrity Officer.

The University Librarian represents the Library on the Board of Directors of Novanet, the Council of Atlantic University Libraries, the Dalhousie Libraries Library Council, and as a faculty member is an integral part of the academic and administrative community of the University.

Qualifications:

The successful candidate will have an American Library Association (ALA) accredited Master of Library Science Degree or acceptable equivalent plus five years professional experience, preferably in a post-secondary academic library. The candidate must have a proven record of successful leadership and demonstrated experience in supervising staff and coordinating workflows as well as an ability to respond effectively to changing needs and priorities of the Library, Archives and the University. The candidate will have demonstrated skills and knowledge of information management and of emerging trends in digital scholarship and open access initiatives, as well as an understanding of library technical services including cataloguing, acquisitions, and circulation practices, and a proven ability to establish budgetary priorities. The candidate should have experience managing a range of library functions, including acquisitions, circulation, cataloguing, archives, records management, copyright, research data management, and reference services.

Candidates must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, as well as strong organizational, client service and teamwork skills.

The University of King’s College Library

The University of King’s College Library collection of more than 80,000 volumes serves the curriculum and research needs of its students and faculty (see the description of the College below). The General Collection of more than 60,000 print volumes serves the Foundation Year Program, the three upper-year programs and the School of Journalism. The Library’s Special Collections of almost 20,000 volumes includes Medieval and Renaissance manuscripts, incunabula and Early Modern books, with notable eighteenth-century representation. The University of King’s College Archives, established in 1992, serves as the depository for inactive University Records having permanent legal, administrative or historical value. The King’s College Library is a member of the Novanet library consortium and the Council of Atlantic University Libraries (CAUL).

The University of King’s College

The University of King’s College, founded in 1789 and affiliated with the region’s largest university, Dalhousie, specializes in (a) undergraduate liberal arts through its first-year great books course, the Foundation Year Program, and its upper-year programs, Contemporary Studies, Early Modern Studies and the History of Science and Technology, and (b) in journalism, which offers two undergraduate, one-post baccalaureate and two Masters programs. Its liberal arts courses are taught with an interdisciplinary focus and with an emphasis on the interpretation of primary texts. Through its tutorial system, architecture and traditions (including formal meals and matriculation ceremony), the University preserves aspects of the Oxbridge culture while promoting academic excellence in a progressive educational environment. Halifax is a growing and economically vibrant city of 400,000, with five universities, a major medical centre and beaches and wilderness on its doorstep. It is the largest metropolitan area in Atlantic Canada.

Term: Three-year appointment, renewable
Salary: Competitive and commensurate with experience

The anticipated starting date of this appointment is October 18 (negotiable).

To apply for this position, please submit your application including a letter of introduction, Curriculum Vitae and contact details for three references (who will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission) electronically by August 3 with the subject line, University Librarian to pamela.hazel@ukings.ca.

The University of King’s College is an Employment Equity/Affirmative Action Employer. We encourage and welcome those who would contribute to the diversification of our staff and faculty including, but not limited to women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, visible minorities and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity. Members of designated groups are encouraged to self-identify.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents will be given priority.