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Assistant/Associate University Librarian for Public Services

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Position description

The University of California, Irvine Libraries seeks an innovative, flexible, and forward-thinking leader for the position of Assistant/Associate University Librarian (AUL) for Public Services. The Libraries play a central role in the vibrant academic life of the UC Irvine campus, a large public university with a national reputation for its role as an engine of social mobility, its leadership in environmental sustainability, and its commitment to inclusive excellence. UCI has a growing reputation for academic and research excellence that attracts diverse students and faculty from across the nation and around the world. For its 2021/2022 academic year, UCI received nearly 134,000 applications, solidifying its position as one of the most desired schools in the country.

Reporting to the University Librarian, the AUL will lead an enthusiastic staff in strategically planning leading-edge library public services, including instruction, outreach, reference, and access programs that address the needs of this diverse and dynamic university. The position also facilitates innovation for the Libraries’ Information Technology infrastructure, provides strategic direction for the Libraries’ user centered online presence and services, and ensures that services and partnerships at the Grunigen Medical Library meet the needs of UCI Health researchers and medical providers. The AUL will also ensure that diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are considered in the development of services, policies, procedures, and strategies. As a member of the senior management team, the AUL is expected to actively engage in all aspects of the UCI Libraries and to serve as an ambassador and advocate for Libraries with campus constituencies, UC systemwide groups, and regional and national organizations.

Responsibilities

As leader of the Public Services Division, the AUL is a key member of the UCI Libraries’ senior management team, ensures organizational effectiveness and efficiency and shares in responsibilities for strategic leadership, decision-making, resource management, and development of policies for library operations and services. While each AUL position has an individual area of responsibility, all AULs have responsibility for adopting a holistic library-wide view in terms of strategic planning, communication, and fostering an environment of innovation. AULs collaborate to ensure organizational success across departments, units, and divisions. AULs are also expected to play a leadership role in promoting teamwork, diversity, and inclusiveness within UCI Libraries and the campus. Each AUL also has responsibilities for coaching, mentoring, and guiding managers in the development, framing, and communication of strategic initiatives. In addition, AULs serve as the Libraries and the University Librarian’s representative and advocate to relevant campus, consortial or multi-institutional groups.

The AUL for Public Services provides leadership and coordination for the development, assessment, and evaluation of the Libraries’ services to support the teaching, research, and clinical activities of the University’s faculty, students and staff. The position provides strategic oversight for the following Public Services departments and units: Reference, Education and Outreach, Access and Operations, Information Technology, Design Services, and the Grunigen Medical Library. The AUL for Public Services collaboratively establishes goals and objectives for the Division and develops, evaluates, and continually improves programs and services. The position participates in the Libraries’ efforts to secure external funding for library materials and services and to promote library services and resources to the campus community.

The Public Services Division includes approximately 14 academic librarians and 51 staff employees.

Qualifications

Required:
• Master’s degree or higher in library or information science or other relevant discipline
• Minimum five years of increasingly responsible, professional, relevant work experience in an academic library, with a particular expertise in the delivery of user-centered public services.
• Strong leadership skills, including analytical and conceptual abilities to think multiple steps ahead and consider the pros and cons and likely outcomes of strategies and proposals.
• Experience leading, supervising, mentoring, and providing development opportunities for librarians and staff.
• Strong interpersonal and public communication skills including ability to serve as an advocate and spokesperson for UCI Libraries and the Division.
• Experience with managing budgets and assessing services.
• Ability to lead organizational change, engage in big picture thinking and build consensus around a strategic vision.
• Ability to independently investigate and assess innovations, come up with or inspire creative solutions to problems, and delegate responsibility appropriately.
• Ability to coach and guide others in the development, framing, and communication of strategic initiatives.
• Knowledge of emerging trends in higher education and new developments in reference, instruction, access services, facilities operations, and the use of information technology in support of a library’s mission.
• Understanding of and commitment to the value of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in an academic setting.
• Experience developing and advancing projects and initiatives that support DEIA.
• Ability to work creatively, collaboratively, and effectively and to play a leadership role in promoting teamwork, diversity, equality, and inclusiveness within UCI Libraries and the campus.
• Ability to build successful partnerships at the local, regional, and national level.

Preferred:
• Experience in promoting library services and engaging faculty, students, and administrators.
• Experience with Information Technology management.
• Experience with health sciences library operations.
• Experience in consortial and multi-institutional program development.
• Experience in developing and implementing strategic plans and projects.
• Experience in writing and managing successful grant proposals.

The UCI Libraries

At the heart of the University of California, Irvine’s academic community, the UCI Libraries plays a vital role in enabling our outstanding students, faculty and researchers to create new knowledge, develop lifelong learning skills, and make meaningful contributions to society. We value innovation and collaboration, and we are committed to fostering an environment that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion. See our Diversity Statement and Plan.

The Libraries physical spaces consist of the Langson Library, the Science Library, the Library Gateway Study Center, and the Grunigen Medical Library (located at the UCI Medical Center in Orange, CA). These locations provide a welcoming and technology enhanced environment valued by students as places for study, research, and collaboration. Together they contain over 3,300 public seats, over 500 public access computers, laptop computers for checkout, and a wide range of multimedia resources including 3D printers. The library collection consists of over 4.3 million volumes, 254,000 journals and serial titles, and an ever-expanding collection of electronic books, databases, and other resources. As part of the University of California system, the UCI Libraries collaborates closely with the nine other UC campus libraries and the California Digital Library (CDL). Our public website is a portal to access e-resources; discover print, archival, and multi-media collections; and connect with reference and instructional services. It also includes cutting edge digital tools and tutorials and numerous subject specific research guides created by subject specialists.

The UCI Libraries employs approximately 140 full-time librarians and staff and many part-time student assistants. We strongly support the professional development of librarians and staff throughout their careers.

The UCI Libraries are a member of the: Association of Research Libraries (ARL), HathiTrust, Center for Research Libraries (CRL), Coalition of Networked Information (CNI), Digital Library Federation (DLF), Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR), Scholarly Publishing & Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC), Pacific Rim Research Libraries Alliance (PRRLA), International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), National Information Standards Organization (NISO), and OCLC Research Library Partnership (OCLC RLP).

University of California, Irvine

The University of California, Irvine, is nestled in over 1,500 acres of coastal foothills, five miles from the Pacific Ocean, between San Diego and Los Angeles. Founded in 1965, UCI has over 37,000 undergraduate and graduate students and over 1,800 faculty and staff. Nearly 67% of UCI students identify themselves as Asian American, African American, Chicano/Latino, or Native American. Over 50% of UCI’s Bachelor Degrees are awarded to first generation college students. The New York Times ranks UCI as the #1 college doing the most for the American Dream, and U.S. News and Report ranks UCI among the top ten public universities in the nation. The University offers graduate degrees in more than 100 academic disciplines and interdisciplinary programs in addition to the M.D. and J.D.

Salary & Benefits: Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience based on the University of California pay scales. Appointment is anticipated to be at the Assistant or Associate University Librarian rank.

Librarians are entitled to two days per month of annual leave, thirteen paid holidays, and one day per month sick leave. The University has an excellent retirement system and offers a variety of group health, life, and disability insurance plans.

Deadline for Applications: Applications received by November 10, 2021 will receive first consideration.

To Apply: Qualified applicants who wish to be considered for this position should submit the information requested: cover letter; complete résumé; a statement that addresses past and/or potential contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion; and a list of three references (names and contact information only) via UCI AP Recruit at: https://recruit.ap.uci.edu/JPF07175.

Upon application, candidates should be in possession of proof of their legal right to employment in the U.S. In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, verification of legal right to work will be required between the time of final selection and hiring and is absolutely essential in ultimately being hired.

This position description is listed on the UCI Libraries web site at
https://www.lib.uci.edu/current-librarian-and-administrative-vacancies
with links to additional web sites featuring campus and community information.

The University of California, Irvine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer advancing inclusive excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• Master’s degree or higher in library or information science or other relevant discipline
• Minimum five years of increasingly responsible, professional, relevant work experience in an academic library, with a particular expertise in the delivery of user-centered public services.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
Reference requirements
  • 3 required (contact information only)

Please provide the names of 3 potential references including contact information and a brief statement of the relationship to the applicant. Do not include letters of recommendation here.

Apply link: https://recruit.ap.uci.edu/JPF07175

About UC Irvine

The University of California, Irvine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer advancing inclusive excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Job location

Irvine, CA