Job Description
Ferrum College invites applications for the position of Director of Stanley Library. This is a full-time, 12-month, non tenure-track position with faculty status. The College, with a history of serving the Southwest Virginia area for 110 years, seeks an innovative, dynamic leader committed to establishing a world class library facility that supports the mission, vision, and academic initiatives of the College. Stanley Library is part of the Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs, and the Director is responsible for program development, delivery, and assessment of effectiveness. The Director will collaborate with faculty, staff, and administrators to align and integrate the Library with academic and student life on campus.
Founded in 1913, Ferrum College provides lifelong learning and outstanding career and graduate school preparation in a setting of rich natural beauty. A four-year, private, co-educational, liberal arts college related to the United Methodist Church, Ferrum College offers nationally recognized undergraduate degree programs, campus-wide wireless internet, small classes, and a dedicated faculty and staff.
Stanley Library offers primary source materials in many formats for the use of Ferrum College students and faculty. The Library provides the campus community with access to a wide array of print and electronic materials in support of the curriculum. OneSearch searching provides affiliated users with access to various electronic resources, as well as the catalog of print holdings. Stanley Library consists of three floors designed to give students a variety of learning spaces. The 21st Century Learning Center is on the first (main) floor of the Library and houses the Reference-Circulation Service Desk, reference computers for student use, and the Learning Engagement and Practice (LEaP) Studio for library instruction. Current periodicals, the DVD collection, and staff offices are also on this level. The second (top) floor of the Library houses the first half of the circulating print collection, the Learning Commons study area, the Special Collections Room that contains College archives, several print collections, and numerous manuscripts, the Methodist Room which is a shared space and contains the UMW Collection and the College’s United Methodist Church collection, four small study rooms, five classrooms, and the NAVE, the curriculum lab library for Education majors. The lower (ground) level of the Library houses the last half of the circulating print collection, the oversized print book collection, bound periodicals and a microfilm room. This level also functions as the Library’s quiet study area and houses a computer lab, as well as a tiered classroom, which are accessible from the lobby area of the Library.
Required Qualifications:
* An earned Master’s degree in Library Science from an ALA accredited program.
* A minimum of five (5) years of progressive leadership experience in supervising and managing library personnel
* Experience with library consortia, shared catalogs, and maximizing the use of resources.
* Experience with strategic planning, assessment, and evaluation.
* Excellent interpersonal and oral and written communication skills.
* Advanced understanding of digital technologies and current trends in library and information science.
* Experience in working with diverse populations.
* Experience and demonstrated skill in supervision of professional staff and student assistants, including hiring, mentoring, and evaluating performance.
* Strong ability to relate to and work effectively with senior leadership teams, deans, faculty, staff, and students.
* Experience with securing grants and with fundraising initiatives.
Duties:
* Oversee daily operations of the Stanley Library, establish policies and procedures, and represents the library staff at all administrative meetings.
* In consultation with classroom faculty, establish and implement collection development policies considering current and emerging curricular needs to support teaching, learning, and research at Ferrum College.
* In collaboration with classroom faculty, provides access to information about primary sources by offering class sessions, workshops, tours, and individual reference and orientation services.
* Provide supervision of all departments and personnel within the Library.
* Maintain oversight of all funding designated for Library collections and programs including both endowed and grant funds.
* Oversee and respond to collection, research, and Ferrum College history inquiries.
* Participate in writing grant proposals and fundraising activities.
* In consultation with library staff, plan for and select library collections for digitization.
* Participate in the life of Ferrum College by attending faculty meetings and campus events and, upon request, provide library tours for prospective students, parents, alumni, and other visitors.
* Represent Stanley Library and Ferrum College at various local, national, and professional conferences and meetings.
* Committed to working collaboratively with the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum to further develop and preserve documents related to the folk life of the Blue Ridge, Appalachia, and Virginia as a whole.
* Work closely with the Ferrum College Facilities Department to preserve and improve the library building and its furnishings.
Required knowledge and skills:
Individual must possess knowledge, skills, and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the position, or be able to explain or demonstrate how the essential function will be performed, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities.
* A demonstrated understanding of and commitment to strong, inclusive, user-centered reference and instructional services for undergraduates with an understanding of pedagogical and scholarly use of collections.
* Ability to align library staff, programs, and policies around a student-centered vision.
* Ability to assist students, scholars, and others with research needs.
* Ability to develop and articulate a vision for the Library’s role in the mission of the College.
* Demonstrated proficiency and capabilities with library-relevant information technology applications.
* Demonstrated experience with the evaluation and assessment of library resources.
* Experience dealing with both copyright and intellectual property issues related to libraries, archives, and special collections.
* Knowledge of rare books, manuscripts, and archival collections, as well as current trends in digitization and other electronic resources issues.
* Knowledge of the history of print books and manuscripts, their means of production and distribution, and their social and cultural impact.
* Ability to work creatively, collaboratively, and effectively both as a team member and independently, and to promote teamwork among colleagues and student staff.
A comprehensive review of complete applications will begin immediately and will remain open until filled. A letter of interest, including resume, copies of bachelor’s and graduate transcripts, and three (3) professional references including title and contact information should be sent to the following:
Office of Human Resources
Ferrum College
P.O. Box 1000, Ferrum, VA 24088
Electronic submissions (PDF or Word file attachments) may be emailed to resumes@ferrum.edu
Please Note: A background check is required.
Ferrum College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In accordance with all federal, state and local laws, it is the policy of the College not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment in hiring, promotion, discharge, pay, fr