Director of Library and Theological Resource Center

Job Description

The Director of the Feehan Memorial Library and McEssy Theological Resource Center (Director) is responsible for library policy, developing, and monitoring the budget and long-range planning. The Director oversees day-to-day operations, including personnel, administration, purchasing, student and faculty services, collection development, resources, systems, and facilities. This position reports directly to the Provost and Vice President of Development and Marketing/Communications for USML

This position requires an experienced and visionary leader to collaborate with the University community in positioning the Library for ongoing excellence in supporting student success. The successful candidate for this position will be deeply knowledgeable about emerging technologies and will use that understanding as a foundation for leading the library toward a vision of serving current and future needs of USML's students.

Core Leadership Functions:

•With an entrepreneurial spirit and a formed in tradition mindset, develops, implements, and supports strategic direction, priorities, objectives, and planning for the Library: reporting, data and trending analysis, system support and hardware and software needs of the Library systems and databases.
•Supervises the internal database administration for the Library which creates and leads work groups and creates and maintains documentation for supporting systems.
•Serves as project manager for projects within the Library operations, including coordination and vetting project requests with University leadership.
•Strategic planning and implementation of improvements or upgrades in facilities, technologies, and physical spaces.
•Reference librarian for graduate research students.
•Develops strong collaborative relationships with administration, faculty members, and local, regional, and national library organizations affiliated with USML.
•Directs the operation of the USML Museum (serves as the Curator), and the maintenance and preservation of the collection.
•Oversight and direction of special collections and archival materials, with adherence to best practices in the management, development, preservation, access to, and curation of all content.
•Provides effective and supportive leadership, evaluation, and oversight to professional staff and student workers, including identification of training and development opportunities to keep current with necessary technical skills, capacities, and knowledge bases.
•Implements and refines comprehensive procedures and system checks; maintain data integrity and improve efficiency.
•Directs and plans for management of the operating and capital budgets for Library resources and operations.
•Establishes and communicates data protocols.
•Establishes and maintains high standards for quality of service to internal and external constituents.

Essential Job Functions:

•Works with administration and faculty in the management, curation, and strategic development of the library's collections in both print and electronic formats, including formulation of collection policies, priorities, and parameters, assessment, and financial administration.
•Establishes policies and procedures to ensure information is accurate for management of physical collections, including collections' security and preservation pertaining to both individual textual materials and the library's environmental conditions.
•Maintains the library as an integral teaching component of the school and its curriculum and ensures that appropriate library services are offered to students.
•Identifies and implements current and emerging academic library technologies and digital tools to promote teaching, learning, and research.
•Implements and develops programs in research support, instruction, and public services as well as outreach and community relations that facilitate the library's integral role in the university's teaching and scholarly mission/goals.
•Planning and management for special collections materials, making them accessible for research, instruction, and scholarly purposes.
•Identifies and implements new tools and technologies to develop vision/strategy for the digitization, discovery, display of special collections, archival materials and apply best practices to library services, information technology and information literacy.
•Represents the interests of the library and the University of Saint Mary of the Lake in its relationships to its publics and its collaborating institutions, especially the Association of Chicago Theological Schools.
•Maintains library and artifact records, keeping all records current, updated, and coded properly.
•Oversight of ongoing maintenance and design of USML's library website and web pages content utilizing SpringShare.
•Oversight and design of print and online publications (including course web pages, research guides, tutorials, subject bibliographies) and other topically oriented curricular, instructional, and promotional resources and tools -- to enable effective and innovative use of the collections, resources, and services.
•Manages licensing and software upgrades for the library's electronic resources.
•Oversight of marketing and promotion of library services, resources, and digital tools and technologies to students and faculty to facilitate learning and research, offsite and on-campus, including trials of new electronic resources and utilization of digital board.
•Ensures compliance with all University policies and standards.
•Other duties and special projects as assigned by the Provost.

Education and Experience - An equivalent combination of education, training and experience will be considered:

•Master's degree in library and /or Information Science (MLS, MLIS, MSLS, MI) from an institution accredited by the American Library Association (ALA), required.
•Master's degree in a subject area relevant to theology, theological librarianship, or biblical studies, preferred.
•A minimum of five to seven years of progressive demonstrated leadership experience within a college, university or equivalent, that demonstrates accomplishments and knowledge of library operations, research, academic setting, required.
•A minimum of five to seven years of progressive supervisory experience, communication skills, interpersonal skills, and capabilities necessary to lead a team.
•Advanced knowledge of library databases, technologies, and services.
•An understanding of emerging technologies and effective application.
•Demonstrated budget management and effective stewardship of resources.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities which may be representative, but not all-inclusive of those commonly associated with this position:

•Knowledge of the mission, the curriculum, and the educational needs of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake.
•Knowledge of library management policies and techniques.
•Knowledge of current trends in librarianship and scholarly communication, such as Library as Publisher movement and copyright, as well as the ability to provide leadership role in these areas.
•Ability to introduce appropriate technology to enhance the functionality of library systems and services.
•Discretion with, and experience in, handling of confidential materials.
•Ability to work independently, prioritize and execute multiple projects under demanding deadlines.
•Demonstrated leadership skills, planning, problem-solving, organizational, project management and customer support skills.
•Demonstrated creation and/or implementation of long-range organizational goals and or strategic plan(s).
•Excellent communication skills (verbal and written), ability to communicate tactfully and patiently with both internal and external constituents.
•Demonstrated ability to create and maintain strong relationships.
•Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Work Environment - Environmental/ atmospheric conditions associated with the performance of the functions of this job:

•General office conditions, university environment.
•Exposed to weather conditions outside, occasionally.
•Availability to work occasional nights and weekends for special events.
•Genuinely support and work with others in a Catholic environment.
•Sensitive to organizational needs, employee goodwill, and the mission, of the Catholic Church,
•A commitment to the belief that all people have the right to dignity, respect, opportunity, and full community inclusion.
•Possess a philosophy that is consistent with the Mission, Vision, and Values of the USML.

Physical Abilities that are commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job. The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions:

•Physical requirements include the ability to move around the library, kneel, carry, stoop, and lift up to 25 lbs., or greater, with assistance.
•Provides a welcoming and safe atmosphere.

About the Employer

The University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary (USML) is the major seminary and graduate school of theology for the Archdiocese of Chicago. Mundelein Seminary is one of the largest priesthood preparation programs in the United States having graduated over 4,000 students since 1926 and serving thirty (30) dioceses in the United States and abroad.