Director of Library

Job Title : Director of the Library

Department : Weis Library

Reports To : Provost

Salary Range : $55,000-$65,000

Prepared By : Office of Human Resources

Position Grade : Staff

FLSA Status : Exempt

Prepared Date : July 2021

OVERVIEW OF THE UNIVERSITY

Washington Adventist University (WAU) is a Christ-centered institution of higher education that supports a culture of excellence where all feel valued.

Nestled in a desirable residential community in Takoma Park, Maryland, WAU offers its faculty and staff an environment where professional expertise is valued, and lasting connections between co-workers are formed as we work together to ensure the success of our students.

Regardless of the title, every employee supports WAU’s vision of producing graduates who bring moral leadership and competence to their communities.

SUMMARY

Responsible for the overall functioning of the Theofield G. Weis Library and the Curriculum Library, including recruitment, administration, and supervision of staff.

With the approval of the Provost, formulates policies for the library and prepares the operating budget. Works with department chairs to ensure that resources and allocations are sufficient to meet the curriculum needs of the University and that students and faculty receive library instruction as needed and appropriate.

Is directly responsible for the safety and security of the collection; and with the advice of the Library Committee, develops plans and resources to anticipate the changing needs of the faculty, administration, and students and works with the faculty to provide for the growth of the collection and the promotion of library services and resources to the campus community.

Serves as an active member of the WAU shared governance system as appropriate. Responsible for making sure that issues of building maintenance, safety, and security are addressed by working with the appropriate University offices and personnel.

Plans and administers the provision of library services by performing the following duties personally or through subordinate supervisors :

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

General Library Administration

It is the responsibility of the director of the library to carry out the following administrative functions :

• Provide leadership for and management of the University’s library services.
• Provide information, operational and usage reports and schedules to the Provost.
• Assists University faculty, staff and students in resolving problems associated with library services.
• Formulate policies and procedures.
• Achieve financial objectives by preparing an annual budget, scheduling expenditures; analyses variances; initiating corrective action.
• Recruit, train, supervise, and appraise library personnel
• Delegate supervisory / administrative responsibilities to library personnel as appropriate
• Foster marketing and public relations activities
• Supervise the purchase of resources, supplies, and equipment
• Exercise responsibility for library equipment and inventories
• Maintain essential library records
• Manage the library facility, including space allocation, maintenance, and repairs
• Prepare various reports

Performs the following duties personally or through subordinate supervisors :

Resources Management and Education

• Organize the library’s resources for optimum access and usage
• Disseminate information about the current library services to students, faculty and staff.
• Develop subject-specific informational material for academic support.
• Assist the Webmaster in ensuring information is current on the Weis Library web page.
• Acquire needed resources as identified by departmental requests and library staff research and recommendations
• Consult with departments in regard to existing and needed resources
• Develop and provide for professional development and in-service training of library staff.
• Provide library instruction

Technology

• Coordinates the introduction of technological advances in information access into the library to support student learning outcomes.
• Makes recommendations for the upgrade of library technology as needed.

Consortial Relationships

• Maintain satisfactory working relationships with consortiums, including the following :
• Adventist Library Information Cooperative (ALICE)
• Maryland Digital Library (MDL)
• Attend consortium meetings as scheduled
• Participate in consortium-wide planning and budgeting

Professional Development

• Encourages library personnel to develop professionally by being members of professional organizations as appropriate and by attending conferences, seminars, workshops, etc.
• Participates personally in local, regional, and national professional organizations

Statistics and Reports

• Keeps and tabulates pertinent library statistics
• Prepares narrative and statistical reports as required

Additional Duties

• Shares evening and weekend supervisory and reference responsibilities
• Performs other duties as requested / assigned

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supervises all library employees, including professional librarians, paraprofessional staff, student library assistants, etc.
• Delegates supervisory / administrative responsibilities as appropriate
• Plans, assigns, and directs work
• Appraises performance
• Rewards / disciplines
• Addresses complaints and resolves problems.

SUPERVISIORY RESPONSIBLITIES

• Supervision Received :
• Reports directly to the Provost
• Supervision Given :
• Provides supervision to library faculty and staff and student employees.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and / or ability required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required

• Master's Degree in Library or Information Science from an ALA accredited program or its foreign equivalent.
• Demonstrated commitment to the use of new information technologies
• Experience using print and digital resources, online databases, and the Internet.
• Understanding of and commitment to the concept of information literacy.
• Active service orientation.
• Effective oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Excellent managerial and organizational skills.

Preferred

• Experience working in an academic environment that is associated with a consortium
• Experience with OCLC WorldShare Management Services.
• At least five years of appropriate library administrative experience

Language Skills :

• Excellent communication, written and verbal, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents.
• Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.
• Ability to effectively present information to various audiences.

Interpersonal Skills :

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a diverse and multi-cultural student body and staff.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with diverse constituencies.

Mathematical and Technology Skills :

• Knowledge and use of computer and its applications
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Word and Excel.

Managerial / Leadership Skills

• Ability to meet deadlines and handle multiple projects.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, prioritize, and problem-solve.

Other Skills and Abilities :

Demonstrates and fosters excellence in teaching and service; values research

Physical Demands :

The physical demands described here 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 the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to see, talk, and hear; to use hands to handle books and other objects;

and to reach with hands and arms.

• The employee must regularly use stairs.
• The employee must regularly lift books and occasionally lift boxes of books and other heavy objects, such as computers and printers.
• The employee will frequently be called upon and must be able to work long hours under stressful conditions.

Work Environment :

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The employee is occasionally required to travel.

Title VII Exception Notice

Washington Adventist University is a religiously qualified Equal Opportunity Employer under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

As such the University has the legal right to prefer a member of the Seventh-day Adventist ("SDA") Church in its hiring process.

If a qualified SDA candidate is not identified, the University will give the opportunity to candidates who must understand and respect the mission, purpose, and identity of Washington Adventist University as a condition of their employment.

34 CRF (and subsections), insofar as they conflict with the Seventh-day Adventist teaching and practices.