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Director of Library Technical Services and Collection Development Librarian - Sam Houston State Univ

Director of Library Technical Services and Collection Development Librarian - Sam Houston State Univ

InsideHigherEdHuntsville, Texas, United States
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Sam Houston State University has expressly engaged Jack Farrell & Associates ( www.jackfarrell.com ) to find the winning candidate for this important hire. Interested parties should contact Amy Morse ( amy@jackfarrell.com ). Thank you.

Sam Houston State University (SHSU) and the Newton Gresham Library (NGL) seek a highly skilled, collaborative, and strategic leader for the combined role of Director of Library Technical Services and Collection Development Librarian . This position is crucial for shaping and managing the library's collections and technical services, which include acquisitions, cataloging, and systems administration.

The successful candidate will ensure that library resources are effectively acquired, organized, and accessible. Additionally, they will lead initiatives to enhance the library's technology systems and services. This role requires a strong combination of expertise in collection development, management of technical services, and leadership skills to drive innovation in library operations. This is a tenure-track faculty position, which includes librarianship, professional service, and scholarship, with an administrative stipend for the Director of Library Technical Services . A competitive salary and relocation assistance is available.

Sam Houston State University (SHSU) provides attractive opportunities for individuals pursuing a rewarding and impactful career. The university offers a comprehensive benefits package, competitive salaries, and a flexible work environment that promotes work-life balance. SHSU prioritizes employee well-being and job satisfaction. Additionally, professional development opportunities through educational assistance and dependent assistance programs exist.

SHSU is in Huntsville, Texas, and serves a unique student population of over 22,000. Positioned along the rapidly developing Interstate 45 corridor between Houston and Dallas, SHSU is 70 miles north of downtown Houston and 170 miles south of Dallas, located in the beautiful “piney woods", with proximity to a state park and the national forest for outdoor recreation.

Responsibilities of the Position

Administrative

The Director of Library Technical & Collection Development directs six tenured and tenure-track librarians who lead 14 professional staff in the following areas : Acquisitions (including E-Resources and Serials), Cataloging, Collection Development, Digital Initiatives, Preservation, Special Collections, Systems and Web Services. This position also provides oversight and budget coordination on library annual materials’ budgets of approximately $4.7 million.

The Director’s responsibilities include :

  • Maintaining the overall efficiency of the department.
  • Establishing standards, procedures and sets priorities for achieving departmental goals.
  • Planning, developing, and implementing policies, procedures, and standards for the efficient operation of technical services and collection development in the library in collaboration with Technical Services Librarians and staff.
  • Serving as the Department chair in the Department of Library Technical Services (DLTS).
  • Attending University department chair meetings and functions.
  • Working to keep DLTS faculty on schedule for promotion and tenure reviews and other university expectations of departments.
  • Leading department meetings.
  • Leading DLTS in its interpretation and implementation of Academic Affairs and HR policies.
  • Identifying goals and objectives and setting priorities for Technical Services areas in collaboration with Technical Services librarians and staff.
  • Managing the Technical Services areas, overseeing functional supervision and staff evaluations. Coordinating Library efforts to ensure that collections are discoverable and accessible.
  • In conjunction with the Collection Development Librarian, collecting and analyzing data for reports such as : acquisitions and financial reports, academic program accreditation, ACRL and IPEDS surveys, etc.
  • Overseeing distribution and communication of analytics to library stakeholders.
  • Coordinating with Head of Acquisitions, planning and settings goals for library acquisitions budgets and reports.
  • In conjunction with Head of Cataloging, planning and setting goals for the cataloging and metadata associated with library print, electronic, and digital collections.
  • With Systems Librarian, planning and setting goals for library systems including the Integrated Library System (ILS) or Library Management Systems (LMS).
  • In conjunction with Web Services Librarian, planning and setting goals for library’s web presence and electronic offerings.
  • With Head of Digital Initiatives, planning and setting goals for digital library initiatives, digital humanities, and the like.
  • In conjunction with Head of Special Collections, planning and setting goals for Library Special Collections and University Archives.
  • Possibly representing Library leadership on campus committees, meetings, or events…and other duties as assigned.

Collection Development

As Collection Development Librarian, the winning candidate will :

  • Plan, organize, and manage the development of the library’s collections and information resources, including electronic resources and digital programs.
  • Work with subject selectors and academic departments to ensure that the library’s collections and electronic resources are selected to meet the student and faculty needs.
  • Serve as library representative on the University Curriculum Committee.
  • Coordinate all aspects of collection management and assessment.
  • Organize and conduct / lead collection management projects, such as evaluation, de-selection, and inventory across print and electronic collections.
  • Chair NGL’s Collection Development Committee.
  • Lead discussions on CD practices & procedures.
  • Bring required data (budget, usage statistics, vendor deals) to committee to inform decisions. (proposed job task).
  • Plan library materials budget for University Department allocations and oversee that budget in partnership with members of the Collection Development Committee, the Head of Acquisitions and Serials, Director of Library Technical Services, and the University Librarian.
  • Oversee the harvesting of usages statistics.
  • Collate and analyze usage statistics, circulation statistics, produces appropriate usage reports.
  • Manage library’s profile of Open Access (Openly published) resources.
  • Identify programs and recommend level of library’s participation in them.
  • Work with Head of Acquisitions and Serials in expressing these deals in library interfaces.
  • Understand and collect OER.
  • Work with Scholarly Communications Librarian in promoting OER use by SHSU faculty.
  • Work to make LibGuides to pull together existing OER.
  • Possibly serve as a liaison librarian and provide library instruction sessions related to discipline-specific courses.
  • Participate in professional activities, professional development, scholarly research and publication and service activities as outlined in Academic Policy Statement 900417, Faculty Reappointment, Tenure, and Promotion.
  • Possibly represent the library on campus committees, meetings, or events…and other duties as assigned.

    • Required Qualifications : A degree from an American Library Association (ALA) accredited master’s program is required.  At least three years of an established record of library leadership (coordinator, department chair, assistant / associate director, etc.).

    Preferred Qualifications : A record of librarianship, scholarship, and service sufficient for an initial tenured appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Full Professor.

    Applications will be accepted until November 7, 2025.

    Sam Houston State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and Smoke / Drug-Free Workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, ancestry, marital status, citizenship, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or protected veteran status. The University takes seriously the initiative to ensure equal opportunity in the workforce and to comply with Title VII as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court. Sam Houston State University is an “at will” employer. Employees with a contract will have additional terms and conditions. Security-sensitive positions at SHSU require background checks in accordance with Education Code §51.215.

    Sam Houston University Libraries has expressly engaged Jack Farrell & Associates (www.jackfarrell.com) to find the winning candidate for this important position. Interested parties should email a CV and a 2-page cover letter to Amy Morse (amy@jackfarrell.com).  The cover letter should address : 1) why am I interested?, 2) how am I qualified?, and 3) what might the Technical Services and Collections Development units look like in several years under my stewardship? JO 202506026

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