Head of Special Collections

Description

The University of Missouri Libraries (MU Libraries) invites applications for the full-time, NTT Librarian position of Head of Special Collections. The collections are diverse and range from a substantial rare book collection with material dating to the eighth century to the comic arts collection, focused on underground comics, classic comic strips, graphic novels, and journalism collections, including the Husni Magazine Collection. The collections include books, periodicals, manuscripts, maps, posters, printed ephemera, and artifacts. Materials in Special Collections total over 200,000 items. The collections are a heavily used resource that supports a busy program of reference, instruction, and outreach to the University of Missouri community and beyond. 

The MU Libraries seek a leader who will provide direction, administration, and long-term planning for Special Collections. The Head of Special Collections is responsible for developing and implementing policies and procedures, supervision of employees, and initiatives relating to the department's daily operations. The successful candidate will be responsible for collection development and management, teaching and outreach, and coordination and provision of reference service, and will work closely with the Libraries’ Director of Advancement on fundraising and development activities. The Head of Special Collections also contributes to collection promotion, outreach, and exhibits. Special Collections is co-located with University Archives.

The selected candidate will be an integral part of our team working to implement a new climate-controlled, secured shelving space for rare and archival materials. Responsibilities will include regular meetings with our architects, PGAV, and consultants from Image Permanence Institute, to ensure that their plans adequately address our collection storage needs and take into account access and workflow issues. This position will also be responsible for a master plan for use of the space once renovations are complete.  Work on this project is enabled by a prestigious $500,000 Infrastructure and Capacity Building Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). 

Responsibilities:

• Manages Special Collections personnel, facilities, and funds in compliance with administrative policies of the University of Missouri. Administratively supervises librarians, staff, and student assistants. Oversees and participates in training of department staff as appropriate, including patron service expectations and goals.
• Provides reference services to patrons in person, by telephone, or virtually. Provides bibliographic instruction for classes and other groups.
• Actively pursues and develops outreach to faculty and students that encourages the inclusion of special collections materials in the curriculum. Works closely with faculty, students, alumni, and others in the wider community to interpret the collections and promote an understanding of their value to teaching and scholarship.
• Oversees and/or prepares finding aids, catalogs, or other publications to improve access to the collections.
• Cooperates in the planning and design of the departmental website, including planning and preparation of online exhibits. Contributes to and assists in special research, bibliographic, and exhibition projects.
• Expands awareness of Special Collections holdings through exhibits, publications, instructional programs, presentations, and lectures. 
• Prioritizes materials for cataloging. As needed, develops bibliographic control standards for special collections materials, including metadata for digital materials.
• Maintains and updates the collection development policy for Special Collections.
• Identifies and recommends materials in Special Collections holdings that are suitable for digitizing. Works closely with the Digital Initiatives unit on planning for digital library projects.
• Works with the Preservation & Conservation Librarian to maintain a proper environment for the preservation, safety and security of the Special Collections and its collections. Responsible for departmental security policies and procedures.
• Cooperatively works with other staff members in collection development for the major collecting areas of the Department.  Makes budgetary and spending decisions in matters of acquisition of new materials. Evaluates prospective gift items for addition to the collections. Works with the Acquisitions Department to track expenditures of appropriated and gift funds for Special Collections materials.
• Works with the University Librarian and the Libraries’ Advancement Officer to advance the MU Libraries’ relationship with current and prospective donors and assist as needed in with fund-raising initiatives.
• Participates in professional activities beyond the library as appropriate and maintains current awareness of trends and developments in rare books and special collections, including digital libraries and digital preservation. 
• Participates in general library administration and planning activities as appropriate. 
• Represents the Division in appropriate meetings at the campus or university levels. 

Apply online at http://hrs.missouri.edu/find-a-job/academic with Job ID 53208. A cover letter, contact information for three references and CV must be uploaded through the brief online application. 

Requirements

MLS from an ALA-accredited program required.

 Candidates will be evaluated on:

•         Record of successful leadership experience in an equivalent or similar position
•         Years of experience in special collections libraries or rare books collection within an academic or research library
•         Experience with long-term planning for Special Collections
•         Commitment to outstanding customer service
•         Supervisory experience and skills
•         Demonstrated understanding of the role of primary source material in the research process
•         Teaching experience, including creating online resources guides and tutorials
•         Course work in rare books, preservation or completion of additional graduate work or other relevant continuing education offerings
•         Familiarity with the history of books and printing and the antiquarian book trade
•         Awareness of preservation practice and issues for print, and digital materials
•         Reading knowledge of at least one classical or modern language other than English
•         Experience in managing digitization projects and awareness of national standards and best practices for creating digital collections
•         Experience with developing and maintaining web sites
•         Additional graduate degree in an appropriate subject area