Vacancy
Associate Dean for Collection Services
Loyola University Chicago Libraries

Loyola University Chicago Libraries (Loyola) seeks nominations and applications to identify user-focused, innovative, and forward-thinking candidates for the position of Associate Dean for Collection Services. This position will provide strategic direction and leadership within the University Libraries, work collaboratively across campus, and engage with the local community and national and international partners to develop and manage the libraries’ collections of scholarly information resources in support of Loyola’s teaching, learning, research, and service missions. Loyola encourages applications from underrepresented groups and from those with diverse backgrounds and life experiences.  

Environment 

Founded in 1870, Loyola is one of the nation's largest Jesuit, Catholic universities. Loyola is a private, not-for-profit institution consisting of eleven schools and colleges with four locations in Chicagoland and a campus in Rome, Italy, providing educational services to approximately 16,000 students in undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs. The University enjoys robust enrollments, an outstanding reputation for the quality of its teaching, and an increasing level of research activity. Recognizing Loyola's excellence in education, U.S. News and World Report has consistently ranked Loyola among the "top national universities" in its annual publications.

Like the University itself, Loyola's libraries and archives are in a growth mode with new facilities and initiatives, such as the eCommons, Loyola's institutional repository. With the opening of the $32 million Information Commons on the Lakeshore Campus in 2008, Loyola has one of the finest and most advanced academic library facilities in the Midwest. In addition to the Information Commons, the University Libraries includes Cudahy Library and the Library Storage Facility (LSF) at the main campus in Rogers Park, the Lewis Library at the Water Tower Campus in downtown Chicago, and a library at the John Felice Rome Center in Italy. The University Libraries has an annual materials budget exceeding $6 million. Collections include nearly two million volumes, 430 databases, 60,000 journals, and a variety of physical and streaming media resources. The Libraries sponsors frequent cultural programs for the Loyola community and its neighbors. For additional information, please visit http://libraries.luc.edu.

Responsibilities 

Reporting to the Dean of Libraries, the incumbent will provide leadership for and strategic direction to library departments, committees, and groups engaged in collection development and assessment, content acquisition and licensing, metadata creation and management, and materials processing and preservation. The associate dean will supervise department heads who oversee acquisitions and resource management functions and will work closely with library subject specialists to envision and build robust and responsive collections that contribute to student success and faculty productivity. Additional leadership opportunities will be available, depending on interest, aptitude, experience, and organizational needs.

As a member of the libraries administrative team, the associate dean will work to effect a user-focused agenda in support of teaching, learning, and research; ensure organizational efficiency and effectiveness; share responsibility for policy formulation, resource allocation, and organizational development; contribute to shaping strategic initiatives; and play a key role in establishing priorities, assessing outcomes, and accomplishing the vision for the Libraries’ future, in alignment with the University’s strategic plan. In concert with Loyola’s Jesuit values, the associate dean will consistently promote teamwork, respect, diversity, and inclusiveness.

Required qualifications


Master’s degree or above from an ALA-accredited library and information science program or in a relevant discipline or professional area


Clearly articulated commitment to the library as a holistic, user-focused organization, unifying programs, collections, and space as essential components of service


A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible work experience in an academic library or research environment, including at least five years at a level comparable to middle manager or above, in units responsible for the areas this position will lead


Solid understanding of emerging trends in higher education and academic libraries, especially those pertaining to content discovery, curation, and management


Experience with overarching collection development policies and collection budget distribution plans, for all material types and access models


Experience with vendor relations, content licensing, and contract negotiation


Familiarity with the range of collections-related operations, sufficient to enable and support a responsive, innovative, and cohesive unit and a suite of user-focused services


Solid understanding of library systems technology, especially as it supports collection acquisition and management


Strong leadership skills, including demonstrated evidence of effectively fostering a collaborative team work environment and setting priorities


Significant experience supervising staff, delegating responsibility, and mentoring


Robust interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to serve as a spokesperson, representative, and advocate for the Libraries


Demonstrated willingness and ability to lead and participate in organizational change, innovation, and healthy risk taking


Consistent record of professional contributions in the areas of scholarship and service


Commitment to diversity, equity, accountability, and shared responsibility


Preferred qualifications 


Additional advanced degree


Experience with Alma library management system and Primo discovery system


Familiarity with resource sharing through consortial and multi-institutional programs


Knowledge of open access and scholarly communication issues


Experience with strategic planning


Experience with project management


Familiarity with process improvement techniques


To apply 

Applicants should submit a current curriculum vitae and a letter of interest to www.careers.luc.edu. They also should provide the names and email addresses of three individuals prepared to speak to their professional qualifications for this position. Referees will not be contacted immediately but might be at subsequent points in the review process.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. For full consideration, applications should be received by September 1, 2018.  Please direct inquiries to the chair of the selection advisory committee:

Tracy Ruppman
Loyola University Chicago
Lewis Library - 6th floor
25 E. Pearson Street
Chicago, IL 60611
312-915-6949
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Loyola University Chicago is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer with a strong commitment to hiring for our mission and diversifying our faculty. As a Jesuit Catholic institution of higher education, we seek candidates who will contribute to our strategic plan to deliver a Transformative Education in the Jesuit tradition. To learn more about LUC’s mission, candidates should consult our website at www.luc.edu/mission/. For information about the university’s focus on transformative education, they should consult our website at www.luc.edu/transformativeed.


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