San Marcos – California State University San Marcos, University Library – Head of User Services

Url: http://goo.gl/lsO6w8

Effective Date: Fall 2016, or earlier

The University Library at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) seeks an innovative Head of User Services (currently Access Services) at the level of Senior Assistant or Associate Librarian. This position is tenure-track. Tenure may be offered in exceptional circumstances. This position will provide leadership in developing, evaluating, and implementing innovative, user-focused academic information/resource services for the University community as well as fostering an environment of responsive, welcoming services and spaces. Reporting to the Dean of the Library, the Head of User Services provides leadership, guidance, and strategic direction in an evolving landscape of resource sharing, media, and copyright. This position explores emerging user services technologies, leads the User Services unit in evaluating and implementing new services when appropriate, and contributes to the development of forward-thinking approaches to the delivery of excellent public services in an organization committed to contributing to the teaching, learning, and research endeavors of the university through electronic resources and access. The User Services unit includes the functional areas of circulation, course reserves, interlibrary loan/resource sharing, stacks management, and media, as well as multiple physical and online services. The Head of User Services leads the work of twelve library staff members by fostering a creative, collaborative, and team-oriented work environment, and facilitating communication and coordination with other departments in the Library. The Head of User Services partners with the Associate Dean and Heads of the Information Literacy Program, Collection Management and Technical Services Department, and Library Systems Department. This position serves on the Library Cabinet, which operates as the Library’s leadership team.

Minimum requirements for the position include:

ALA-accredited MLS or international equivalent. Experience in leadership of a user services or similar unit within an academic library. Demonstrated experience supervising or directing the work of staff. Demonstrated success in collaborative work focused on user experiences within an academic library. Strong knowledge of current trends in resource sharing and/or media collections. Knowledge of contemporary copyright issues, open access initiatives, and trends in scholarly communication. Knowledge of assistive technology and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) formatting and compliance. Demonstrated potential for meeting the requirements for tenure and promotion under the Library's criteria for professional performance, scholarship and service. Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

Preferred requirements for the position include:

Three to five years of experience in leadership of a user services or similar unit within an academic library.  Demonstrated success in leadership of a user services or similar unit within an academic library. Experience working in an environment where both faculty and staff are unionized. Experience working with the Ex Libris integrated library system. Demonstrated expertise in contemporary copyright issues, open access initiatives, and trends in scholarly communication. Demonstrated expertise in interlibrary loan/resource sharing innovations. Demonstrated expertise in the intersection of physical library spaces and the user learning experience. Teaching, training, and/or instructional design experience. Published and/or presented on research related to user services in academic libraries. Participation in local, regional or national professional organizations. Preference will be given to applicants with demonstrated intercultural competence with diverse groups in professional performance, research, and/or service.

Specific Duties:

·        Provides leadership and vision in developing innovative, user-centered Library-wide public services, standards, and best practices.

·        Collaboratively creates, maintains, and continuously improves policies and procedures governing and workflows in implementing user services to faculty, staff, students, users with disabilities, visiting researchers, and members of the community.

·        In collaboration with the Evidence-Based Planning and Assessment Librarian, participates in ongoing user needs assessment activities including statistics gathering and reporting, and providing leadership in evaluating services, both online and physical, based on user behaviors, expectations and needs.

·        Provides lead work direction for the User Services Department, which includes circulation, course reserves, interlibrary loan/resource sharing, stacks management, and media.

·        Organizes and monitors the workload and staffing of the department (12.0 FTE) to provide services responsive to user needs, including participating in the recruitment process, overseeing the staff evaluation process, and facilitating access to appropriate staff development opportunities. Encourages cross-training across functions for increased efficiency.

·        Represents the User Services Department on the Library's leadership team. Takes a Library-wide orientation and works closely with department head colleagues to implement the Library’s vision and strategic plan.

·        Makes recommendations to the Dean on department budget, staff, and facility needs.

·        Provides leadership on innovative practices in interlibrary loan/resource sharing. Participates in the California State University Unified Library Management System community as appropriate.

·        In collaboration with Library subject specialists and the Head of Collection Management and Technical Services, provides leadership on issues surrounding access and use of print and electronic resources, including streaming media and the use of library resources in online and hybrid courses.

·        Stays current on copyright legislation impacting higher education and provides interpretation and guidance for User Services staff. In collaboration with the Scholarly Communication Librarian, provides in-person consultation and workshops to educate faculty and staff on copyright and related issues in scholarly communication and intellectual property, specifically as applied to media, reserves, and resource sharing.

·        Cultivates an environment that seeks out and is responsive to users' inquiries, suggestions, and complaints. Provides leadership in resolving complex and sensitive patron issues effectively and tactfully, using discretion, integrity, and excellent communication skills.

·        Serves on University Library Standing Committees as appropriate. Provides circulation services and/or general research assistance in-person and online. Schedule may include evenings and weekends.

·        Under the general direction of the Director of the Information Literacy Program, provides some classroom and online instruction for targeted courses within the Library’s integrated information literacy curriculum.

·        Pursues a strong research agenda within the field of academic librarianship or job-related field.

·        Actively participates in library, university and/or professional-level service commitments.