Head of Special Collections
- Employer
- Rice University
- Location
- Houston, TX
View more
- Administrative Jobs
- Institutional & Business Affairs, Arts & Museum Administration
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Institution Type
- Four-Year Institution
$90,000 minimum, hiring commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Work ScheduleRegular work week either 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Will require working on some evenings and weekends.
The Fondren Library at Rice University seeks a creative, visionary, and collaborative leader for the position of head of special collections. The head of special collections is responsible for leadership and the overall management and administration of the Woodson Research Center, which includes the Rice University archives, manuscript collections, and rare books. The head of special collections works collaboratively with other library units and administration on digital initiatives, preservation, grants, development efforts, and public engagement, and actively participates on the Fondren Library management team.
Education RequiredMaster's DegreeMajor/DisciplineMaster’s in Library or Information Science from an ALA-accredited institution OR a graduate degree appropriate to working in archives or special collections.
Substitution for Education RequirementExperience may not be substituted for the education requirement.
Education PreferredExperience Required5 yearsType of Experience- Professional experience leading special collections/archival services/operations and demonstrated evidence of progressively increasing scope of supervisory and management responsibility in an academic or research library or similar institution
- Experience in supervising a team of professionals
- Demonstrated experience working with analog and born-digital archival materials
- Experience that demonstrates a strong commitment to user-focused design of collections and services
- Demonstrated experience with preservation or conservation standards and their challenges for a variety of content types
Education may not be substituted for the experience requirement.
Experience Preferred- Familiarity with legal, privacy, and ethical issues associated with archiving digital and print content
- Experience in donor relations and growing philanthropic support
- Experience with public programming and exhibits
- Experience with metadata standards that are MARC and non-MARC compatible, such as Dublin Core, EAD, METS, MODS, PREMIS, DACS, and Linked Data
Society of American Archivists certificate program OR Academy of Certified Archivists certification.
License/Certification PreferredSkills Required- Demonstrated knowledge of all aspects of library operations including extensive knowledge of contemporary library practices, trends and emerging technologies
- Knowledge of and experience with outcomes and assessment of library services
- Knowledge of collection development, acquisitions, cataloging, database management, library instruction and information literacy, public and technical services, and reference
- Ability to demonstrate a high level of diplomacy in persuading and influencing a wide variety of people at various levels to achieve results
- Demonstrated successful experience in developing and maintaining library budgets
- Effective problem solving, analytical and organizational skills
- Demonstrated broad knowledge of library automation systems, online resources, and instructional technologies
- Ability to stimulate innovation and creativity in new service initiatives and utilize resources for the advancement of a world class library program
- Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills and a Demonstrated Ability to work well with others in a team environment
- Knowledge of Geospatial mapping software, such as ArcGIS
- Demonstrated expertise using archival technology tools (e.g., content management tools, such as ArchivesSpace; web publishing platforms, such as Omeka; and institutional repositories, such as DSpace)
- Knowledge of current and emerging trends, issues, workflows, and standards and best practices in the worlds of archives and special collections, including digital content acquisition and curation as well as digitization of analog formats
- Demonstrated understanding of the uses of technology to enhance the reach and impact of archives and special collections and the efficiency of work within the department
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, collegially, and collaboratively with multiple constituencies
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Demonstrated commitment to professional development
- Strong service orientation and interest in anticipating and supporting information users’ values and needs
Extensive contact with the Executive Director of the Friends of Fondren Library (frequent contacts with possible donors, planning development activities, establishing priorities for fund raising and collections). Extensive contact with the Rice Community through the Rice Historical Society (development activities, prospecting for possible collections). Frequent contact with archivists in the Houston area – Houston Public Library, museums, and other universities. Frequent contact with other managers in the Fondren Library with regard to planning and managing bibliographic descriptions and preservation planning (both for digital and print materials).
Physical DemandsOccasional light lifting of collection related materials.
Working ConditionsOffice setting.
Essential PersonnelRice University Standard of CivilityServes as a representative of the University, displaying courtesy, tact, consideration and discretion in all interactions with other members of the Rice community and with the public.
Security SensitiveYes Special Instructions to ApplicantsApplications received by September 30, 2019 will receive first consideration. Please apply with cover letter, resume, and the names, titles, addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of three references.
Inquiries: Melinda Reagor Flannery, Assistant University Librarian/Search Coordinator at (713) 348-3773 or e-mail reagor@rice.edu.
Rice University is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer.
- Develops policy and is responsible for long term planning and strategic development of special collections through strengthening of existing collections and growth in new service areas in support of the fundamental goals of the Fondren Library and Rice University
- Directs a staff of professional and temporary archivists, volunteers, and student workers, and provides leadership in the day-to-day operations to achieve the goals and vision of the Woodson Research Center
- Responsible for staff including hiring, training, career coaching, personal development for direct reports and accountability for staff performance
- Works collaboratively with other library units and administration on digital initiatives, preservation, grants, development efforts, and public engagement
- Participates in the divisional management team, and library-wide planning and discussions; serves on library and university committees
- Develops and maintains core and new services
- Develops, monitors, analyzes, forecasts and reports on the annual budget in support of the strategic plan for the Woodson Research Center
- Collects, prepares and analyzes reports / statistics to develop and monitor key metrics for performance against the goals and strategic plans of the library
- Responsible for projects that combine traditional manuscript, archival and book processing activities with digital initiatives
- Ensures collections are maintained and managed in accordance with national and international standards
- Performs all other duties as assigned
- Provides leadership, oversight and management of the Woodson Research Center, which includes the Rice University archives, rare books, manuscript and archival collections
- Develops policy and long-term planning; organizes the use of digital technologies for access to and preservation of the collections
- Works collaboratively with the staff in technical services on establishing metadata standards and archival bibliographic metrics
- Promotes the Woodson Research Center and the university archives by serving as a representative of the library to the Rice community through such groups as the Rice Historical Society and the Friends of Fondren Library
- Works to cultivate donor relationships and development activities with the dual goal of enhancing the Woodson’s Collections and raising funds
- Works collaboratively within the library, across campus and within the academic community to acquire official records and other materials of historical significance and to promote relevance and significance of special collections
- Creates, promotes and supervises in-house exhibits and consults on campus-wide exhibit initiatives
- Teaches classes to both graduate and undergraduate students on how to use primary source material to do research
- Maintains professional skills through various mechanisms
- Provides hand-on support for the survey, appraisal, arrangement, description and preservation of archival and manuscript collections, and provides reference, consultation and instruction related to special collections
- Teaches classes to both graduate and undergraduate students on how to use primary source material to do research
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- References/Recommendation Request
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
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