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Acrlny

Harvard University — Cambridge, MA

Acrlny, Cambridge, Massachusetts, us, 02140


Position Title: Head, Humanities and Social Sciences Collection DevelopmentSchool or Unit: Harvard College Library

Description: Job SummaryAlthough this position will remain posted until filled, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by the end of the day on Friday, October 25, 2024.The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Libraries seek an innovative, knowledgeable, and agile professional to lead Humanities and Social Sciences Collection Development, the largest collection development unit in the FAS Libraries’ flagship repository, Widener Library. The FAS Libraries are world renowned for the depth and scope of their global collections. Humanities and Social Sciences Collection Development is a new department created by the merger of the Americas, Europe, Oceania Division and the Middle East, Africa, Asia Division.Reporting to the Assistant University Librarian for Content Strategies and Associate Librarian for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Head, Humanities and Social Sciences Collection Development will consider a wealth of strategies to anticipate and meet the intense information needs of Harvard’s academic community. The incumbent will appreciatively lead a staff of well-respected collection development librarians in furthering the growth and management of a collection that is inclusive of global voices and global frameworks of knowledge.The Library is committed to elevating historically excluded and dissenting voices from around the world, including immigrant and diaspora populations, in support of research, teaching, and learning at Harvard University. Humanities and Social Sciences Collection Development collaborates in the development of the collective collections at Harvard and in the Ivy Plus Libraries Confederation (IPLC) and the Research Collections and Preservation Consortium (ReCAP), and staff work closely with colleagues in partner libraries and institutions. Humanities and Social Sciences Collection Development supports a complex and changing academic environment marked by ever increasing inter- and trans-disciplinarity and intense interest in digital approaches to scholarship. The Head will develop creative strategies to meet the considerable breadth and depth of Harvard’s research and teaching needs; analyze user requirements; understand contemporary trends in scholarship and learning; and deploy a range of options, privileging open access, and including purchase, licensing, and partnerships, to create a successful model of 21st century library information access. The department collects all intellectually relevant formats, including electronic resources, print, data, media, images, and primary sources.

Position Description

Lead in the development of outstanding collections and access to information for the Harvard community

Allocate and manage collections funds exceeding $10 million annually by the collections department

Appreciatively lead and manage 11 staff who build the collections in a wide range of disciplines, languages and formats, building consensus and fostering innovation in acquisition, access, and management of collections through collaboration with others

Work with collection development librarians, collection managers, and assessment staff to devise metrics and criteria, and to create a data-driven approach to inform collection management decisions

Collaborate with other collecting areas of Harvard Library to ensure seamless acquisition and use of resources and to avoid unnecessary duplication

Collaborate with Harvard Library departments (Access Services, Information and Technical Services, Imaging Services, Preservation Services) to create and manage workflows and procedures among the departments

Establish and maintain excellent relationships with faculty and students and align collecting policies and practices with academic priorities

Collaborate with research, teaching, and learning librarians in the use of collections in teaching and in building student research experiences

Collaborate with the Associate Librarian for Research, Teaching, and Learning Services for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences to ensure that collection development librarians’ RTL responsibilities are consistent with all FAS libraries

Collaborate with peers across the Ivy Plus Libraries Confederation (IPLC) and Research Collections and Preservation Consortium (ReCAP) member libraries in the development of collective collections

Lead prioritization of collections digitization for collections under the purview of Humanities and Social Sciences Collection Development

Serve on Harvard and external committees and task forces as appropriateSUPERVISORY RESPONSIBLITIES

This position has supervisory responsibilities (i.e. full/part time staff).

Basic Qualifications

Advanced degree in library and information science, or international equivalent

Minimum 5 years of professional experience with increasing management responsibilities

Minimum 3 years of supervisory experience

Experience with traditional and emerging collection development and management strategies

Experience in international collections and area studiesAdditional Qualifications and Skills

Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging and antiracism

Demonstrated experience with supervising employees and supporting their efforts in order to build and foster a diverse, productive, and engaging workplace and professional community

Excellent oral and written communication skills and interpersonal skills to work effectively with culturally diverse library users and colleagues

Experience working across organizational boundaries in a dynamic and highly collaborative working environment

Ability to work collaboratively, initiate and adapt to change, and to be flexible

Demonstrated successful management of large budgets in a complex fund structure

Experience negotiating with vendors and publishers

Demonstrated knowledge of research trends and the scholarly process

Demonstrated experience implementing innovative approaches to provide access to collections and to facilitate their use in research and teaching

An active record of professional engagement in collection development

Reading knowledge of multiple languages

Working Conditions

The position is based on site in Cambridge, MA. There may be the opportunity for a hybrid work model compliant with Harvard University policies.

Work location is responsive and subject to change based on business needs. Requests for flexibility will be considered consistent with Harvard University flexwork policies.

May interact with collections that may contain dust, mold, or other contaminants.

The work associated with this position is performed in a library/office setting.Pre-Employment Screening: Criminal, Education, Identity

Commitment to Equity Diversity Inclusion and Belonging: Across the Harvard Library, our work is enriched by our diverse campus community. Our unique and wide-ranging abilities, experiences, and perspectives are integral to achieving Harvard University’s mission of excellence in research, teaching, and learning for our patrons, our collections, and our workplace. We believe that an inclusive environment that cultivates and promotes understanding, respect, and collaboration across our diverse workforce enables our success.We invite individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and abilities to be a part of our community of over 700 staff members. Our work with faculty, students and researchers to explore answers to intellectual questions, enduring and new, and to seek solutions to the world’s most consequential problems, requires that we not only reflect, but also champion our diverse society.Harvard Library inspires collaboration, reflection, experimentation, and discovery connecting users to related disciplines and to University-wide teaching resources. The Library engages users through curated discovery, digital collections, reimagined physical space, and specialized research support. Today, Harvard Library’s holdings range from traditional print collections to rapidly expanding access to digital resources. Harvard Library provides the University’s faculty, students, and researchers-now and in the future-with exceptional experiences and comprehensive access to these materials.EOE Statement: We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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