University Librarian

Summary

The Dean of STU Libraries provides strategic leadership and administrative oversight for the University's entire library ecosystem, including the University Library, Law Library, and Collection Management. This role is responsible for ensuring uniformity of service and equitable access to resources across all branches, serving as a bridge between academic goals and operational excellence. The University Librarian ensures that library services, digital resources, and physical facilities evolve consistently to meet the diverse needs of undergraduate and graduate students. A key collaborator across campus, they manage high-level personnel, maintain budgetary stability, and oversee complex accreditation compliance (SACS, ABA, IPEDS) to guarantee a high standard of academic support university-wide. The Dean of STU Libraries also serves as the University Library Director, the Law Library Director, or the Director for Collection Management Services, which will remain their primary function.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Provide vision and leadership for the Library System in support of the University's mission and goals.
• Plan, develop, and deliver high quality library services that are accessible to all undergraduate and graduate students.
• Establish a process of ongoing review, assessment and improvement of library programs, resources and services that will evolve along with student needs and expectations.
• Collaborate with the directors of the university's academic and student support services to leverage strengths and expand opportunities to address student needs.
• Manage the library systems operations with a focus on ongoing improvements within a stable budgetary context.
• Develop, maintain, and review library system policies.
• Implement and oversee the library systems human resources policies, including recruitment, hiring, evaluation, and training.
• Interview and participate in the selection of assigned staff; conduct performance

appraisals and suggest professional development opportunities in accordance with university policies and procedures.

• Supervise directly heads of library sub-units: University Library, Law Library, and Collection Management Services.
• Coordinate Library membership in different cooperating consortia, professional organizations, and any other organization the libraries may belong to.
• Maintain and provide information and statistics; assist with preparing reports for accrediting agencies and reporting agencies including, but not limited to: SACS, ABA, Department of Education, IPEDS, SEFLIN, and others.
• Coordinate with the head's of library sub-units to ensure that the libraries collections are sufficient to meet the needs of STU programs and students.
• Oversee building maintenance and cleaning services by interfacing directly with the Office of Physical Plant. Propose updating and maintenance as needed.
• Keep statistics on special project and assignments.

Other duties

• Represent STU Libraries in local, regional, and national meetings as requested.
• Serve on University and/or Law School Committees and participate in University events as requested.
• Keep informed of new trends in library services and the legal profession.

Competencies

• Strong and effective communication skills, both oral and written.
• Strong supervisory skills with the ability to manage and develop staff.
• Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to work effectively with students and faculty from a wide diversity of background and educational experiences.
• Organizational, planning, and administrative skills including the ability to work effectively on broad as well as detailed projects.
• Ability to work in a network environment including working with an integrated library system.
• Knowledge and ability to work with academic databases and common higher-education technologies and instruction tools.
• Knowledge and ability to work with legal databases and common law school and educational technologies, and the ability to design library instructional tools.
• Strong technical skills, interest in technology, and the ability to troubleshoot simple technology problems, failures, or deficiencies.
• Ability to understand library system technology that can be used to improve services, instruction efforts and workflows and assess effectiveness of technologies.
• Strong service orientation and effective problem-solving skills.
• Being flexible with work assignments and work hours.
• Commitment to higher education and STU's mission.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has direct supervision over heads of Library sub-units, including University Library, Law Library, and Collection Management Services. This position indirectly supervises any staff, including work-study students, engaged by these departments.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; push library carts full of books; climb on stands to shelf books. The employee must occasionally lift or move library materials and supplies, up to 30 pounds.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work may be flexible due to the nature of the position, but this individual is generally expected to be on campus Monday- Friday during business hours. This position occasionally requires schedule changes with weekend/evening hours.

Travel

Travel is primarily for Professional Development. The employee may represent the University at regional and national conferences at their discretion in coordination with the University Provost or the Dean of the College of Law. The Librarian may be asked to attend other regional and national conferences.

Required Education and Experience

• M.L.S. from an A.L.A. accredited library school program is required.
• Previous academic library experience is required.
• Three or more years of experience in law libraries is preferred. Three or more years of supervisory experience is required.
• Previous library administrative experience required.
• J.D. from an accredited ABA institution is required if the University Librarian also servers as Director of the Law Library.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.