Associate University Librarian for Collections and Public Services

Stanford University Libraries (SUL) is seeking an innovative strategist with successful and practical policy and administrative experience to join our team as the Associate University Librarian (AUL) for Collections and Public Services. In a dynamically evolving information landscape, the AUL is responsible for ensuring scholars have access to the information resources critical for research, teaching, and learning. We seek a team member who is ready to share their skills and perspectives.  This position is an Academic Staff-Libraries Career-track appointment.

About Stanford Libraries:

Stanford University Libraries is a network of over fifteen libraries with over 400 employees. We are committed to fueling teaching, learning, and research across Stanford by acquiring, describing, stewarding, and making available a robust collection, currently in excess of 12 million physical volumes, over 3.5 million e-books, and 65 thousand serial licenses. The Stanford University Libraries’ collections include, in addition to the general collections, ancient and early modern coins; antiquarian and modern maps; archives of academicians, public figures, artists, and musicians; databases and datasets; cuneiform tablets; Egyptian papyri; rare and fine press books; manuscripts; media; photographs; artefacts; and digital objects. Everyone in the organization plays a vital role in fulfilling our objectives. Our dedication to discoverability and information management also has us engaged in dynamic global partnerships. We are constantly building and strengthening our organization by focusing on the needs of our ever-changing university. While we hope to find candidates who strategically fit within our organization, what we truly seek is someone who will add to our culture, our profession, as well as the greater academic arena. We are invested in the success of our teams and the individuals who represent Stanford University Libraries. This is done through an adherence to the Libraries’ values that are rooted in a commitment of mutual respect, the idea that every member of the staff has something to contribute, and that learning is constant.

About the position:

Stanford University offers exceptional undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs across diverse fields. The Stanford University Libraries play a vital role in supporting these academic pursuits, providing specialized collections and services tailored to meet the unique needs of more than 17,000 students and over 2,400 faculty members. The AUL oversees 13 branch libraries and centers, each serving the unique academic demands of specific schools and disciplines.

The Associate University Librarian for Collections and Public Services is responsible for the vision, strategic development, and stewardship of the libraries’ general collections, including planning and allocation of the Libraries Materials Budget. The AUL provides administrative oversight for the branch libraries as well as the resource groups, with 9 direct reports and over 90 employees. The assignment includes development of donor relationships with other members of the Library Executive Group and numerous curators. The position reports to the University Librarian.

Core Duties:

1. Collection Development (including both physical and digital research resources, and an evolving suite of materials created through long-standing partnerships and initiatives)
   1. Develops, allocates, and manages the twenty+ million-dollar Libraries Materials Budget, which includes 57 operating funds and 295 endowment funds. Drawing upon the expertise of the 38 subject specialists and the colleagues in Acquisitions, the AUL leads and manages the collection program closely aligning the library resources with the university’s academic priorities.
   2. Develops, refines, and coordinates collection evaluations and deployment ensuring efficient workflows and cost-effective practices in conjunction with colleagues in Technical and Access Services.
   3. Collaborates with colleagues in the Acquisitions Department in the use of approval plans, evidence-based acquisitions plans, vendor-related programs, and negotiations for major journal and database packages. Works with subject librarians and faculty on open access resource decisions.
   4. Collaborates with Technical and Access Services leadership in devising and implementing processes around bulk collection processing, deaccessioning content, and preservation-related issues.
   5. Coordinates acquisitions, exhibits, patron support, classroom support, and space allocation with Special Collections.
   6. Collaborates with the coordinate libraries, Medicine, Law, and Business, on major journal packages, data purchases, and jointly supported resources.
   7. Coordinates with Facilities and Access Services with regards to space projections and needs for the collections across Green Library, the Stanford Auxiliary Library, and the branch libraries.
2. Branch and Resource Group Management
   1. Provides administrative leadership to the branch libraries and resource groups, ensuring coordination and collaboration between and among them as well as other departments in SUL. These include: the Humanities and Area Studies Resource Group (HASRG), including the Silicon Valley Archives, the Social Sciences Resource Group (SSRG) including the Jonsson Library of Government Documents, the Learning & Outreach Group, the Specimen Collection program in the Doerr School of Sustainability, and the following branch libraries: Bowes Art and Architecture Library including the Visual Resources Center, Branner Earth Sciences Library & Map Collections, Cubberley Education Library, David Rumsey Map Center, East Asia Library, Harold A. Miller Library at Hopkins Marine Station, Music Library including the Archive of Recorded Sound, Robin Li and Melissa Ma Combined Science Library, and the Terman Engineering Library.
   2. Provides administrative leadership to the Curator of the geological specimen collection, owned by the Doerr School of Sustainability. Works in collaboration with the Curator to secure ongoing funding for oversight of the collection and for additional space for over 500,000 specimens. SUL manages this collection at the request of the Doerr School.
   3. Allocates and monitors budgets for all the branch libraries, resource units, and operating budgets funded through endowments. Manages central budgets that include staffing resources, facilities funds, and travel allowances.
   4. Oversees the outreach and support work for orientations, reference, public events, exhibits, and student engagement.
   5. Participates in the promotions and continuing appointment process for professional librarians, helping to create and administer procedures related to staff development and growth. Sits on the Promotion and Continuing Appointments Committee.
   6. Oversees workforce development including yearly performance reviews, hiring and onboarding, management of flexible staffing models, and resource allocation.
   7. Leads the division according to the Libraries’ values including treating others with respect, fairness, trust, and openness.
3. Liaison Roles
   1. Serves as the primary liaison to consortial partners for collection development; promotes collaborative collection development programs with internal partners in the coordinate libraries, and externally to the university as appropriate.
   2. Serves as SUL’s representative in collection development activities regionally, nationally, and globally.
4. Donor Relationships
   1. Provides stewardship to major donors in conjunction with subject specialist liaisons, the AUL for External Relations, and the University Librarian.
   2. Collaborates with subject specialists and the AUL for Special Collections on new acquisitions, helping to negotiate gift and sales agreements.

The AUL for Collections and Public Services serves as a member of the senior staff of SUL working collaboratively with the leadership team to set priorities, manage resource allocations, focus on innovative new developments, manage change, and advance library staff, programs, and services in alignment with Stanford’s mission and goals.

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.