Head Librarian, Branner Earth Sciences Library & Map Collections

Stanford Reglab; United States; On-site; USD 109,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Stanford University Libraries seeks a full-time Head Librarian to lead the Branner Earth Sciences Library & Map Collections. The role partners with faculty and staff to advance Earth sciences scholarship within the Doerr School of Sustainability, and directs collections, staffing, budgeting, and outreach.

The Librarian 2/3 position emphasizes strategic leadership, collaboration across SDSS, and innovative services to support teaching, learning, and research across Stanford's campus.

Job description

The position is dual posted at Librarian 2 and 3.

Stanford University Libraries is seeking a full-time Head Librarian to lead the Branner Earth Sciences library & Map Collections. The Libraries values 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 Stanford Libraries:

Stanford University Libraries are a dynamic network of resources, spaces and subject experts assembled with the mission to stimulate intellectual curiosity, sustain academic research and support teaching and learning. With over 12 million items, 50 subject specialists and 20 campus libraries, the opportunities for contributing to and transforming scholarship are infinite. By joining Stanford University Libraries, you will become a part of a vibrant, learning community of dedicated professionals who are committed to the important work of advancing scholarship.

About the Position:

The Stanford Libraries’ Branner Earth Sciences Library & Map Collections are at the forefront in providing innovative support for scholarship, teaching, and learning in the various subdisciplines in earth, energy, sustainability, and environmental sciences as practiced at Stanford. To match the scale and urgency of climate change and sustainability, the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability was established in 2022. The school brings together seven academic departments, two research institutes, and the Sustainability Accelerator, to draw on the interdisciplinary expertise required to understand and address complex environmental changes and sustainability. The library is well-positioned to support this major initiative with world‑class collections, dedicated staff, and innovative technological solutions. The Head Librarian will be involved in the redesign of the library in a myriad of ways to meet the needs of the expanded School.

Core Duties*:

• Manages the facility, budget, and staff of the Earth Sciences Library.
• Manages and evaluates the staff of the Earth Sciences Library, direct reports include librarians, library specialists, and hourly employees.
• Evaluates and makes recommendations to management on programs, plans, operations and policies for the Earth Sciences Library.
• Earnestly and constantly tries to understand the research and curricular programs of the departments and, within departments, each of the professors and instructors in order to match the Library’s collection development and services programs in direct support of these academic personnel.
• Develop outreach strategies to promote library services and resources, and to establish relationships with users in SDSS and across Stanford. Actively manages the library web space and oversees the social media outreach.
• Convenes and leads the Branner Earth Sciences Library Committee and works with faculty and staff at the School to align library goals for the immediate term and as the research and scholarship evolve within SDSS.
• Select library materials and information resources in areas related to the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability scholarship (e.g., earth sciences, environmental sciences, energy science, oceanography, and sustainability), including responsibility for collection management and preservation decision-making.
• Stays abreast of current developments and trends in earth, energy, sustainability and environmental resources librarianship through active participation in appropriate professional organizations.
• Assist patrons and staff with reference and research inquiries.
• Make recommendations for the upgrade of electronic and manual resource tools.
• Analyze the technical and access needs for a unit of the library system, including the environmental conditions of storage and workspaces.
• Participates as appropriate in the development activities of the Libraries, working closely with the Library Development Officer and the Associate University Librarian for Sciences and Engineering Resources. Encourages and cultivates close relations with donors of funds and materials relating to SDSS collections.
• Teach classes, lead tours and/or give demonstrations of library resources.
• May approve and make arrangements for loaning repository items to external organizations for exhibit, including the negotiation terms of the loan.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience:

Librarian 2

Advanced Degree in Library Science or a relevant academic discipline with demonstrated understanding of academic libraries and two or more years of relevant experience in a relevant library setting or a combination of education and relevant experience.

Librarian 3

Advanced Degree in Library Science or a relevant academic discipline with demonstrated understanding of academic libraries and five years of experience in a relevant library setting with evidence of capacity to work at a high level of responsibility or a combination of education and relevant experience.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Librarian 2 (Demonstrated experience)

• Experience with relevant aspects of library operations including management/supervision and understanding of contemporary library practices, trends and emerging technologies.
• Demonstrated understanding of the broad scope of library operations with ability to understand how their role interacts with the rest of the organization.
• Experience working effectively in a team environment and negotiate issues with people from different parts of the library.
• Experience identifying challenges and opportunities, engage others in their resolution and recommend appropriate courses of action.
• Experience evaluating online resources in terms of content quality, functionality and user interface issues.
• Experience independently performing complex job functions such as collection management reviews, preparation of major exhibits, developing policies for business practices.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

To be considered at the Librarian 3 level, these additional qualifications apply.

Librarian 3 (Demonstrated experience)

• Deep understanding and engagement with the range of library operations, including management/supervision, trends and practices.
• Evidence of professional contribution and achievement beyond the library may be expected at this rank.
• Demonstrated success in engaging with colleagues across the University and beyond in a collaborative and construction fashion.
• Demonstrated experience managing and bringing innovation to projects, policy development and driving library initiatives across functional lines.
• Experience with successful collaborations across all levels internal and external to the organization
• Understanding of software development life cycle and ability to represent and influence the technical needs of the Earth Sciences Library and SDSS
• Demonstrated success in independently performing complex job functions such as collection management reviews, preparation of major exhibits, developing policies for business practices.
• Evidence of engagement in relevant professional or academic communities.
• Consistent display of excellent verbal and written communication skills, including strong presentation skills.
• Demonstrated success in managing and completing complex projects to include hiring project staff, project budget management, communicating with project stakeholders, and meeting project deadlines.
• Experience in donor relations and providing information on terms of donated collections.

Other Relevant Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities May Include:

• Demonstrated success in managing and completing complex projects to include hiring project staff, project budget management, communicating with project stakeholders, and meeting project deadlines.
• Experience in donor relations and providing information on terms of donated collections.

Stanford University Libraries budgeted salary is:

The expected pay range for Librarian 2 level is up to $119,000 per annum.

The expected pay range for Librarian 3 level is up to $135,000 per annum.