Position Title:
Head, Access Services
Position Description:
The Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries invites applications and nominations for the position of Head, Access Services. This position will lead James Branch Cabell Library’s information and access services, and manage interlibrary loan, paging, and delivery of materials for all VCU Libraries locations.
The successful candidate will define standards for excellence for these heavily used services and other services in the Research and Learning division, and ensure optimum use and development of library learning spaces at Cabell Library. They will join a culturally and academically diverse faculty of the highest caliber. Located in diverse, historic, and dynamic Richmond, convenient to the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the recreation destinations of the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Commonwealth University is among the nation's leading research institutions. VCU Libraries, one of Virginia’s outstanding research library systems, advances the University’s teaching, research, service, and patient care mission with comprehensive digital and print collections and nationally recognized innovation in its facilities, advanced media and technology resources for its community.
In February 2018, the Association of College and Research Libraries recognized VCU Libraries with the ACRL Excellence in Academic Libraries Award. Diversity and Inclusion VCU’s commitment to diversity is one of the institution’s unique strengths. Our student body is one of the most diverse in Virginia in terms of race and ethnicity and socioeconomic status, and one of the four themes of our Quest 2025 Strategic Plan is “Diversity driving excellence.” VCU is committed to building an increasingly diverse faculty and leadership team, and is actively engaged in partnerships with diverse communities in the Richmond metro area. VCU Libraries is purposeful in our efforts to advance diversity and inclusion and expects that the Head, Access Services will be a leader in fostering a welcoming atmosphere for all members of the VCU community.
The successful candidate will receive support for research, service, and professional development and will have ample opportunity to pursue diversity and inclusion related opportunities in those areas.
Responsibilities:
- Reporting to the Associate Dean for Research and Learning, the Head of Access Services will be responsible for all operations of the new Access Services department, which will be formally established upon the head’s hire.
- Access Services will be formed by merging two current departments: Information Services & Learning Spaces and Resource Sharing & Delivery.
- The Head will be responsible for all functional areas in the new Access Services department, including interlibrary loan, paging, and document delivery; Cabell Library’s frontline services; and the management and evolution of Cabell Library’s learning spaces.
- The Head will develop an organizational structure that best supports the department’s scope of work in close collaboration with members of the department and other key collaborators.
- The Head of Access Services will lead Cabell Library’s frontline services including the Information Desk, chat, text, and email, responding to users’ research assistance, circulation, and general information needs.
- The Information Desk and these associated services are available any time Cabell Library is open, field tens of thousands of inquiries annually, and play a key role in creating a welcoming environment for research and learning.
- The Head also supervises interlibrary loan and delivery of materials for three VCU Libraries locations in Richmond. In addition, the successful candidate will be responsible for the assessment and development of learning spaces at Cabell Library.
- The Head of Access Services is expected to serve as a leader in inclusive service excellence for the entire Research and Learning division.
The Head, Access Services will:
● Provide leadership and direction for frontline services at Cabell Library, including the Information Desk, chat, text, and email to ensure excellence in information services, research services, and circulation of materials.
● Provide leadership and direction for interlibrary loan, paging, and document delivery services for VCU Libraries, including management of document retrieval at all VCU Libraries locations: Cabell Library, the Health Sciences Library, 500 Academic Centre (satellite collections storage facility on VCU’s Monroe Park Campus), and a future off-site storage location that is currently in the planning stages.
● Build relationships and engage with consortial partners to shape the future of interlibrary lending and borrowing.
● Directly or indirectly supervise the work of approximately 18 full-time employees and numerous student and hourly employees. Hire, train, and evaluate employees. Project and manage the department's student/hourly employee budget.
● Coordinate Cabell Library’s tiered levels of research assistance and referrals in collaboration with other key departments.
● Define standards of service excellence for the Research and Learning division in order to create a seamless, inclusive, and accessible patron experience at Cabell Library.
● Lead the ongoing development and planning of Cabell Library’s learning spaces to effectively meet user needs, working in close consultation with other VCU Libraries departments.
● Develop assessment processes to evaluate and improve the quality and effectiveness of all services in the Access Services department.
● Provide leadership in the development of new, innovative, and user-centered services and spaces. This position is an essential member of the Research and Learning division’s leadership team and is expected to play an integral role in the success of division-wide operations and collaborative initiatives.
As a member of VCU Libraries Management Council, the position will work with department head colleagues to advance the strategic initiatives of the libraries. The Head, Access Services is expected to be active professionally and to contribute to developments in the field. Faculty with VCU Libraries are evaluated and promoted on the basis of job performance, scholarship, and service.
Qualifications Required:
● ALA-accredited graduate degree or an accredited graduate degree in another appropriate discipline.
● Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU. ● Supervisory experience.
Preferred:
● A minimum of three years of increasingly responsible public services or access services supervisory experience in an academic library or similar setting.
● Experience creating and managing productive, inclusive, and welcoming service environments.
● Understanding of and experience with developing accessible library spaces that promote student and faculty academic success.
● Experience providing information or research services in an academic research library.
● Experience with access services, interlibrary loan, or document delivery processes and software systems.
● Experience assessing the use of and planning for the development of learning spaces.
● Demonstrated understanding of the evolving nature of higher education and library users’ changing needs.
● Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
● Experience at urban research institutions, HBCU, or minority serving institutions. Candidates need not meet preferred qualifications to be fully considered. We value many individual and unique skills that would strengthen the VCU Libraries and our teams.
Salary Salary commensurate with experience, not less than $80,000 annually.
This is a full-time, non-tenured faculty position. Relocation assistance and professional development allowance provided.
Full-time faculty benefits apply, including 24 vacation days annually and choice of retirement and annuity plans. For more information about benefits, see https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/benefits/faculty-benefits/.
Interviews Initial interviews will be conducted virtually. We anticipate inviting finalists to campus. Learn about the position in an online information session>
We are hosting information sessions for interested applicants in advance of the February 22, 2022 review date.
Please consider joining one of these sessions to learn more about the position, meet the supervisor (Laura Gariepy, Associate Dean for Research and Learning), and ask questions and get answers about the position and VCU Libraries.
Join one of our info sessions on Zoom:
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 | 2:00 - 2:45 pm ET
Thursday, February 3, 2022 | 7:00 - 7:45 pm ET
Tuesday, February 8, 2022 | 11:00 - 11:45 am ET
The attendee list for each Zoom session will be hidden and those asking questions may do so anonymously. Live captioning will be provided. To attend a session, please complete the following confidential form to receive a Zoom link: https://forms.gle/Tksmgw989ekVgZBGA Questions? Please contact Laura Gariepy, Associate Dean for Research and Learning at lwgariepy@vcu.edu.
Application Process:
Review of applications will begin February 21, 2022 and will continue until the position is filled. The complete position description is available at https://www.library.vcu.edu/about/jobs/head-access-services/.
To apply for this position: https://vcu.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/2/home/requisition/789?c=vcu
Deadline:
2/21/2022
