Collections Strategist

Description

As the Ohio State University charts a course from excellence to eminence, the University Libraries is seeking a leader with strong skills in innovation, analysis, and collaboration to develop collections that underpin this evolution. The Collections Strategist is responsible for devising and implementing strategy for collection building in a rapidly evolving scholarly communication environment and coordinates strategic collection building with innovative management of existing collections to embrace new models based on local, regional, and national partnerships.

The Collections Strategist has Libraries-wide responsibility for building and managing the Libraries’ collections. The Libraries were recently ranked 5th among public research university by the Association of Research Libraries expenditure index.  The position reports to the Associate Director for Collections, Technical Services, and Scholarly Communication and has the support of two full time staff positions. The Collections Strategist will work in a highly collaborative organization to create and implement innovative approaches to providing effective stewardship of print and electronic collections and provides guidance and fund oversight for the materials budget and the collection development work of subject librarians, curators, and area studies librarians.

Partnerships with other libraries are integral to collection development and management strategy for OSU Libraries.  The Collections Strategist will advance an environment of active consortial engagement through OhioLINK, the CIC, HathiTrust, and other cooperative programs. The Collections Strategist leads OSUL participation in the OhioLINK Cooperative Information Resources Management Committee and other OhioLINK groups as appropriate and represents OSU Libraries in initiatives with CIC partners, CRL, OCLC Research Libraries Partnership, HathiTrust, et al.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and lead innovative program activities critical to the Libraries' collection strategies such as building and stewarding distinctive collections, shifting collecting focus from print to electronic resources, periodic and on-going review of continuations, and selection decisions for relocation of print materials and de-duplication. Provide leadership and coordination for collections-related projects and initiatives.
• Develop and implement collecting and fund management strategies in alignment with the University’s needs and the Libraries' strategic directions.
• Engage with partners within the Libraries, with other campus constituencies, and with consortial partners to advance strategic activities in collection development and management.
• Monitor and develop strategy for managing all central funds in the materials budget. Manage special purpose funds and selected endowments as needed.
• Facilitate effective and appropriate use of all funds in a materials budget of over $14 million dollars.
• Develop a program of data analysis to inform collections strategy and apply data to collections decisions.
• Provide effective and consistent communications with campus constituencies regarding the library’s strategies and programs for collection development and management.
• Build and maintain a research program and service profile related to library collections. Presents and publishes in appropriate venues in order to raise own and Libraries’ profile.

Select Qualifications

• ALA-accredited MLS/MLIS degree.
• Minimum of three years professional experience in building and managing library collections in print and digital formats, including management of funds.
• Knowledge and understanding of 21st century collections issues for research libraries, emerging practices, standards, and trends relating to collection development and management in an academic or research library environment.

Rank/Salary  This is a full-time, permanent, 12-month tenure-track faculty appointment. Salary and faculty rank are dependent on qualifications and experience.

Benefits   For a summary of benefits, see: http://hr.osu.edu/hrpubs/ben/fs-bensummaryreg.pdf.

Application   Nominations or applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Preference will be given to applications received by February 15, 2013. Please send letter of interest with a current resume and name, address, phone, and email address of three references to Greg Newman at newman.25@osu.edu. Please include Head of Collection Development and Management Program Application in the subject field.

Contact  Greg Newman, Human Resources, 1858 Neil Avenue Mall, Columbus, OH 43210, 614-247-8887