Head Librarian - San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA
REPORTS TO: Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
STATUS: Full time, exempt
San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI), one of the country's oldest and most prestigious institutions dedicated to the practice and study of contemporary art, announces a search for a Head Librarian. Dynamic applicants are sought who can provide leadership and
vision for reshaping SFAI’s renowned Anne Bremer Memorial Library, including its approximately 32,000-volume collection, unique artists’ books and rare books collections, and its archives, which include a wealth of primary source material documenting California
art history from SFAI’s founding in 1871 to the present.
The Head Librarian will work within the inspiring context of a diverse community of artists and scholars and an institution with a legacy of radical innovation. SFAI enrolls approximately 680 students in its degree programs (BFA, BA, MFA, and MA degrees, a
dual MA/MFA degree, and a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate), and offers a range of public education courses, exhibitions, and public programs. Notable past faculty and alumni include Lance Acord, Ansel Adams, Kathryn Bigelow, Enrique Chagoya, Angela Davis, Richard
Diebenkorn, Bill Berkson, Paul Kos, George Kuchar, Annie Leibovitz, Barry McGee, Catherine Opie, Peter Pau, and Kehinde Wiley.
Application Deadline: For priority consideration, applications must be received by March 1, 2017. Please send a cover letter outlining relevant professional experience and how it relates to the Head Librarian position, as well as a current CV and the names
and contact information for three professional references. Please apply at:
http://sanfranciscoart.snaphire.com/?unlistedjob=cSG3mEZ
San Francisco Art Institute is an equal opportunity employer and considers the diversity of its students, faculty, and staff to be an essential characteristic of an academic community committed to excellence in education.
POSITION DESCRIPTION:
San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) seeks a highly qualified, user-oriented Head Librarian for the Anne Bremer Memorial Library, which strives to enrich individuals’ cultural, artistic, and intellectual formation. The Head Librarian is responsible
for implementing library services and managing resources that support the current and future informational needs on campus and within the community; stewarding strategic leadership in all operations of the Library in support of SFAI’s mission and serving as
its primary advocate; developing and administering policies and procedures pertaining to library services and resources in collaboration with library staff and senior leadership; developing and maintaining the library’s print, visual, and digital resources;
and budget oversight. The Head Librarian works directly with students and faculty on a daily basis, providing reference assistance, library orientations, and individual and class instruction. The Head Librarian manages a staff that includes a Collections Librarian
and Archivist and two Library Assistants.
SFAI’s mission is to be a leading organization in the education of artists as well as the education of the public about contemporary art and artists. The Head Librarian therefore plays a key role not only in shaping the library as an academic resource for SFAI’s
degree programs, but in more broadly contributing to SFAI’s relationship to general and scholarly communities beyond the institution.
SPECIFIC DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Plan and direct the operations of the library and the delivery of library services to faculty, students, staff, researchers, and other constituents.
- Carry out and oversee current management and the future planning of the Anne Bremer Memorial Library. Evaluate methods of operation by recommending improvements and assessing the library’s long- and shortterm needs with regard to personnel,
facilities, equipment, security, space, and storage planning.
- Fulfill professional responsibilities of a librarian, including: maintenance of archives (in collaboration with the Special Collections Librarian and Archivist), acquisitions, resource and collection management, reference and user services.
- Provide reference services to students, faculty, staff, and the public, and oversee information and visual literacy instruction. Educate students and faculty in the procedures for conducting art research and in fully utilizing the resources
available in the library and externally.
- Work closely with the Special Collections Librarian and Archivist, Cataloguing Assistant, Library Technician, department chairs, and faculty on the selection of library materials, ensuring that the library’s resources adequately support
SFAI’s instructional programs. Purchase library materials, including books and DVDs, and oversee the library’s print and digital subscriptions. Evaluate donated materials.
- Oversee the management and maintenance of library collections. Evaluate library materials for deacquisition. Work with Special Collections Librarian and Archivist to plan for the long-term preservation of special collections and archival
materials.
- Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate library staff and ensure that library staff is providing excellent transactional services.
- Develop and oversee library policies, procedures and preservation practices as appropriate to SFAI’s programs, curriculum, and user needs.
- Oversee library website in conjunction with library staff.
- Plan and monitor the library budget, in consultation with the Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
- Support and work with the programs and services offered by Academic and Student Affairs.
- Work closely with Information Technology staff to ensure the delivery of robust digital resources and services.
- Assist the Advancement Department in the identification and writing of grant proposals for the library and recognition of in-kind gifts.
- Attend Faculty Senate meetings as an ex-officio member.
- Keep informed of current professional developments; participate in professional associations both locally and nationally.
- Foster goodwill between the library, the academic community, and the community at large.
- Encourage and ensure a library environment that is conducive to learning for a diverse community of students, faculty, scholars, and the public.
- Serve on standing and ad hoc committees as needed.
- Other duties and special projects as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master’s degree in library/information science from an ALA-accredited program.
- At least five years progressively responsible experience in an academic library or college art library.
- Experience working with vendors, integrated library systems, interlibrary loan systems, visual resources use and management, and managing electronic resources.
- Knowledge of library circulation, acquisitions, and cataloging procedures.
- Strong customer service orientation and demonstrated management skills, such as interpersonal skills, aptitude for both one-on-one and classroom teaching, and experience working with diverse learners.
- Strong personnel management, supervisory experience, and evidence of ability to maintain effective and collegial working relations with library staff, students, faculty, and administration.
- Demonstrated knowledge of best practices and trends in emerging technologies and information literacy. Comprehensive understanding of how libraries will serve the needs of diverse users in the 21st century.
- Experience and strength in assessment, policy development, planning, and budget development.
- Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, and the ability to facilitate communication within the library and with key constituencies.
- Strong organizational skills and computer proficiency.
- Ability to work collaboratively and independently.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s or second master’s degree in art or art-related field.
- Experience cataloging using OCLC and knowledge of LC classification.
- Experience managing automated library systems.
- Experience teaching Information Literacy.
- Experience with interlibrary loan.
- Working knowledge of digital image databases.
- Demonstrated creativity and innovation in library services.
- Evidence of continued professional development.
- Experience working with archival materials.
- Experience writing grants.
