Director of Library Services

Director of Library Services

JOB LOCATION: On Campus

Position Summary

The Director of Library Services leads the library at Spalding University, a small private university in Louisville with a significant portfolio of health sciences, education, and professional graduate programs delivered on campus and online. Reporting to the Provost and Chief Academic Officer, the Director supervises two library staff and is both the library's administrator and a working librarian who consults and builds resources directly.

The Director ensures the library supports teaching, research, student success, and the University's regional and programmatic accreditation. We are looking for a hands-on leader who can manage a lean budget well, partner closely with faculty, and help the University engage thoughtfully with emerging issues such as generative AI and course-material affordability.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership, Budget, and Operations

- Sets strategic direction, goals, and policies for the library in alignment with the University's mission and strategic plan.

- Manages the library budget, including allocation, expenditure monitoring, and identifying savings through consortia and cooperative purchasing.

- Oversees daily operations, the physical library space, and service hours to provide a welcoming, accessible environment for on-campus and online students.

- Supervises, trains, and evaluates two library staff, and manages student workers, in collaboration with Human Resources.

Collections, Licensing, and Technology

- Builds and assesses print and electronic collections that support the University's academic programs, with particular attention to health sciences and graduate programs.

- Negotiates and manages vendor contracts and licenses, using usage and cost data to guide renewals and cancellations.

- Administers library systems, including discovery, authentication, and electronic resource platforms, in partnership with University IT.

- Maintains the library website and research guides, ensuring they meet current digital accessibility standards (WCAG).

- Evaluates emerging tools, including AI-enabled discovery and research platforms, for value, cost, privacy, and fit.

Instruction, Research Support, and Student Success

- Leads an information literacy program grounded in the ACRL Framework, including instruction on evaluating and responsibly using generative AI in research.

- Provides research consultation to students and faculty in person and online, with equitable access for distance learners.

- Partners with faculty to integrate library resources and instruction into courses and programs.

- Advances course-material affordability through open educational resources (OER) and library-licensed alternatives to costly textbooks.

- Advises faculty and students on copyright, fair use, and open access publishing.

Assessment and Accreditation

- Assesses library services, collections, and instruction, and uses results for continuous improvement.

- Prepares library documentation for institutional effectiveness, the Commission on Colleges and Universities, and programmatic accreditors (including CCNE, ACOTE, CAPTE, ARC-PA, and CACREP).

- Submits required statistics and reports to state and national reporting organizations.

Campus and Professional Engagement

- Represents the library on University committees and in academic planning.

- Maintains relationships with library consortia, peer institutions, and professional organizations.

- Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

- Master's degree in library and information science (MLS/MLIS) from an ALA-accredited program.

- Five or more years of professional academic library experience, including at least two years supervising staff.

- Experience managing a budget and negotiating electronic resource licenses.

- Experience designing and teaching information literacy instruction.

- Working knowledge of library systems, discovery and authentication platforms, and electronic resource management.

- Strong communication skills and a record of effective collaboration with faculty.

Preferred

- Experience supporting health sciences programs or programmatic accreditation reviews.

- Experience in preparing library documentation for regional accreditation.

- Experience with OER or course-material affordability initiatives.

- Experience developing guidance or instruction on generative AI in research and learning.

- Experience at a small or mid-sized private university, or in a lean staffing model.

CONTACT

All applications are made through the Paycom Applicant Tracking System.

ABOUT SPALDING UNIVERSITY:

Spalding University offers a comprehensive package including medical, dental, vision, Spalding matching contribution up to 5% to your 403b/Roth retirement plan, generous Paid Time Off program, Parental Leave, paid holidays, paid life insurance and long-term disability, paid time for volunteering, and more.

Situated in the heart of downtown Louisville, Kentucky’s largest city, Spalding University combines a rich social justice history and a commitment to community service as we attract students who desire a high-quality education in a very personalized setting. An engaged faculty serves nearly 2,000 students at the bachelors’, master’s and doctoral levels, providing real-world learning in liberal and professional studies.

Faculty, staff and students are united by the institutional mission: Spalding University is a diverse community of learners dedicated to meeting the needs of the times in the tradition of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth through quality undergraduate and graduate liberal and professional studies, grounded in spiritual values, with an emphasis on service and the promotion of peace and justice .

With a focus on service and leadership, Spalding offers all students a mission-driven connection to community and comprehensive learning resources while striking a distinctive balance serving the educational needs of both the traditional student and the working student. In addition, our unique 8-week class delivery format affords students scheduling flexibility amidst other life responsibilities.

Spalding aspires to become the first choice for students of compassion and service.  Celebrated for a rigorous yet nurturing environment, emulated for interdisciplinary collaborations, and acclaimed for contributions to the community.

Spalding University is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. The University complies with all federal, state and local equal employment opportunity laws. It is the University’s policy not to discriminate against any individual or group of individuals and to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons regardless of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, veteran status or other protected status. All job offers are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check.