Job Summary

The Furman University Libraries seek a motivated, adaptable, and forward-thinking leader to provide strategic visioning for the newly combined Outreach and Access Division. The person in this library faculty position reports to the Director of Libraries and serves as a member of the Library’s Leadership Team. They participate in the creation, planning, and implementation of library initiatives which are aligned with the University’s priorities, and they work to foster an environment that prioritizes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. This individual guides the Outreach and Access Division in the many services they offer to the campus community, which include course-integrated library instruction, research assistance, academic department collaboration and support, collection development and management, circulation, interlibrary loan, programming, and various other forms of innovative outreach.

Reports to

Director of Libraries

Responsibilities

• Develops a strategic vision for the division; builds on current strengths and seeks out new opportunities to serve the university community.
• As appropriate, both leads and participates in course-integrated library instruction, research assistance, outreach and departmental liaison work, and multi-phase projects and initiatives.
• Coordinates the Furman University Libraries’ presence at campus events, activities, and programs.
• Collaborates with academic partners to identify, lead, implement, and support new and ongoing initiatives on campus and beyond.
• Advocates for the Libraries and particularly for Outreach and Access library staff and faculty. Serves on the Library Leadership Team.
• Embraces the diversity of strengths, contributions, viewpoints, and work styles of library colleagues and those within the broader campus community; works to foster an environment that prioritizes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Establishes and maintains open dialog within the division and library, fostering a collegial work environment.
• Manages the hiring, motivation, mentoring, and evaluation of their reports; encourages, seeks, and facilitates professional development opportunities for self and division members.
• Collects, assesses, and disseminates data related to Outreach and Access services for internal use and external reporting.
• Collaborates with the Associate Director for Digital and Resource Management in maintaining a strong liaison program empowering Outreach Librarians and Access Services Staff to participate in collection development and maintenance activities.
• Participates in regional and national professional associations and advances knowledge of current higher education and academic library issues, trends, standards, and emerging technologies.
• As a member of the university faculty, participates fully in faculty governance to provide a voice for the Libraries. This includes activities such as attending faculty meetings and serving on university committees. This may also involve serving as a Pathways advisor/instructor as well as proposing and teaching other credit-bearing courses.

Supervises

The Coordinator of Access Services and six Outreach Library faculty members, including the Science Librarian and the Music Librarian.

Attributes

• Displays curiosity, openness, and authenticity in their interactions with students, colleagues, academic partners, and the community.
• Helps others learn, grow, and improve through support, feedback, inspiration, motivation, and encouragement.
• Holds a proven record of project, organizational, analytical, time management, and communication skills.
• Shows flexibility and creativity in navigating change.

Required Qualifications

• Master of Library Science (and/or Information Science) from an ALA accredited library school or international equivalent.
• Five or more years of professional academic library experience or the ability to be appointed at the associate or higher rank.
• Two or more years of progressive leadership and supervisory experience.
• A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Familiarity with standard data collection and assessment techniques.
• Knowledge of a broad variety of academic research resources and databases.
• Experience in library instruction and outreach.
• Experience with circulation, collection management, and resource sharing.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with accessibility best practices.
• Experience in event programming and/or project management.
• Experience with SpringShare products or other web authoring tools.

Salary & Benefits

The minimum salary for this position is $80,000 annually. Salary commensurate with experience. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life plans, and a retirement plan (TIAA). Conference and professional development support is a part of this position.

Application Procedure

To be considered for this position, applicants must submit the following:

1. a cover letter
2. a résumé or curriculum vitae
3. a diversity statement of no more than 750 words addressing the applicant’s…
   1. awareness and understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion
   2. experience promoting these values
   3. plans to help the Furman University Libraries achieve their vision of becoming a “campus leader in the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion by creating a welcoming environment where every member of the Furman community can connect, discover, and learn.”
4. the names and contact information of three references

Applications received by February 1, 2023 will be given preferred consideration. Questions may be e-mailed to Caroline Mills at caroline.mills1689@furman.edu. Transcript requests and background checks will be conducted in the final stage of the hiring process.

About Us

Founded in 1826, Furman University is a selective private liberal arts university committed to helping students develop intellectually, personally, and interpersonally and providing the practical skills necessary to succeed in a rapidly-changing world. Furman faculty are exceptional teacher-scholars who mentor undergraduate students within a campus community that values and encourages diverse ideas and perspectives. Furman has an institutional commitment to embrace diversity as an implicit value and as an explicit practice in all of its endeavors.

Following an inquiry into Furman’s ties to slavery, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved a series of recommendations that will help educate the community about Furman’s history and commemorate Furman’s first African American students through educational programs, statues, historical plaques, and scholarships. Several research projects and initiatives have followed from this initial inquiry, and many faculty, staff, and students have been studying and working on these issues for several years now, with institutional support.

Our strategic vision, The Furman Advantage, promises students an individualized four-year pathway facilitated by team of mentors and infused with a rich and varied set of high-impact experiences outside the classroom that include undergraduate research, study away, internships, community-focused learning, and opportunities to engage across differences.

Furman is committed to increasing the diversity of its faculty and staff. The University aspires to create a community of people representing a multiplicity of identities including race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, spiritual belief, socioeconomic background, geographic origin, ideology, world view, and varied abilities. Several faculty interest groups have formed within these underrepresented populations including African Americans and LGBTQ+. These groups encourage interested parties to interact with them during the search process. Furman extends comprehensive benefits to domestic partners of employees.

The Furman University Libraries include the James B. Duke (Main) Library, the Sanders Science Library, and the Maxwell Music Library. The Libraries have 27 employees (14 library faculty and 13 staff) and a robust collection of electronic and print materials. The Libraries are a member of the Oberlin Group consortium of liberal arts college libraries and of, PASCAL (Partnership Among South Carolina Academic Libraries). They use a shared Alma/Primo library services platform.

Furman University is located on traditional Cherokee land in Greenville, South Carolina, which is one of the fastest growing cities in the Southeast and was ranked #6 Small City in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler Magazine. The charming downtown features excellent restaurants, in-town parks, shops, museums, galleries, music venues, and theaters. The city also has excellent public and private schools and a vibrant international community. A 20-mile bike and running trail connects the university to Greenville and to nearby Travelers Rest, which was named one of America’s 10 best southern small towns by USA Today. The surrounding area abounds with outdoor recreational activities and has some of the most beautiful lakes, rivers, and mountains in the country. Greenville is within easy driving distance to Asheville, Atlanta, Charlotte, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and Atlantic beaches. Greenville-Spartanburg Airport runs daily flights to major cities and airline hubs.

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