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Head of Reference and Research Services - Library

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Position description

Associate Librarian IV – Librarian II
$59,352 – $79,536, per annum, based upon qualifications
This is a full-time appointment available starting July 2014.

The Bancroft Library of the University of California, Berkeley, seeks a Head of Reference and Research Services to manage the services provided to general and advanced scholars. The Head, Reference and Research Services manages and coordinates a diverse staff of generalists, specialists, and volunteers who provide the services needed for all readers making use of Bancroft’s research collections at the library and online. In addition to serving as a Bancroft liaison to faculty and students conducting research in a variety of fields, the Head supports the campus community through specialized reference service and instructional programs, as well as providing general reference service in Bancroft.

Environment
The UC Berkeley Library is an internationally renowned research and teaching facility at one of the nation's premier public universities that serves 25,500 undergraduate students, 10,300 graduate students, and 1,500 faculty members. The Library is comprised of approximately 20 libraries, including the Doe/Moffitt Libraries, The Bancroft Library, and the C.V. Starr East Asian Library, offering extensive collections in all formats, and robust services to connect users with those collections and build their related research skills. The Library is a member of the Center for Research Libraries (CRL), the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), and is an active participant in the California Digital Library (CDL). Discover more about the Library and our initiatives through our website at http://www.lib.berkeley.edu.

The Bancroft Library of the University of California, Berkeley, is one of the largest and most heavily used libraries of rare materials in the West. Its holdings include more than 600,000 volumes, 60,000,000 manuscripts (60,000 linear feet), 8,200,000 photographs and other pictorial materials, 86,000 microforms, 300,000 digital images, and 35,000 maps, as well as numerous other categories of unique material. The two largest collections are the Bancroft Collection of Western and Latin Americana and the Rare Books Collection. The latter comprises approximately 100,000 volumes ranging from a substantial collection of Egyptian papyri from as early as 2000 B.C. through medieval and early modern manuscripts and books (including more than four hundred incunabula) to important holdings in more recent periods of European, English, and American culture in such diverse fields as modern fine typography, contemporary poetry (concentrating on California poets), and certain major modern British and American authors. Bancroft is also home to four research groups: the Regional Oral History Office; the Mark Twain Papers; the Center for the Tebtunis Papyri; and the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life. The Rare Books Collection has special emphases on the Enlightenment and on books by and about women from the fifteenth century to the present. It also includes collections of fine bindings, medieval and early modern manuscripts, pamphlets documenting the French Revolution, and African-American literature.

Responsibilities
The Head of Reference and Research Services (HRRS) of The Bancroft Library manages an operation supported by twenty-five librarians, library assistants, student library employees, and volunteers, drawn from several units of The Bancroft Library and the Doe/Moffitt Libraries. The HRRS directly manages a staff of five career staff members, approximately three full-time-equivalent student library employees, and two full-time equivalent volunteers. In addition, the HRRS coordinates the staffing of the registration, circulation, and reference desks, drawing on staff of Bancroft’s Public Services Division, librarians and higher-level staff from other administrative units of The Bancroft Library as well as a five-percent assignment from a librarian of the Moffitt Library. Managing such a diverse group of staff from various administrative units and the public requires solid collaborative skills to assure the success of Reference and Research Services at The Bancroft Library.

The HRRS, a senior professional in The Bancroft Library, reports directly to the Deputy Director of The Bancroft Library and is responsible for overseeing the Heller Reading Room, for maintaining appropriate security and correct procedures in the handling of special collections in the Reading Room and seminar rooms, for developing and maintaining public service policies and procedures, planning and coordinating the public face of reader services to the academic community, budgeting Bancroft Reference and Research Services, and directly supervising the staff of Public Services, who have responsibility for operations and services related to the collections and their use by scholars, students, and other readers. The HRRS functions as a general curator for the entire array of Bancroft collections, working collegially with the specialist collection curators and directors of Bancroft research groups, and assuring fulfillment of the standards and goals of The Bancroft Library in its relation to the University community. The incumbent serves as a member of the Bancroft Library Management Advisory Group, the Bancroft Collection Management Group, and other administrative bodies within Bancroft and the University Library.

The HRRS performs a key liaison role within the Library, working closely with Bancroft’s collection curators and research group directors, and with faculty, students, visiting scholars, and other readers, helping to coordinate and schedule with curators and other Bancroft specialists certain exhibitions and faculty-conducted seminars within Bancroft. The incumbent may also be called upon to join campus faculty in conducting seminars in Bancroft’s seminar rooms. The incumbent is also the primary liaison with visiting dignitaries, the staff of the University Library, and public services and reference librarians in other University Library departments and branches. The HRRS plays an active role in University Library committees. The HRRS shares responsibility with other Bancroft staff for Web coordination and exhibitions scheduled for the Bancroft gallery. The HRRS works closely with Bancroft’s other curators in scheduling, preparing, and publicizing exhibitions, lectures, symposia, receptions, and other public events.

The HRRS hires, trains, and manages library assistants and student library employees. These employees maintain the stacks; retrieve and return collections stored remotely; and assemble and service items selected for class use in Bancroft’s several seminar rooms. In consultation with appropriate curators, they retrieve and examine items requested for possible loan to exhibitions within Bancroft, the University Library, and elsewhere. The HRRS trains the reading room staff for the Magnes Collection.

The HRRS (in consultation with the Deputy Director and appropriate curators) also manages the rights and permissions for publication (in all media) of items in all the Bancroft collections, with the exception of rights and permissions related to certain parts of the Magnes Collection, which are supervised by the Magnes Curator.

The HRRS has the responsibility to select works for the reference collections maintained near Bancroft’s reading room that complement the specialized research collections at Bancroft.

The HRRS functions continually as an ambassador of The Bancroft Library in dealing with the Berkeley faculty and students, the general and specialized readers who use Bancroft, the antiquarian book trade, private collectors, other librarians at Berkeley and in the broader professional and donor communities.

UC Berkeley librarians are expected to participate in library-wide planning and governance, to work effectively in a shared decision-making environment and to be active professionally. Professional contributions beyond the primary responsibilities are required for advancement in the Librarian series. The successful candidate will show evidence or promise of such contributions.

Minimum Basic Qualification Required by Time of Application
• MLS from an ALA-accredited institution or equivalent degree at the time of application

Additional Required Qualifications
• Three or more years of experience with demonstrated success as a reference librarian in a special collections, rare book, or research library
• Good knowledge of North American, Latin American, British, and European literature and cultural history
• Proficiency in at least one modern European language (Spanish preferred)
• Two or more years of management and supervisory experience

Additional Preferred Qualifications
• Experience in selecting works appropriate to serve as part of a standing reference collection
• Experience in coordinating and leading seminars for instruction of students from academic programs
• Experience in managing rights and permissions for publication based on Bancroft resources
• Excellent analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills
• Exhibit initiative and flexibility
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a diverse population of faculty, staff, student, and community members

The Library at the University of California, Berkeley is committed to the support and encouragement of a multicultural environment and seeks candidates who can make positive and imaginative contributions in a context of ethnic and cultural diversity.

As a management position, this librarian position is not represented by a bargaining unit and is covered by the UC Academic Personnel Manual (APM).

Librarians are entitled to appropriate professional leave, two days per month of vacation leave, one day per month of sick leave, and all other benefits granted to non-faculty academic personnel. The University has an excellent retirement system and sponsors a variety of group health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans in addition to other benefits.

Deadline: Consideration will be given to applications received by June 6, 2014 (extended deadline).

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct.

Send inquiries to:

Susan E. Wong
Director, Library Human Resources
Library Human Resources Department
110 Doe Library
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
librec@library.berkeley.edu
510) 642-3778

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Curriculum vitae noting degrees and relevant work experience

  • Cover Letter - A cover letter detailing a statement of qualifications

Reference requirements
  • 3 required (contact information only)