Library Manager

Position Overview:

Reporting to the Dean of Arts and Science, the Alexander College Library Manager is responsible for ensuring that the libraries support the academic culture of Alexander College. The Library Manager is responsible for management, coordination and guidance of campus libraries, including oversight of development and acquisitions for the collections, and supervising Library staff. The Library Manager also provides guidance and support for duties related to circulation, information literacy instruction, liaising with faculty, cataloging, research help, and database management.

This position requires a Master’s in Library and Information Studies (or equivalent) from an ALA accredited institution experience in an academic library, preferably with supervisory or management experience. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrable understanding of librarianship in a postsecondary environment, including some familiarity with library consortia (for example, BC ELN and eHLbc), ILS use and administration, management best practices and basic record keeping. The successful candidate should also have a working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs, and good interpersonal and service skills.

About Alexander College Library:

The Alexander College Library plays a key role in achieving the educational directives of the college by serving as an information centre in which students engage in academic, cultural and social activities. The Library is dedicated to providing the highest level of resources (whether traditional or digital) and instructional services so students and faculty can perform research, study, and surf the web with confidence. Services are thus patron-oriented and are under constant re-evaluation to ensure they are up-to-date and responsive. In this way, staff and students can get the most out of the resources available to them. To fulfill its role in supporting the College’s educational mission, AC Library is committed to maintaining an environment conducive to study and research.

Reporting Relationship:

Dean of Arts and Science

Employment Type:

Full Time, Permanent

Compensation:

The salary for this position is $80,000, to be adjusted commensurate with qualifications and experience. AC Employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package after the first three months of employment.

Work Week:

The Employee will work during regular business hours, Monday to Friday, for 37.5 hours per week (not including a 30-minute unpaid meal break per day). Occasional overtime may be required. Members of the Library Team work 1 day per week remotely (optional), as capacity allows.

Location:

Flexibility to travel between both the Burnaby and Vancouver campuses is required.

Education & Experience Requirements:

• Master of Library and Information Studies, or equivalent, from an ALA-accredited institution
• Experience in an academic library, preferably with supervisory or management experience
• Experience working with international students desired

Qualifications:

• Excellent interpersonal & relationship building skills
• Superior oral and written communication skills
• Strong ability to take initiative and complete tasks as assigned
• Strong familiarity with Microsoft Office, including Microsoft Excel
• Broad knowledge of academic library service trends and evolving issues, including familiarity with current and emerging technology and information resources
• Experience participating in provincial bodies (for example, BCLA, BCELN or similar) an asset
• Knowledge of the BC College and University system
• Demonstrated instructional experience (preferably in ESL or academic settings)
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with users from a wide variety of cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
• Demonstrated experience with the operation of an Integrated Library System
• Experience with systems librarian responsibilities an asset
• Superior leadership and teamwork capabilities
• Ability to maintain professionalism and cordiality when working with others and maintain collegial relationships with other staff members
• Demonstrated skill in team coordination, practical delegation and workload management, and creating and maintaining a supportive team environment

Specific Responsibilities:

Specific responsibilities refers to tasks and processes that the Library Manager is typically expected to plan, initiate, and execute.

Manage and Coordinate Library Staff

• Provide scheduling for library staff and student workers for library operations
• Supervise Librarians, Library Technicians and Student Workers
• Conduct probation/annual performance reviews of Librarians
• Plan, participate in and facilitate Library Unit meetings
• Assist with hiring within the Library Unit
• Represent Alexander College Library at internal and external events and meetings

Administration & Reporting

• Provide guidance and oversight related to research and writing of assessments and reports on Library activity (term and annual basis)
• Support administrators with Degree Quality Assessment Board reporting
• Contribute to program and policy development, including library-related student activities.
• Work with staff/faculty/administrators from outside the library on creating and implementing new initiatives at the College.
• Maintain professional development, associations, and memberships as relevant
• Perform other duties as requested by the Dean of Arts and Science

Systems

• Manages AC EBSCO interfaces including EBSCO Admin and EBSCO Connect
• Maintains user access to electronic resources through EZProxy
• Supports development and maintenance of documentation for the use of Sitka’s Evergreen (AC’s ILS) Deliver training and provide documentation related to library systems
• Liaise with IT and vendor for technical support of ID Card creation software and equipment
• Support Campus librarians with overseeing and implementing policy changes related to acquisitions, cataloguing, and physical item processing
• Suggest and implement new systems that support the AC Library’s needs for continued growth
• Coordinate with the AC Web Team on updates and changes to the AC Library website

Supporting Responsibilities:

Supporting responsibilities refers to tasks and processes where the Library Manager is typically expected to provide guidance, oversight and coordination as needed.

Library Campus Management

• Assist with opening and closing of library as needed
• Maintain library’s physical space and resources are safe, clean, and accessible for AC users
• Liaise with Operations and IT to ensure proper support of cleaning, opening and closing, and computer and technology maintenance

Course Archives

• Facilitate the process of compiling Course Archives according to Alexander College standards and procedures
• Liaise with AC faculty, Information Systems Team, and Administration to provide access to Course Archives for review Coordinate Course Archives process with other trained Library Staff
• Assist the Library Team members responsible for Course Archives with keeping the rest of the Library Team and Faculty up to date with processes for Course Archives and Unreturned Student Work

AC ID Cards

• Collaborate with Librarians, Operations, Human Resources, and IT to coordinate the process of creating:
  • Student ID cards (which also serve as the student’s library card)
  • AC staff and faculty photo ID cards
  • AC Alumni Cards
• Provide support for other related tasks such as: contacting the vendor to order supplies, designing new ID templates when required, etc.

Collection Development

• Perform collection development activities and collection maintenance, in accordance with Alexander College polices and guidelines
• Provide support for continuous review of library collection development policies
• Approve or deny material donations according to policy
• Assist with the acquisition and promotion of OER and OA sources at the College

Reference and Research Services

• Support the Librarians in the planning and provision of information services to AC students, staff, and instructors
• Provide reference services (e.g. in-person, online chat, AskAway, and Zoom)
• Provide library orientations and research workshops at in-person and virtual events
• Support instructors and staff with discovery and databases/digital resources

Information Literacy Instruction

• Liaise with faculty to promote, design, and implement information literacy sessions for classes across all disciplines
• Collect and review IL sessions data from AC faculty and student to use for reporting and development purposes

Interlibrary Loans

• Support the overseeing librarian in the process of processing, managing, and evaluating the ILL program at AC Library

Liaise with Alexander Academy/Brighton College

• Support library staff at Alexander Academy/Brighton College on library related topics (cataloging, electronic resources, e-resource access, student IDs)

How to Apply

If you are interested in the above position and you would like to apply, please e-mail your cover letter and resume with the e-mail title being “[Your full-name]_Library Manager 2024” to hiring@alexandercollege.ca.

Please note that applications without a cover letter will not be accepted. In your cover letter, be sure to tell us what you would bring to the team and why you’d be perfect for this role. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

No phone calls please.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Thank you!