Library - Head, Collections Services

Application Deadline: April 12, 2024
Library
Reference # LIB-2023-24-02

Lakehead University Library, Thunder Bay Campus, invites applications for a Head, Collections Services. The academic rank of the appointment will be commensurate with the qualifications of the successful candidate. This position will remain open until filled.

About the Library

The total library collection includes approximately 600,000 print volumes and access to over 600,000 e-books, more than 60,000 online journals, and rare and special collections such as the Regional Collection and the Archives. The Chancellor Paterson Library is the main library on the Thunder Bay campus and occupies its own building in the center of campus. There are four additional libraries: one at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law, the Learning Commons in Simcoe Hall (Orillia), and the Education Library (one location at the Faculty of Education-Thunder Bay and one at Heritage Place-Orillia). Lakehead University Library is an active member of both provincial and national consortia. We provide many services in collaboration with our Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL) partners, such as, Ask a Librarian (chat reference service), Scholars Portal, and Borealis - Lakehead University Dataverse. The library is also part of Collaborative Futures, a shared next-generation library system at 18 OCUL libraries. Our involvement with the Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN) as well as other consortia, allows us to provide significant digital content. Our staff complement of over 30 includes 11 librarians and an archivist.

About the University

Lakehead University Library’s mission is to be an innovative organization that anticipates the requirements of the future while respecting the heritage of the past. By providing exceptional services, collections, and spaces, the libraries shape the creation of knowledge, actively preserve and support culture, and transform learning and research.

Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. Our campuses are located in Thunder Bay on the traditional lands of the Fort William First Nation, Signatory to the Robinson Superior Treaty of 1850 and in Orillia on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, and Rama First Nation. Lakehead University acknowledges the history that many nations hold in the areas around our campuses and is committed to a relationship with Métis and Inuit and First Nations peoples. Lakehead has approximately 10,000 students and 2,160 faculty and staff. With an emphasis on collaborative learning and independent critical thinking, and a multidisciplinary teaching approach, Lakehead offers a variety of degree and diploma programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels through its nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Health and Behavioural Sciences, Natural Resources Management, Science and Environmental Studies, Social Sciences and Humanities, Graduate Studies, and Faculty of Law. For further information, please visit: www.lakeheadu.ca.

About the Opportunity

The Head of Collection Services leads the Collections Services unit and oversees all aspects of library resource management - budgets, collections, acquisitions, cataloguing and description, deselection and overall library collection assessment efforts for physical and electronic resources. The Head of Collections Services supports the overall work and goals of the library by practicing user-centered and evidence-based collection management, contributing to strategic objectives, and representing the library’s interests with consortia and vendor partners. This will include taking on project leadership roles, and/or participating in projects both within the library, and with consortia such as OCUL and CRKN, as well as with professional organizations. Training opportunities and resources will be available to the successful candidate to further develop their skill-set for position competencies. This position reports directly to the University Librarian.

Collections Services Portfolio

• Coordinates the operations of acquisitions, cataloguing and metadata, and other collection management functions using the library services platform (Ex Libris Alma/Primo VE).
• Manages the libraries’ materials budget, ensuring efficient and cost-effective workflows for ordering, invoicing, receiving, claiming, and expending budgeted funds.
• Develops policies and strategies for managing the libraries’ collection in areas such as product trials, subscription management, weeding, collection development policies, usage data collection, authority control, etc.
• Works with liaison librarians to evaluate new resources and oversees the process to make purchase, renewal and cancellation decisions.
• Ensures the discoverability of resources and collections.
• Provides statistical and budgetary analysis for electronic resources, leading the libraries in developing and maintaining awareness of emerging technologies and technical issues related to acquisition, licensing, access, and usage.
• Assists liaison librarians with collection-related departmental requests and reports such as Lakehead University’s Instructional Quality Assurance Program reports, accreditation reports and national library reporting.
• Participates in collaborative activities around the Omni consortium; such activities may include Network Zone cleanup, shared cataloguing loads, and shared acquisitions as required.
• Supervises, trains and assigns tasks to a team of library technicians (currently 4 FTE).
• Keeps current with trends and issues in higher education, with a focus on emerging technologies related to acquisitions, metadata and collection development.

General Responsibilities

• Commits to assessment and evidence-based decision making related to services, collections, technology, and physical spaces.
• Contributes to the leadership of the library by participating in Librarians’ Council as well as various library and university committees.
• Contributes to research and scholarly activities, professional services, service to the university, and service to the profession and community.

Qualifications

Required

• A graduate degree from an ALA-accredited school of library and information science.
• Relevant experience in collections, acquisitions and budget management.
• Experience working with bibliographic control and metadata systems and standards.
• Knowledge of current cataloguing rules, standards, and controlled vocabularies, including RDA, LC Classification, and LCSH.
• Working knowledge of and experience with MARC21.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills.
• Ability to work in a collegial manner.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Preferred

• Two to five years of relevant experience in an academic library environment.
• Experience with Ex Libris Alma and Primo platforms.
• Experience with other non-MARC metadata formats, standards or schemas including Dublin Core and BIBFRAME.
• Aptitude for learning new technologies and metadata standards.
• Strong supervisory and team-building skills and demonstrated experience providing leadership to staff in an effective, productive and positive manner.

Some evening and weekend work may be required.

For further information, please contact Robin Canuel. Detailed information on the library, our services and resources are available at: https://library.lakeheadu.ca

Review of applications will begin on April 12, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled. The electronic application (in the form of one PDF document), quoting Reference #LIB-2023-24-02 should include: a letter of interest, a curriculum vitae and a completed Confirmation of Eligibility to Work in Canada.pdf form.

Applicants should submit their electronic application to:

Robin Canuel
University Librarian
Lakehead University Library
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Email: applications.library@lakeheadu.ca

Lakehead University is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals including women, racialized persons, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities and other equity-seeking groups. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. This is in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements.

Lakehead University has an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan 2019-2024 with a goal to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as measured by increasing representation of under-represented groups among applicants, candidates and hires. We encourage candidates to self-identify, if you are from an under-represented group, and prefer candidates with the knowledge, competencies and relationships derived from lived experience. Experience working with Indigenous or racialized communities, and/or members of other equity-deserving groups is a strong asset. A lived experience or worked experience of any of these issues is preferred.

We appreciate your interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be notified. Lakehead University is committed to supporting an accessibleenvironment.Applicants requiring accommodation during the interview process should contact the Office of Human Resources at (807) 343.8010 ext. 8334 orhuman.resources@lakeheadu.cato make appropriate arrangements.

This position is subject to budgetary approval.