Head of Research Services
Company: Code4lib
Location: Cranston
Posted on: August 3, 2022
Job Description:
DescriptionThe Head of Research Services is a service-driven
professional who oversees the public operations of the John Hay
Library, which is home to Brown University's remarkable collections
of rare books, manuscripts, and University Archives. The Head of
Research Services leads a researcher-focused operation that fosters
positive, informative, affirming, and welcoming interactions for
the global community of students, scholars, and the public that
visit the Hay. The incumbent will be responsible for articulating a
departmental vision that is rooted in racial justice and emphasizes
actionable steps according to the University's Diversity and
Inclusion Action Plan to ensure that all users of the John Hay
Library have access to equal and consistent assistance for their
library needs in a safe and affirming environment.The Research
Services Department includes 3 bargaining unit staff and student
employees. Reporting to the Associate University Librarian for
Special Collections, the Head of Research Services manages the
Hay's service desk and directs operations and staffing for the
Gildor Family Reading Room.The Head of Research Services is also
responsible for administering all aspects of remote and in-person
reference services and serves as the primary point of contact for
inquiries about Hay collections and services, ranging from research
requests to tour inquiries. The Research Services department has
primary responsibility for guiding users in how to find, use, and
evaluate relevant resources and explaining the techniques,
policies, and procedures for primary source research. The Head of
Research Services also administers and optimizes key software,
including LibAnswers and Aeon, tracks and reports statistics, and
participates in regular operational planning at the John Hay
Library. With responsibility for developing a broad knowledge of
the Library's collections, the Head of Research Services also
contributes actively to the Hay's Acquisitions Committee. The Head
of Research Services collaborates with the Head of Special
Collections Instruction to support and promote the Hay's active
teaching program, which may include teaching classes and workshops,
leading tours, and collaborating with faculty and students on
course-related activities. The Head of Research Services also
collaborates with the Head of Exhibitions and Engagement to support
and implement related initiatives around patron activities,
collections and programs, include teaching classes and workshops,
leading tours, and collaborating with faculty and students on
course-related activities. The Head of Research Services also
collaborates with the Head of Exhibitions and Engagement to support
and implement related initiatives around patron activities,
collections and programs.Major Responsibilities:Reference
Services
- Provides leadership, coordination, and oversight for the
administration and delivery of effective, equitable, and responsive
reference services and research assistance to all patrons in person
and remotely.
- Systematically and regularly evaluates reference services
according to social justice benchmarks to create and foster an
inclusive environment for researchers from diverse
backgrounds.
- Responds to researcher inquiries, including general questions,
research questions, and queries about publication, creative, and
scholarly use of collection material.
- Builds in-depth knowledge of Hay collections and creates guides
and other resources that enable the discovery and identification of
relevant collection material.
- Introduces a broad constituency of students, scholars, local
community members, and the general public to the Hay's collections
and services and ensures excellent service, friendly reception, and
positive research interactions.
- Manages remote reference operations in LibAnswers, including
assigning queries to appropriate staff and student assistants,
ensuring reasonable turnaround times, and checking response
accuracy and completeness. Provides general reference services for
all areas of Special Collections (books, graphic media, archives
and manuscripts).Research Services Operations
- Designs and administers public service and reference operations
that deliver high-quality, user-centered services that are informed
by critical information literacy.
- Develops and documents procedures and maintains consistent
reading room policies; regularly solicits feedback from students
and faculty to inform policies and procedures.
- Serves regular shifts on the reference desk and continually
works to improve the research experience for patrons of all
backgrounds, with an emphasis on creating a welcoming environment
for historically marginalized groups.
- Administers the Library's Aeon system for registering patrons
and tracking their requests for and use of collection material;
ensures a high level of patron privacy.
- Works with Research Services staff to ensure that collection
material is onsite and ready for use when the requesting individual
arrives in the Reading Room.
- Creates and maintains training materials and manuals for desk
staff and student assistants and provides adequate training for
consistent, courteous, and efficient patron service. Regularly
trains staff on new and existing policies and procedures.
- Coordinates, maintains, and analyzes circulation, reference,
and other use statistics; prepares regular reports on public
service operations.
- Works with Digital Services staff to coordinate access scanning
requests and may complete or oversee small-scale scanning as part
of a reference transaction.Management & Leadership
- Selects, supervises, and evaluates the work of staff and
student assistants responsible for staffing the service desk and
supporting the use of collection material in the Reading Room.
- Manages a team of three full-time bargaining unit staff and
student workers.
- Collaborates with the Head of Special Collections Instruction
to support and promote the growing teaching program at the John Hay
Library.
- Collaborates with the Head of Exhibitions and Engagement to
support related initiatives, activities and programs.
- Serves on leadership groups within the Hay as related to
special collections operations, security, acquisitions, and other
special projects.Professional Development
- Actively updates professional knowledge and skills,
participates in professional and/or scholarly associations, and is
aware of current trends in higher education, libraries, and
cultural heritage institutions.
- Continually updates cultural knowledge and stays current with
reparative justice issues and best practices.Qualifications:
- ALA-accredited master's degree in library or information
science or an equivalent combination of education and
experience.
- 3 years of experience in an academic library, public library,
school library or other cultural heritage setting, or educational
institution in a teaching, administration, or research role.
- Experience with public service, reference service, customer
service, or other similar work.
- Supervisory, project management, or other experience directing
the work of others.
- Successful experience working directly with diverse
audiences.
- Knowledge of current research trends and information literacy
techniques. -Job Competencies:
- Strong customer-service orientation. -
- Demonstrated ability to provide effective and efficient
customer or research services. Knowledge of best practices in
virtual and in-person customer service in a high-paced cultural
heritage institution, educational institution, -or similar
environment. Familiarity with assessment of public services and
related tools.
- Demonstrated ability to bring inclusive and engaging approaches
to customer service and/or teaching operations and programming
onsite and virtually.
- Excellent interpersonal and oral and written communication
skills.
- Excellent planning, decision making, problem-solving skills
with superior verbal and written and oral communication
skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively in a diverse,
dynamic, team setting and to balance multiple competing priorities.
-
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at every level
of the University.About the John Hay LibraryThe John Hay Library is
home to Brown University's remarkable collections of rare books,
manuscripts, and archival material. The Hay and its collections
attract an international cohort of researchers, and as a Carnegie
Library, the Hay is committed to investing in community and public
engagement. To ensure that its collections are carefully stewarded
for long-term access and use by any visitor, the -John Hay Library
Collection Policy -outlines six strategic collecting directions and
core guiding principles for collecting. -John Hay Library
MissionThe John Hay Library collects and preserves rare and unique
materials that promote interdisciplinary research, teaching, and
learning and inspire experimentation and creativity. Our
collections support free and open inquiry, and we are committed to
providing equitable access to our collections, exhibitions, and
programming to a global community of students, scholars, and the
public.Please include a cover letter when applying for this
position.All offers of employment are contingent upon a Criminal
and education background check satisfactory to Brown University.In
order to maintain 90% or greater universal vaccination rates on
campus, all newly hired employees at Brown University must receive
the final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine before they begin work,
unless they are approved for a medical or religious exemption. For
more information, please visit the Healthy Brown site. How to apply
https://brown.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/staff-careers-brown/job/John-Hay-Library/Head-of-Research-Services_REQ173147
Contact:amanda_strauss@brown.edu Reference services (Libraries)
Instruction Outreach Special collections Metadata
Published:Saturday, September 4, 2021 14:00 UTC Last
updated:Saturday, September 4, 2021 14:00 UTC
Keywords: Code4lib, Cranston , Head of Research Services, Other , Cranston, Rhode Island
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