Dean of Libraries

The University of Maine invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of Libraries. This is a unique opportunity for a visionary, dynamic, and collaborative leader to join a flagship public research university with a distinguished 157-year history and an ambitious strategic vision for the future. The university seeks an experienced leader who will, in collaboration with library staff and partners throughout the state and region, advance our research and teaching mission, strengthen our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and harness technological change to forge a dynamic future for the university library as a vibrant hub for connection and creativity.

Reporting to the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, the dean is the library’s chief administrative officer, overseeing a budget of more than $9 million and leading a dedicated staff of more than 50 people in advancing the university’s core values of fostering learner success and promoting discovery and innovation. In addition, the dean plays a key role in state-wide partnerships among both academic and public libraries, forging collaborations that enhance resource management, resource accessibility, and the dissemination of information throughout the state.

This is a moment of great possibility at the University of Maine. Recently designated an R1 institution, UMaine is committed to advancing our research profile and transformational knowledge creation in Maine and beyond. In addition, in 2020 the University of Maine System received a $240 million gift by the Harold Alfond Foundation—the largest ever to a public institution of higher education in New England–a key feature of which is to promote student success, innovation, and discovery. The Dean of Libraries will play a critical leadership role at an exciting moment of change and evolution at the University of Maine.

The Dean of Libraries will advance such key priorities as:

  • Developing a strategic vision and effect transformational change, fulfilling Fogler Library’s potential as the physical and intellectual hub of UMaine in the 21st century;
  • Harnessing the library’s potential to advance the university’s research enterprise and as a hub for student success and retention efforts;
  • Fostering innovation and imagination among library staff and throughout the UMaine community;
  • Serving as an advocate for building and stewarding library collections to support scholarly research at the University of Maine and beyond;
  • Serving as a champion of diversity, equity, and justice within the library and beyond it;
  • Forging a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and productive environment for all staff members and library users;
  • Leading fundraising efforts and strategic planning initiatives regarding library capital space, facilities, acquisitions, and staff development, among others.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities of the position include:

  • In concert with faculty, staff, and students, promote a shared vision of how Fogler Library can best serve the university, the state of Maine, and beyond, in advancing knowledge creation;
  • Provide strategic and collaborative leadership to advance the university’s values and directions for research, instruction, and community engagement activities.
  • Oversee all areas of library operations, including budget, collections, facilities, and staff;
  • Play a key role in state-wide library organizations including as a permanent member of the Maine InfoNet Board and as a representative to the Maine Library Commission.
  • Assume a leadership role among the libraries of the University of Maine System colleges and Universities as a key member of the URSUS (University Resources Serving Users Statewide) group.
  • Plan, manage, and implement the funding that helps support the UMaine System and Maine State databases;
  • Supervise the senior staff in the library, including Collection Services, Circulation, Public Relations, Government Publications and Interlibrary Loan, Reference and Information Literacy, Special Collections, Technical Services, Financial and administrative staff;
  • Assist in managing, implementing, and supervising all aspects of the University of Maine Press;
  • Cultivate relationships and partnerships within and outside of the library and university.

About the library

Raymond H. Fogler Library at the University of Maine is the largest research library in Maine, with a 150-year history supporting the faculty, students, and staff of the University as well as residents of the State of Maine.

The current collection includes approximately 3.1 million print and digital volumes, including government documents, as well as 1.1 million physical and digital media titles, including microforms, streaming video and music, maps, CDs, and DVDs. The library provides access to more than 155,000 online serials and over 300 online databases.

Fogler Library is the regional depository for federal government publications and an official depository for Canadian federal and Maine state government publications. The library is also the designated State Research Library for Business, Science, and Technology, and is the only Patent and Trademark Resource Center in Maine.

About the University of Maine

The University of Maine is a community of more than 11,200 undergraduate and graduate students, and 2,500 employees located on the Orono campus, the regional campus in Machias, and throughout the state. UMaine is the state land, sea and space grant university and maintains a leadership role as the System’s flagship university.  As a result, it is dedicated to providing excellent teaching, research, and service at the university, state, and national levels.  Further information about UMaine can be found at https://umaine.edu/

The University of Maine offers a wide range of benefits for employees including, but not limited to, tuition benefits (employee and dependent), comprehensive insurance coverage including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short and long term disability as well as retirement plan options. As a former NSF ADVANCE institution, the University of Maine is committed to diversity in our workforce and to dual-career couples.

UMaine is located in beautiful Central Maine. Many employees report that a primary reason for choosing to come to UMaine is quality of life.  Numerous cultural activities, excellent public schools, safe neighborhoods, high quality medical care, little traffic, and a reasonable cost of living make the greater Bangor area a wonderful place to live.

Learn more about what the Bangor region has to offer here.

Required qualifications

  • An ALA-accredited Master’s degree in library and information science, or an advanced degree in a related field;
  • Minimum of five years of experience with academic library services and initiatives;
  • Significant leadership, budgeting, public service, and supervisory experience in a complex organization;
  • Record of advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in library services, collections, in the workplace, and/or on a college/university campus;
  • Experience with strategic planning and with communicating a vision for library initiatives, including information literacy, scholarly communication, research and creative activity, community engagement, the stewardship of diverse collections, and professional development;
  • Experience collaborating across and among libraries to enhance resource access and curation;
  • Demonstrated knowledge of emerging areas of librarianship,
  • Ability to work effectively with senior leadership and to build, nurture, support and retain a strong team of professionals;
  • Ability to think creatively, demonstrate creative problem solving, and collaborate with a variety of partners in a complex organization;
  • Excellent organizational, written, and oral communication skills.

Preferred qualifications

  • Ph.D. or additional advanced degree in a related field;
  • Minimum of ten years of experience with libraries, including five years of administrative and leadership experience; 
  • Demonstrated success in executing transformational institutional change;
  • Experience with fundraising and donor relations;
  • Expertise in grants acquisition and management;
  • Experience working in a multi-campus university system and/or consortial partnerships;
  • Successful track record in promoting innovative and effective applications of technology to support, enhance, or replace traditional library services;
  • Successful track record in implementing and supporting programs that promote student retention and success.

To apply

Requested application materials include a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, a diversity statement, and a list of five professional references. References will not be called without explicit prior permission. Although applications will be welcomed until a new dean is selected, for best consideration candidates should submit materials by June 17, 2022, when the search committee will begin reviewing applications.

Nominations and questions about the position may be directed to the chair of the search committee, Dr. Ellen Weinauer, Dean of the Honors College at ellen.weinauer@maine.edu or 207.581.3262.

For more information, please visit https://umaine.hiretouch.com/job-details?jobid=75626

The University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities.