Dean of University Libraries

The University of Maryland, College Park invites nominations and applications for the position of Dean of University Libraries. The University is seeking an accomplished and visionary leader who is committed to strengthening a great university library, acknowledged on the regional, national, and international stage, and who can leverage its considerable academic strengths as a major research university, the unique advantages offered by its unique location, and its overriding commitment to excellence in education and research.

The University of Maryland, College Park is the state's flagship university and one of the nation's preeminent public research universities. Chartered in 1856 as a land grant university, the University of Maryland has grown into a global leader in research, entrepreneurship and innovation. UMD is home to more than 40,000 students, 10,000 faculty and staff, and 352,000 alumni. Located just outside Washington, D.C., UMD is widely known and respected for its academic stature and impact, and is ranked among the top 25 public institutions in the country by the 2019 U.S. News and World Report rankings. Competitively awarded research grants total more than $500 million. It has been a member of the Association of American Universities since 1969, and on July 1, 2014, UMD joined the Big Ten Academic Alliance.

As the largest university library system in the Washington D.C.-Baltimore area, the UMD eight library system is a key academic resource that supports the teaching, learning and research goals of the university. The University of Maryland Libraries hold more than 4.6 million volumes and represent a diverse array of special collections, digital collections, and electronic resources:

The UMD Libraries occupy a critical place in the University System of Maryland and Affiliated Institutions (USMAI) consortium of libraries that shares services among sixteen institutions. The Libraries are also members of the Association of Research Libraries, the Center for Research Libraries, the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), and the North East Research Libraries (NERL).

Reporting directly to the Senior Vice President and Provost, the new Dean of the University Libraries will provide strategic leadership for the Libraries, developing a strategic vision and plan for the Libraries that will reflect the needs of the UMD user community, creating and strengthening dynamic partnerships with UMD’s academic and administrative units to advance the University’s research, teaching and global agendas and leveraging the University Libraries resources wisely and augmenting them through successful fundraising efforts  The Dean will join a strong, service-oriented staff and will lead them in the direction of a shared and well-articulated vision of the future.

The successful candidate must be dynamic, strategic, entrepreneurial, and innovative in recognizing and exploiting opportunities as well as in identifying and overcoming constraints. Ultimately, the successful candidate will provide the leadership to develop and achieve a vision of a university library in the 21st Century, a clear understanding of the major challenges facing research university libraries in a time of complex and extended transition; the ability to develop and maintain collaborative partnerships across campus and to engage, influence and facilitate synergies with UMD’s external constituents, including state, regional and national consortia and organizations; an advanced understanding of digital technology trends and their impact on information management infrastructure;  a demonstrated commitment to developing a diverse workforce and to advancing diversity goals and proven experience or potential for success in fundraising, donor cultivation and public relations.  The search committee seeks talented candidates from traditional as well as non-traditional library backgrounds. Experience in and understanding of a Research Extensive University Library is preferred. The successful candidate will be qualified to be awarded the rank of Librarian IV with Permanent Status or that of Professor in an academic unit.

Confidential review of applications, nominations and expressions of interest begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made.  Inquiries, requests for the full position description, nominations, and application materials should be directed electronically to:

Gale Merseth, Partner and Beverly Brady, Managing Associate

Isaacson, Miller

263 Summer Street

Boston, MA  02210

http://www.imsearch.com/6788

For more information about the University of Maryland Libraries, please visit https://www.lib.umd.edu/

The University of Maryland, College Park, actively subscribes to a policy of equal employment opportunity, and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin, marital status, genetic information, or political affiliation. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.