Head of the Natural History Library Collections
(Ernst Mayr and Botany Libraries)
Harvard College Library
66455BR
Job Summary
Although this position will remain
posted until filled, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by end of
day on September 6, 2024.
Harvard
Library seeks an innovative librarian with proven experience in natural history
librarianship to develop a vision for the next phase of services and spaces
supporting the natural history domain and across disciplines.
Reporting
to the Director for Sciences and Engineering Services (SES) within the Faculty
of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Libraries, the head will oversee the Ernst Mayr
Library for the Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ) and the Botany Libraries of
the Harvard University Herbaria (HUH), and support the students, faculty,
curators, and researchers in areas of natural history (including: zoology,
botany, ecology, forestry, natural history, biodiversity, paleontology, marine
biology, oceanography) and biology. The head will also work with the librarian
at the Arnold Arboretum and the Harvard Forest.
The
position will oversee a team responsible for maintaining and strengthening
strong partnerships with faculty, curators, and researchers, contributing at
all points of the research lifecycle, and engaging with students in ways that
encourage the full use of the Library’s many services.
Harvard
University is a founding member of the Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL), and
continues to support BHL through membership, active committee participation,
and digitization from the collections in the Ernst Mayr and Botany
Libraries.
The
Head of the Natural History Library Collections (Ernst Mayr and Botany
Libraries) will be a key member of the Science Libraries Council, a group of
science, engineering, mathematics, and medical librarians who work together to
share knowledge, keep current with developments in science librarianship, and
collaborate on the selection, acquisition, and licensing of materials for
research and learning across the disciplines they serve.
Position Description
Management Activities
·
Direct the strategic planning process
for the natural history library collections in both Ernst Mayr and the Botany
Libraries.
·
Plan, develop, administer, and evaluate
library services to curators, faculty, staff, students, and visiting
researchers.
·
Maintain administrative oversight of
the Ernst Mayr Library and the Botany Libraries.
·
Prepare and recommend the annual
budget, monitor budget expenditures.
·
Collaborate and coordinate with the
directors of the Museum of Comparative Zoology (MBZ) and the Harvard University
Herbaria (HUH) on the use of the spaces, coordination with museum collections,
and future planning.
·
Manage the Ernst Mayr and Botany
libraries facilities in collaboration with MCZ and HUH building
operations.
·
Prioritize and lead multiple projects
while meeting deadlines and budget targets.
·
Recruit, hire, manage, and evaluate
staff.
·
Promote staff development
activities.
·
Work collegially with peers and
colleagues across the Harvard Library in a variety of committees and working
groups.
·
Maintain awareness of national trends
and developments in STEM librarianship with particular focus on areas of
natural history and museum libraries.
·
Contribute to professional
organizations at the national level, recognize library trends and opportunities,
and use this knowledge to enrich local programs and strategic planning in
Harvard’s science libraries.
Research and Instruction
Activities
·
Collaborate with faculty and colleagues
across the library system to ensure continuing excellence in the STEM and
cross-disciplinary research and instruction programs.
·
Collaborate with colleagues to develop
effective strategies to meet user needs.
·
Collaborate with colleagues throughout
the Harvard Library working in Research, Teaching, and Learning.
·
Provide reference and instruction
services as needed in support of subject librarians.
Collection
Management Activities
·
Coordinate the management of the
collections for Ernst Mayr and the Botany Libraries to ensure the selection and
maintenance of well-balanced collections to support the teaching and research
programs at Harvard.
·
Oversee and support, in collaboration
with the Senior Archivist, the local management of special collections and
archives in both libraries that support the work of the museum curators and
visiting researchers.
·
Promote cooperative planning for
collections, services, and preservation of materials.
Outreach Activities
·
Supervise and evaluate outreach efforts
to the various academic departments and programs.
·
Plan and implement a program of library
services that meet the teaching and research needs of diverse departments by
developing relationships within and among departments to ensure librarians have
a working rapport with faculty and curators.
·
Promote collections and services both
locally Harvard researchers and globally to natural history and biodiversity
researchers and organizations.
·
Participate actively in professional
organizations, authoring and presenting papers.
·
Support and approve loans of materials
for exhibits both within and outside Harvard.
·
Maintain collaborative programs with
area institutions.
**Continues under Additional
Information**
Basic Qualifications
·
ALA accredited MLS or equivalent
experience in academic library administration.
·
Master’s degree in a related field, or
other background in natural history subjects.
·
4-6 years related management experience
in a research library.
Additional Qualifications and Skills
·
Experience with museum library work.
·
Proven leadership, management, and
excellent interpersonal skills.
·
Demonstrated knowledge of emerging
trends in science research and learning which affect library service.
·
Demonstrated ability to foster and
manage change in a fast-paced environment.
·
Demonstrated ability to foster
teamwork.
·
Experience with the Ex Libris/Alma
library management system.
·
Experience with Aeon for special
collections.
·
Demonstrated commitment to equity,
diversity, inclusion, belonging, and antiracism.
·
Ability to collaborate effectively in a
decentralized matrix environment.
·
Demonstrated ability to engage with
faculty and students.
·
Record of professional and scholarly
accomplishments.
·
Excellent written and oral
communication skills.
·
Demonstrated experience supporting the
professional development of staff.
Physical Requirements
·
There are no notable physical demands
associated with this position.
Working Conditions
·
The work associated with this position
is performed in a library/office setting.
·
May interact with collections that may
contain dust, mold, or other contaminants.
·
At times may work in basements, attics,
warehouses, and other records storage areas.
·
At times will need to travel locally or
more broadly.
·
The position is based on onsite in
Cambridge, MA. There may be the opportunity for a hybrid work model compliant
with Harvard University policies.
·
Work location is responsive and subject
to change based on business needs. Requests for flexibility will be considered
consistent with Harvard University flexwork policies.
Additional Information
**Continued from Position
Description**
Digital Library Leadership
·
Create a strategic vision for the
digital library that ensures library participation in international digital
initiatives for STEM disciplines to provide open access to unique collections,
building upon continued engagement with the Biodiversity Heritage Library.
·
Envision library initiatives to support
scholarly communications and open access in collaboration and alignment with
the Director of Open Scholarship and Research Data Services (OSRDS).
·
Collaborate with the Data Services
Librarian for Sciences to facilitate innovative digital services and support
faculty research that benefit the Harvard STEM community.
Supervisory Responsibilities
·
The staff of the Ernst Mayr and Botany
libraries will report to this position. This includes 4 full time staff in each
Botany and Ernst Mayr, which includes 2 managers with one staff member
reporting to them.
Work Format Details
This
is a hybrid position that is based in Massachusetts. Additional details will be
discussed during the interview process. All remote work must be performed
within one of the Harvard Registered Payroll States, which currently includes
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont,
Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and
California (CA for exempt positions only). Certain visa types and funding
sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location
sponsorship requirements prior to employment.
Benefits
We invite you to visit Harvard's Total
Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards) to learn
more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:
·
Paid Time Off: 3-4
weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks
for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5
holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year
(prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new
parents who are primary care givers.
·
Health and Welfare: Comprehensive
medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs,
along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
·
Work/Life and Wellness: Child
and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee
Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management,
nutrition, meditation, and more.
·
Retirement: University-funded
retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation,
based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
·
Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive
program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced
tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
·
Tuition Reimbursement: Program
that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for
eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
·
Professional Development: Programs
and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for
Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
·
Commuting and Transportation: Various
commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking,
half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking
benefits, and more.
·
Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts
and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and
fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well
as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural
and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.
Annual salary range: $102,300 to $179,100
