MU Vice Provost for Libraries & University Librarian

Columbia, MO
Full Time
Executive
The University of Missouri-Columbia (“Mizzou” or “MU”) seeks a dynamic, innovative, and visionary leader to serve as the next Vice Provost for Libraries & University Librarian. The next Vice Provost will be joining the institution during a period of incredible growth and opportunities. During the past three years, the University of Missouri has achieved historic highs in student success (retention, graduation, and placement rates), research expenditures, state appropriations and alumni support. The next Vice Provost will have the opportunity to support these areas of excellence by enhancing the opportunities, activities, and initiatives of MU Libraries and acting as an advocate and catalyst for an integrated libraries vision for one of the most comprehensive universities in the United States. MU is a member of the AAU and is designated as a Carnegie R1 and Land-Grant University. It is home to numerous major research centers and the world’s first journalism school. The University is also one of only six public universities in the country with schools or colleges of engineering, medicine, veterinary medicine, agriculture, arts and science, law, and a powerful research reactor all on one campus. MU is centrally located in Columbia, Missouri, a place consistently ranked as one of America’s best places to live.
 


Opportunities and Expectations for Leadership

The Vice Provost for Libraries and University Librarian reports to the Provost and leads the University of Missouri Libraries in its mission and strategy and serves as chief administrator for the MU Libraries, which includes Ellis Library (MU’s main library), six specialized libraries including the Health Sciences library, Special Collections and University Archives, offsite storage facilities, and is a partner to the MU Law Library. The Vice Provost oversees the library staff, consisting of 75 classified staff and 40 librarians and archivists. The Vice Provost also represents MU Libraries in collaborations with the other three University of Missouri System Libraries and with regional and national library associations and consortia.

Strategic opportunities for our next Vice Provost include:
  • Develop, communicate, and execute a vision for strategic impact and growth for MU Libraries
  • Lead space planning and collection modernization positioning the libraries for long-term success
  • Capitalize on recent interest and support for MU Libraries
  • Lead fundraising efforts with alumni, partners, and donors
  • Enhance collaboration opportunities with faculty and students
  • Advance the University’s system-level library efforts


Qualities & Characteristics

Our next Vice Provost will inspire faculty, staff, students, and community leaders with ambitious objectives and build a plan to lead the institution toward those objectives. They will have the personal leadership qualities and skills to successfully advocate for the resources necessary to realize the vision.

Candidates should possess some the following capabilities and/or characteristics:
 
  • Commitment to growth and learning for oneself and the organization.
  • Collaborates effectively by synthesizing and building upon the ideas of others, fostering a culture of shared understanding.
  • Creates a positive work environment by cultivating motivation, happiness, and engagement among team members.
  • Commitment to celebrating and preserving the history of the institution while driving forward momentum.
  • Conceptualizes, rallies support, and successfully sees projects through to their final conclusion.
  • Recognizes the integral role of libraries, information and data in shaping the future, seeing vast opportunities for integrated expansion within the libraries.
  • Empowers direct reports and staff, recognizing the complexity of the organization with numerous moving parts.
  • Leads and navigates a respectful and inclusive approach to change initiatives, ensuring active involvement of all parties.
  • Values and supports the professional growth and development of staff and faculty.
  • Discerns when to discontinue initiatives, unburdened by adherence to outdated practices.
  • Leads a culture of openness where information, whether positive or challenging, is communicated regularly.
  • Utilizes data and data analysis to inform and substantiate decision-making processes.
  • Understands the importance of a strong, engaged, and valued university library.
  • Solid grounding in the core functions of academic libraries and librarianship.

Minimum Qualifications

A Master's degree in a relevant area and 10 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired, or a Bachelor's degree in a relevant area and 12 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

In addition to these minimum qualifications, the committee will evaluate candidates based on the presence of some or any of the following:
 
  • Master’s degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association (ALA) or from a program in a country with a formal accreditation process as identified by ALA.
  • Demonstrated experience in academic and research libraries or other setting from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired.
  • A record of increasingly responsible positions as a library administrator. 


MU Libraries Overview

The University of Missouri Libraries comprise a network of libraries, with the main and largest being Ellis Library, alongside several specialized libraries. These facilities collectively house extensive resources, including books, electronic journals, articles, streaming media, and more. Designed to support the instruction, research, service, and economic development missions of the University of Missouri, the Libraries play a crucial role.

Our Mission: The University Libraries advance the teaching, research, and services programs of the University, and the economic development of the State of Missouri, by providing innovative services and acquiring, preserving, and making accessible scholarly resources. 

Our Vision: The University Libraries are leaders, partners and colleagues engaged in the pursuit and discovery of knowledge and the advancement of education. The Libraries are an open active and accessible learning environment, a hub for global information, and a secure repository for scholarship. 

Our Values: As employees of the University Libraries, we affirm and support the core values of the University of Missouri, including respect, responsibility, discovery, and excellence. In addition, we uphold the following values:
  • Access: Freedom of access to information in all forms and for all persons is our most cherished principle. We treasure the library ideals of free speech, open inquiry, accessibility, and equality – all upheld by our collections, our services, our policies, and our procedures.
  • People: We value our users, regardless of their level of expertise or affiliation, as the foundation of our mission. We esteem our fellow employees, regardless of their job assignment, as our most valuable asset. We treat all people with respect and courtesy. We celebrate the diversity of our staff as one of our greatest strengths.
  • Service: Our principal goal is to provide the best quality service possible, at all times, to all our users. We recognize and celebrate excellence whenever and wherever we encounter it. We work together as a team for the greater good of the Libraries and the University.
  • Stewardship: We maintain our collections and facilities for future generations of scholars. We make the most efficient use of scarce resources. We plan for the challenges which will confront us in the future.
            Our Strategic Goals:
  • GOAL 1: To position the University Libraries as active partners in student-centered learning.
  • GOAL 2: To assure the quality, diversity, and preservation of our library collections for the campus and wider academic community.
  • GOAL 3: To position the University Libraries as active partners in support of research and practice.
  • GOAL 4: To transform library spaces to enable changing models of learning and scholarship.


Nominations & Applications

The Search Committee will begin reviewing candidates immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Priority consideration will be given to materials received by March 13th, 2024. Applications should include a CV/resume and a letter of interest that addresses the opportunities described above. Nominations and inquiries of interest may be sent in confidence to the University’s executive search partner:

Patrick Arens
Lead HR Consultant
University of Missouri System
[email protected]
 
The University of Missouri System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy applies to all employment decisions including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, promotions, pay practices, benefits, disciplinary actions and terminations. For more information, visit https://www.umsystem.edu/ums/hr/eeo.

 
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