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Head, Veterinary School Libraries

The University of Pennsylvania Libraries seek a dynamic, service-oriented librarian to lead the development and provision of progressive services and targeted information resources for the faculty, staff, clinicians, and students of Penn's preeminent School of Veterinary Medicine. This position reports to the Associate Director of Health Sciences Libraries/Director, Biomedical Library and is a key member of the team of librarians who provide information services to the Penn's Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, and the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

The Steven W. Atwood Library and Information Commons, and its branch, the Jean Austin DuPont Library, located on the rural campus at New Bolton Center, are responsible for meeting the information needs of the faculty, staff, clinicians, and students of the School of Veterinary Medicine and other members of the Penn community.

The seven thousand square foot Atwood Library and Information Commons is just two years old, constructed as the hub of the School's new teaching and researching building, the Vernon and Shirley Hill Pavilion. Atwood features 12 patron workstations, an electronic classroom/computer laboratory with 16 workstations, 10 lending laptops, and five group study rooms with large wall-mounted monitors and white boards. One study room doubles as a digital media laboratory, supported by the School's department of information technology. The veterinary libraries have nearly 120,000 visitors annually.

The current annual collections budget is approximately $270,000. The veterinary libraries are staffed with 1.2 professional librarians, three paraprofessionals, a half-time library science intern, and student workers. The collections include not only veterinary materials, but also basic science works, general biomedical texts, and materials on the care of exotic and domestic animals. The Atwood Library emphasizes small animal medicine and surgery, while the Jean Austin DuPont Library supports large animal medicine.

The School of Veterinary Medicine comprises four overarching departments, including Clinical Studies/Philadelphia, Clinical Studies/New Bolton Center, Animal Biology, and Pathobiology. The School currently enrolls 466 professional students and twelve combined degree candidates. It has 138 standing faculty with an additional 151 academic personnel, and 750 staff in various categories over the two campuses. Penn Vet has strong basic science and clinical research programs. Currently more than 260 research projects are underway.

In 1884, the School of Veterinary Medicine was established at the urging of the University's School of Medicine. It was recognized that prevention and control of animal diseases had important implications for human health. Human and veterinary medicine were viewed as "one medicine." This principle encouraged close ties between the two schools, and today those ties continue with ground-breaking comparative medical research projects on diseases that occur in animals and humans.

The Penn Libraries include fifteen libraries and an off-site high density storage facility. System-wide scholarly resources number nearly 6 million books, 44,000 current serials (of which 16,000 are e-journals) and 700 databases. The library is a leader in the development of digital library services and collections and is aggressively experimenting with and adopting new technology in research and teaching, including courseware.

Position Summary:

The successful candidate will demonstrate enthusiasm and technical competence for libraries' roles in the evolving information landscape, and provide forward-thinking vision and leadership, including effective management of financial, physical, digital and human resources. The Head of the Veterinary Libraries will:

• Actively foster innovation in information management, integrating electronic resources and services aggressively into the Library's program.
• Conduct proactive outreach and curriculum-integrated instruction.
• Work collaboratively with a dynamic team of colleagues to achieve excellence and consistency of service across the Health Sciences Libraries.
• Coordinate cost-effective acquisitions decisions.

• Provides leadership and direction for the two libraries serving the School of Veterinary Medicine. Develops operating policies and oversees the daily operation of a first-rate resource for learning and research.
• Works with other Health Sciences librarians and IT professionals to develop proactive, user-centered public services programs that fully support the clinical, research, and teaching and learning needs of Penn's outstanding veterinary faculty, staff, clinicians, and students. Is an advocate for effective outreach, instruction and information literacy activities.
• Oversees the current document delivery initiatives.
• Develops the digital and print collections of the Veterinary libraries and manages the smooth and timely transition to digital resources in veterinary medicine in consultation with faculty groups and the Director of Collection Development. Manages the print collections, including appropriate and timely transfers to the Library's high-density off-site storage facility.
• Provides expert, supportive assistance to faculty and students using veterinary information.
• Works closely with the Dean, faculty and students to develop teaching modules on the use of relevant information resources. Works for curriculum-integration of Library instruction.
• Advises the Director of Collection Development on budget and allocation issues and plays an active role in decisions relating to the purchase and licensing of digital resources in appropriate subject areas.
• Supervises full-time staff and library science intern in the Veterinary libraries. Provides general direction to full-time staff in supervising student assistants.
• Participates in library-wide task forces and committees.

MLS from an ALA-accredited program and minimum of five years of professional library experience in an academic, special, medical or science library serving similar clientele or the equivalent in theory and practice. Highly desirable: experience in veterinary or biomedical librarianship and a subject background in the life sciences. Demonstrated administrative ability, collaborative and organizational strength, and strong communication and interpersonal skills. Excellent supervisory skills. Understanding of the potential of developing technologies for enhancing services. Demonstrated knowledge of the latest trends and available tools for teaching and electronic delivery of information in veterinary medicine. Ability to motivate personnel and operate within a collegial framework of faculty, staff, students and administrators to deliver desired outcomes. Spatial skills for space planning. Demonstrated commitment to professional growth and active involvement in professional activities.

Compensation and Benefits: Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Includes a generous benefits package, additional information available at http://www.hr.upenn.edu/jobs/benefits.asp

To Apply: Potential candidates are invited to submit a letter of application that addresses the needs and qualifications of the position, along with their resume and the names, addresses, and phone numbers of three references who can address the suitability of the candidate for the position described, as well as complete an on-line employment application at http://www.hr.upenn.edu/jobs (Job Reference #09052663). Quick link: https://jobs.hr.upenn.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=189747

Applications will be accepted immediately and until the position is filled; however, applications submitted before June 12, 2009 will receive priority consideration.

The University of Pennsylvania is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.