Director of Library Services

AMBS (Elkhart, Indiana) seeks its next Director of Library Services to begin in December 2026 or January 2027. The Director stewards one of the world’s largest collections of English-language Mennonite and Anabaptist-related theological materials. The full-time role is based in the beautiful, spacious AMBS Library, the first theological library to be registered with the United States Green Building Council for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

In the midst of rapid changes in theological education and the information environment, the Director leads their team in close collaboration with faculty to discern and implement new and improved ways the library can serve the information needs of the AMBS community. Responsibilities include oversight of the development of the collection and increasing accessibility and usage, evaluation and planning, leadership of writing services, and administration of the library budget.

The Director is a key collaborator with regional and national partner organizations, other academic institutions, and global Anabaptist partners.

The Director advances the library’s strategic goals in its central role of supporting theological education. This includes a future-oriented vision of library services that sustains traditional practices and appropriately adopts emerging technologies, and collaborating with faculty and the academic dean to ensure that the library has the necessary resources for teaching, learning, and research. The Director networks with other libraries and information agencies, including as a partner of the Mennonite Historical Library (MHL) at Goshen College and as AMBS’s representative with Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) and American Theological Library Association (ATLA).

The Director manages and oversees the Integrated Library System, collaborating in wider library and institutional settings to adapt to changing library realities. The Director develops and implements library strategic planning and assessment, including attention to increasing accessibility and usage.

The Director ensures appropriate staffing levels, facilitates professional development to support staff, manages the budget and related funds to advance the library’s strategic goals, and ensures adequate funding for resources across all teaching disciplines and programs. Other administrative tasks include compiling and submitting required library data to accrediting bodies and reporting agencies, guiding the library’s Collection Development and Access Policy, and supervising the Resource Access Librarian.

The Director ensures fulfillment of library commitments for student development of information literacy habits. This includes working with the Resource Access Librarian and AMBS faculty to address information literacy needs and integrate information resources into class activities so students achieve course objectives and become lifelong learners. The Director provides support and instruction in the use of library resources, encouraging patrons to develop skills and attitudes to thrive in an information-rich environment.

The Director creates research tools, instructions, and library guides, supports the Resource Access Library with copyright and fair use requirements, and assists with reference and information search/retrieval needs for Master 's-level and Doctor of Ministry students.

The Director leads Writing Services s entails forming and leading a team of student writing tutors and volunteers, monitoring students’ needs for writing services, and determining other forms of academic support through evaluation and planning with students and faculty.

• A record of effective communication skills including intentional listening, and competency in written and spoken English
• Networking competency with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders
• Library industry experience and connections
• Experience as a systems librarian
• Strong…