Assistant Dean of Special Collections and Archives, University of Missouri-Kansas

Overview

The University of Missouri-Kansas City Libraries are seeking an experienced leader to serve as the Assistant Dean of Special Collections and Archives. The Assistant Dean serves as a member of the Deans’ Leadership Group and works with the Dean and the Associate Dean of Library Services to articulate the vision and strategic direction of the Libraries and to implement the Libraries’ strategic plan.

Together they develop and manage the Libraries budget according to established standards and practices. The Assistant Dean provides focused leadership for the Division, overseeing its operations while advancing research in a world-class special collections operation. The position supports primary source research, special collections access, digital exhibits and projects, experiential learning, and campus and external community engagement. The Assistant Dean administers the Special Collections and Archives (SCA) Division, which includes the Marr Sound Archives, LaBudde Special Collections, the UMKC University Archives, Digital Projects, and the UMKC Libraries Cataloging & Resource Management.

The SCA Division serves UMKC students and faculty as well as visiting scholars and researchers. The Assistant Dean ensures representation of the UMKC Libraries in University of Missouri System-wide initiatives to build, organize, maintain and preserve digital and physical collections and archives and ensure compliance with university policies on records management and archives. The Assistant Dean monitors trends in special collections librarianship, archives and catalog management, and digital collections to recommend appropriate adoption and implementation of new technologies, standards, and methods.

The Assistant Dean works to seek external funding through government and foundation grants for projects that advance the priorities of the Division, and to encourage Division faculty to do so as well. This position is a 12-month, non-tenure track, ranked benefit-eligible faculty librarian appointment, has supervisory responsibilities, and reports to the Dean of Libraries.

Special Collections & Archives Division

The UMKC University Libraries are seeking to hire both an Assistant Dean of Special Collections & Archives and a Head of LaBudde Special Collections. The intention is to recruit for, hire, and onboard these positions as a cohort. It is hoped these positions will complement each other in skill sets and complete the team in the Special Collections & Archives Division where levels of experience range from emerging professionals to highly experienced librarians.

The UMKC University Libraries’ Special Collections & Archives Division consists of LaBudde Special Collections, UMKC University Archives, Marr Sound Archives, UMKC Libraries Cataloging & Resource Management, and Digital Projects. SCA’s primary source materials are rich in the humanities, particularly in local performing arts, LGBTQ communities, social services organizations, and Kansas City jazz, as well as Kansas-Missouri late 19th century Western Americana and national radio broadcasts from the 1930s–1960s.

Prominent collections include the Starr Women’s Hall of Fame inductee collections, the Gay and Lesbian Archive of Mid-America, and the Edgar Snow Collections. SCA supports teaching and learning in the humanities, arts, and social sciences using primary source materials; provides high-impact learning experiences to a broad range of students including the development of national award-winning student-curated exhibits; and directly supports undergraduate research initiatives.

UMKC is a Carnegie R1 university.

Primary duties and responsibilities

• Provide leadership and vision for the Special Collections and Archives Division, directly supervising six library faculty and indirectly overseeing five departments consisting of 11 additional full-time employees and a large team of student employees.
• Promote transparency and active dialogue with Division faculty and staff to ensure meeting library goals, program planning, and the development of policies and procedures.
• Empower Division leadership to collaborate in the management of their areas of…