College Librarian, Carleton College

Position Overview

Carleton College is seeking an accomplished and visionary leader to serve as its next College Librarian
. Reporting to the Provost and in close collaboration with the Chief Technology Officer and other academic support services, the College Librarian will lead the Gould Library in shaping a vibrant and forward-thinking academic support ecosystem aligned with the College’s mission of providing a transformative liberal arts education. The Library is a strategic partner in the College's academic mission, serving as a dynamic hub for discovery and intellectual growth.

We seek a visionary leader to guide the Library as it works with all campus constituencies, identifying needs, developing innovative programs, and aligning information resources and services with the College's core priorities. This individual will be instrumental in forging powerful collaborations and partnerships that directly benefit our students, staff, and faculty. Additionally, this leader will extend the Library's influence beyond our campus, providing crucial leadership in developing and enhancing consortial and cooperative relationships.

Serving as a key partner in groups like the Bridge Consortium and other regional and national initiatives, the College Librarian will expand our resources and enhance our collective impact. The College Librarian will be an advocate for information access, academic innovation, and inclusive scholarship while ensuring that the Library continues to be a dynamic center for student learning, faculty teaching and research, and collaborative inquiry.

A highly competitive compensation and benefits package including relocation assistance is available to the successful candidate.

About Carleton College

Located in Northfield, Minnesota, Carleton College is a top-tier, residential liberal arts college with approximately 2,000 students and 240 faculty. Carleton is known for its intellectual rigor, commitment to teaching excellence, and a strong sense of community. The College prides itself on fostering curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking across all disciplines. Carleton is recognized by U.S. News & World Report in 2024 as the #8 ranked National Liberal Arts College and #1 in Best Undergraduate Teaching.

Gould Library is a central academic hub on campus, playing an essential role in Carleton’s educational model. The Library’s staff, services, collections, and partnerships empower students and faculty to thrive in a rapidly evolving information landscape.

The next College Librarian will:

• Lead Strategically
  :
  Develop and implement a visionary strategy for the Library’s evolving role in academic work, including digital scholarship, in alignment with Carleton’s new strategic direction:
  Carleton 2033:
  The Liberal Arts in Action.
• Inspire The Team
  :
  Lead, motivate, and elevate a highly capable team of 25-30 FTE; directly supervise Department Heads, the College Archivist, and an Administrative Assistant.
• Encourage Innovation
  :
  Build on the Library's current strengths while identifying and addressing opportunities for growth. Create an atmosphere that encourages strategic risk-taking and leads to innovative ways to meet the changing needs of patrons and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate the Work
  :
  Facilitate the work of the library management team (Department Heads and Library Leadership Groups) by contributing to goal-setting, developing new services, and evaluating Library programs.
• Champion Teaching and Learning
  :
  Collaborate with faculty and academic departments and programs to support curriculum development, research, and pedagogy.
• Enhance Library Spaces and Services
  :
  Oversee ongoing efforts to maintain Gould Library as a welcoming, adaptable space that supports individual and collaborative work as well as student success.
• Facilitate Staff Development
  :
  Advocate and provide resources and leadership for professional development of the Library staff, and foster an atmosphere of continual improvement.
• Advance Access
  :
  Ensure equitable access to library resources and foster an environment that supports diverse scholarly voices.
• Serve as an Ambassador
  :
  Work…