Giustina Director of Special Collections and University Archives - University of Oregon
Eugene, OR
About the Job
Department: University Libraries
Rank: Associate Librarian
Annual Basis: 12 Month
Salary: Associate Librarian: $85,000 - $100,000 per year and Senior Librarian: $90,000 - $135,000 per year (updated)
Review of Applications Begins
April 17, 2024; position open until filled
Special Instructions to Applicants
This position will remain posted until filled, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by the review date of April 17, 2024.
Click here to learn more: https://library.uoregon.edu/sites/default/files/2024-03/Compressed_UO_SCUA_Director_position_2024.pdf
Please submit the following with your online application:
• A cover letter in which you clearly describe how your knowledge, skills, and abilities prepare you for the job responsibilities and requirements outlined in the job announcement.
• A resume/CV that outlines your educational and professional work experience. These details are used to determine if applicants meet the qualifications of this position.
Studies have shown that individuals are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they are able to perform every task in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.
Department Summary
About the University of Oregon Libraries:
The University of Oregon Libraries is an essential partner in the University of Oregon’s educational, research, and public service mission. With five locations on the Eugene campus and branches at UO Portland and the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, the UO Libraries offer many flexible service- and technology-rich environments for our users’ research, learning, and publishing needs.
The UO Libraries’ mission is informing research and learning breakthroughs for Oregon. We strive to realize our vision of being a model for the enduring, positive impact that research libraries can have on their academic and civic communities. We do that with an unwavering commitment to our values. Learn more about the UO Libraries’ strategic design, our values, and our goals at library.uoregon.edu/strategy
The University of Oregon Libraries is the only Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member in Oregon. We are also members of the Orbis Cascade Alliance, SPARC, Center for Research Libraries, DuraSpace, the Council on Library and Information Resources, the Coalition for Networked Information, EDUCAUSE, and other major organizations.
About Special Collections and University Archives:
Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) is the primary repository for the University of Oregon’s archives, rare books, historic photographs, and one of the largest historical manuscripts collections in the Pacific Northwest. SCUA is also home to the Beach Conservation Lab, which works to conserve library materials while exposing students to conservation methods and education.
Our mission is to advance educational and research opportunities by acquiring, preserving, and making available a clearly defined set of primary sources and rare books, reflecting the written, visual, and audio history and culture of Oregon, the Pacific Northwest, and selected aspects of American and world history.
We play an active and creative role in the teaching, research, and service missions of the University, educating hundreds of students each year in SCUA’s dedicated Ken Kesey classroom and serving thousands of requests annually in the beautiful, historic, and well-equipped Paulson reading room.
SCUA is a leader and committed partner in many Library and campus-wide efforts to correct the colonial influence on our collections, descriptive practices, and physical spaces. Current initiatives include efforts to implement the Protocols for Native American materials; sponsorship of various oral history projects to document and preserve the local experience; and an ongoing partnership with the social justice group Don’t Shoot Portland to host biannual plenaries on the importance of Black Memory within the archive.
SCUA contributes substantially to intellectual life on campus, through invited talks, lectures, and the production of interpretive exhibits. SCUA’s impact extends beyond the campus community through partnerships with regional and national libraries, museums, non-profits, and other cultural heritage organizations.
The book, manuscript, photograph, and archival holdings in Special Collections and University Archives are national and international in scope and significance but with emphasis on topics of importance to Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. The rare book collection of 200,000 titles contains over 100 incunabula, 75 Medieval and Renaissance codex, works of every major fine press in England and America (including every work by John Henry Nash), an incomparable Oregon Collection, and a comprehensive collection of Pacific Northwest poets. The SCUA is also home to some of America’s most accomplished photographers, including Edward S. Curtis, Doris Ulmann, Tee Corinne, and Zig Jackson.
Additional collection strengths include Oregon history, politics, and culture; Northwest literature; authors and illustrators of children’s literature; Utopian and intentional communities; gender and sexuality studies; independent filmmaking; environmental history; Northwest architecture; missionaries to East Asia; labor history; the conservative and libertarian movement; journalism and communications; and feminist science fiction.
Among our more notable holdings are original Oregon Trail diaries, the Abigail Scott Duniway Papers, a unique and complete set of Edward S. Curtis’s The North American Indian, the Ursula K. Le Guin Papers, the Ken Kesey Papers, the Senator Wayne Morse Papers, the James Ivory/Ismail Merchant/Ruth Prawar Jhabvala Papers, and the Doris Ulmann Photograph Collection.
The extensive and rich collections also include examples of cuneiform, a large collection of incunabula, a second and fourth Shakespeare folio, a work of Isaac Newton, notable East Asian collections such as the largest collection of Japanese votive slips found outside of Japan, a growing collection of recorded oral histories, and much more.
University Archives works in tandem with Records Management and the Library Institutional Repository to ensure that the University’s permanent records, in both electronic and analog form, are captured, preserved and made accessible. It comprises permanent records, faculty papers, publications, ephemera, artifacts and audio-visual material in all formats reflecting the history and growth of the University and documenting the administration, faculty, staff and student life. Notable faculty papers include the collections of Bill Bowerman, George Streisinger, Joan Acker, Luther Cressman and Philip Dole, with many popular collections reflecting the history of UO athletics, track & field, and connecting to significant local historical biographies such as track star Steve Prefontaine and Nike founder Phil Knight.
Position Summary
The University of Oregon Libraries seeks a dynamic and forward-thinking Giustina Director for Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA). This pivotal role demands strategic vision, leadership, and collaboration to propel SCUA into its next phase amid departmental growth, increased use, and enhanced services in line with the Library’s overall strategy of creating impact through the expansion of distinctive collections services.
As the SCUA Director, you will lead a skilled and cohesive team that is already on a strong forward trajectory and is eager to push the leading edge of practice. They will guide the continued development of programs in alignment with the Library and University's existing strategic plans, including efforts to expand the scope of collections to include marginalized voices; do reparative descriptive work, and engage communities in the active preservation of their histories. In this position, you will also partner with Library departments in the advancement of critical digital infrastructure to broaden discovery, access, and preservation of primary source materials, including computational approaches to research and scholarship. Your passion for SCUA's vital role in education and scholarship will foster connections across campuses, professional associations, and communities, amplifying impact; while your knack for creative problem-solving will help overcome hurdles and optimize resources to continually advance the department’s programs.
This role collaborates closely with other library departments to strengthen SCUA's acquisitions, digitization, teaching, outreach, conservation, and scholarship programs, and functions as an important contributing member of the Library’s leadership team. At the same time, the Director will exercise significant autonomy and independence to set and sustain leading standards and practices for the department.
As the Director, you will play a central role in the library’s philanthropic endeavors, ensuring responsible stewardship of endowed funds while actively engaging with donors. You will participate as a member of the library’s cross-divisional development team to develop and implement the library’s next major fundraising campaign and will meet regularly with the University Librarian and/or library development officers to collaborate on philanthropic strategy.
As a faculty member in this role, you will engage in governance activities and maintain scholarly pursuits for career growth.
Supported by the Giustina Forest Foundation endowment, this position offers ample opportunities for professional development, a supportive and collaborative team environment, and a vibrant home in Eugene, Oregon, nestled in the culturally rich Pacific Northwest.
We are aware that some people are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every qualification in the job description including the preferred qualifications. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job and recognize that a successful candidate may come from a less traditional career trajectory, such as having skills and abilities gained outside a classroom context, or an equivalent skill set. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of our preferred qualifications.
Minimum Requirements
The Director is eligible to be appointed at the associate or senior faculty librarian rank, dependent on experience and demonstrated professional accomplishment.
Minimum Qualifications for the Rank of Associate Librarian:
• Master’s degree in library/information science from an ALA-accredited institution OR professional terminal degree, OR international equivalent, AND
• Six years post-MLIS professional library experience
• At least 7 years of experience in a special collections or archival setting
• At least 5 years of supervisory and/or budget & program management experience. Including direct experience in budget management, capacity planning, and resource allocation.
Minimum Qualifications for the Rank of Senior Librarian:
• Master’s degree in library/information science from an ALA-accredited institution OR professional terminal degree, OR international equivalent, AND
• Twelve years post-MLIS professional library experience
• At least 7 years of experience in a special collections or archival setting
• At least 5 years of supervisory and/or budget & program management experience. Including direct experience in budget management, capacity planning, and resource allocation.
Supervisory and/or budget experience can be concurrent with special collections experience and post-MLIS experience.
Professional Competencies
• Enthusiasm for cultivating meaningful connections with donors and dedicated to fostering strong relationships that drive impactful philanthropy.
• Demonstrated track record of enacting commitments to diversity and equity within archives and special collections, and of exercising leadership in fostering open dialogue to continuously define and implement effective practices.
• Commitment to fostering excellence in the generation, dissemination, preservation, and application of knowledge in a supportive team environment.
• Proven proficiency in managing and resolving compliance and legal inquiries pertinent to archival and special collections settings; adept at proactive management and resolution, with a demonstrated ability to collaborate with the University’s Office of General Counsel in mitigating risk and developing legally sound policies and practices to fortify the department.
• Overall knowledge of the full lifecycle of collections management and use within archives and special collections.
• In-depth knowledge of professional best practices for one or more areas of SCUA’s areas of focus (University Archives, rare books, visual resources, early and modern manuscripts, archival instructional programs, conservation) with demonstrable interest in the other areas.
• Effective communication skills, including the ability to interact, communicate, and work effectively with individuals, recognizing and respecting the many and varied identities of each person.
Preferred Qualifications
• Donor relations and fundraising experience with a record of achievement in obtaining grants, gifts, or awards.
• Successful grant writing and grant management experience.
• Interest or background in subject areas that reflect the University’s academic strengths and areas of SCUA collection strength.
The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit http://hr.uoregon.edu/careers/about-benefits.
The University of Oregon is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the ADA. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply, and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation in connection with the application process, please contact us at uocareers@uoregon.edu or 541-346-5112.
UO prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by UO policy. Questions may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, Office of Civil Rights Compliance, or to the Office for Civil Rights. Contact information, related policies, and complaint procedures are listed on the statement of non-discrimination.
In compliance with federal law, the University of Oregon prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and services. The Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://clery.uoregon.edu/annual-campus-security-and-fire-safety-report.