What You'd Do

Leadership & Management

Provide leadership, strategic vision, and a unified voice for the Denver Public 
Library (DPL) special collections, which includes the Western History and 
Genealogy (WHG) collection at the Central Library and the African American 
Research Library (AARL) and Museum at the Blair-Caldwell Branch. Plan, 
organize, administer, and manage the department's annual operating budget, 
restricted funds including gifts and endowments, and grants and fellowship 
programs. Directly supervise four Senior Librarians and foster a collaborative 
work environment that facilitates the work of the department, promotes 
innovation, and creates and enables new initiatives and collaborations. 
Responsible for the development of WHG/AARL strategic plans and annual goals 
and their alignment with the broader goals of the DPL Strategic Plan. 
Participate in and provide leadership for system-wide initiatives that showcase 
special collections and the research use of such collections across the 
community.

Collection Development & Fundraising

Working closely with the WHG/AARL acquisitions team, maintain and refine 
collection development policies, including strategically building the 
collection, appropriately deaccessioning, diversifying the collection, and 
accurately representing the community through the special collections.  Solicit 
major gifts, cultivate donors, and identify fundraising opportunities in 
collaboration with the DPL Friends Foundation and marketing, public relations, 
and community engagement colleagues. Identify grant opportunities and work 
collaboratively to develop and submit proposals. Lead and initiate the 
programmatic digitization of special collections and archives materials, 
utilizing internal resources and ongoing partnerships with national and 
international vendors. Provide careful and ethical stewardship for existing 
gifts and awards, including the preparation of annual reports to major donors, 
foundations, and government agencies. Working closely with the marketing, 
public relations, and community engagement colleagues, provide support for 
special donor events.

Collaboration, Communication, Outreach & Visibility

Serve as a member of the Libraries Leadership Team and other senior-level 
committees and teams. Interacts extensively with the other department managers 
and library administrators. Provide administrative oversight for the WHG/AARL 
digital collections. Work closely with library staff on providing cutting-edge 
services to patrons; strategically utilizing and developing spaces (i.e.: 
classrooms, exhibition spaces, archival processing, long-term preservation 
storage, photo digitization lab, reading room); and engaging in new initiatives 
and programs to make the collections as accessible as possible. Engage with DPL 
staff, visiting researchers, partners and customers to encourage awareness of 
WHG /AARL resources and to offer services, programs, and initiatives that are 
responsive to community needs. Work with internal partners to assess customer 
and community needs and create innovative programming and enhance services 
system-wide. Work closely with the marketing, public relations, and community 
engagement colleagues, to publicize WHG/AARL collections, services, 
exhibitions, events, programs, and other activities. Maintains awareness of 
professional developments, issues, and practices through research and 
activities that increase one's knowledge and abilities, and that positively 
impact one's performance and service contributions.

 

You Have

Knowledge of managerial principles and practices. Knowledge of conservation 
theory and basic conservation skills. Knowledge of or willingness to learn 
about US and African American western history, specifically Colorado and Denver 
history. Skill in selecting, training, motivating, evaluating and supervising 
staff. Skill in writing, editing and communicating. Skill in organization and 
project management. Skill in providing excellent customer service. Ability to 
work in a collaborative team environment. Ability to demonstrate innovation and 
flexibility. Ability to manage and negotiate conflicts. Ability to lead and 
guide individuals and teams and create a culture of trust and collaboration. 
Ability to creatively solve problems, negotiate and handle stressful situations 
in a positive manner. Ability to use extensive workplace and other technology 
including email, internet, databases, and other software. Ability to pass a 
background check after the offer to hire has been made.

Master's in Library Science from an ALA accredited institution, a Master's 
degree in a related field, or its equivalent in work experience.

Broad management skills including experience in the supervision of staff and 
managing budgets.

Experience in the fields of registration/collections management, archival 
management, or digital asset management (preferred, not required).

Experience with photographic and digital collections (preferred, not required).

 

Other Things You Should Know

In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and 
cover letter.

The ideal candidate for this position is an experienced team player who has 
overseen diverse collections, created public programming to promote library 
holdings and who enjoys interfacing with the public, scholars, donors, and the 
DPL Executive Team and Library Commission. The DPL Special Collections and 
Digital Archives Manager will be a part of the DPL Leadership team and will 
interact with all departments to create relevant innovative programming and 
exhibitions. They will be flexible, enthusiastic, and enjoy tackling a diverse 
range of responsibilities. The ideal candidate will have experience in building 
collections as well as deaccessioning collections to bring refinement and focus 
to the library's holdings.

This position reports to the Central Library Administrator and will oversee a 
department composed of 28 staff members.

Although the full salary range for this position is provided, offers depend on 
qualifications and typically do not exceed the midpoint. The City and County of 
Denver benefit package will be offered.

 


----
Brought to you by code4lib jobs: 
https://jobs.code4lib.org/jobs/31382-special-collections-and-digital-archives-manager-western-history-and-genealogy-department

Reply via email to