Head Librarian

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

POSITION SPECIFICS

The Pennsylvania State University Libraries seek an innovative and service-oriented Head Librarian for a tenure-line faculty position at the Penn State Abington campus. We seek an experienced library professional to serve as a leader and advocate for the Abington library and campus community.

The Head Librarian is a member of the University Libraries faculty and is expected to support the mission of the University Libraries. The Head Librarian is responsible for overall administration and services at Penn State Abington library, including management of faculty and staff, collection development, research and instruction services, and collaborating with colleagues at Penn State Abington and across the University Libraries in planning, developing, and evaluating library services, policies and procedures. Management of the library facility itself is a major part of this role. The Head Librarian is also responsible for collaborating with campus administrators to meet strategic goals, coordination of development activities with campus development officers and University Libraries, advocating for library needs to campus administration, and oversight of the library budget.

The Head Librarian is expected to support the evolving mission of the campus which includes regional and inter-campus programs, and a greater variety of online and hybrid courses. The successful candidate should demonstrate creativity, possess leadership skills, and reflect a student-centered perspective. In addition, a commitment to open communication and a collaborative work environment are essential.

The goal is to hire a successful candidate at the rank of Associate Librarian or higher. The successful candidate will demonstrate excellence in librarianship, show evidence of an established reputation in research, and have a strong record of service to the University and the profession. More information about faculty appointments in the Libraries can be found in the Guideline UL-ACG07 Promotion and Tenure Criteria (https://libraries.psu.edu/policies/ul-acg07).

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging in all its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports both broad and specific equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission. Information about the University Libraries' employment opportunities, processes, and culture can be found at https://libraries.psu.edu/about/jobs. 

This position is an academic administrator. Per University Policy (HR06), an Academic Administrator is an individual who has an administrative role in a major academic function at the University and who generally holds an academic appointment or is qualified to hold one. These positions blend academic leadership with administrative responsibilities, often overseeing academic departments, schools, divisions, or research institutes. Academic Administrators play a crucial role in shaping academic policies, supporting faculty, and ensuring the effective delivery of academic programs and services. These individuals report to a Dean, Chancellor, or the direct report of a Dean or Chancellor.

The University expects regular onsite presence to fully participate in their university workspace or on-campus intellectual and educational community. Occasional hybrid work may be permissible upon approval of the supervisor.

Qualifications:

Required

• A Master of Library Science degree from an ALA-accredited institution (or equivalent) 
• Demonstrated excellence in librarianship
• Demonstrated experience supervising employees 
• Ability to work effectively in a rapidly changing environment and to tolerate ambiguity
• Strong collaborative and empathetic leadership skills 
• Experience with space planning, library renovations, and building operations
• Ability to lead the library in meeting its strategic goals
• Research and professional accomplishments and record of service in appropriate professional or disciplinary associations as evidence of ability to meet the requirements of a tenure-line position at the University Libraries  

Preferred

• Familiarity with academic library trends and emerging technologies
• Demonstrated experience in managing budgets
• Collection development experience
• Experience with archival materials
• Evidence of an established reputation in research
• Strong record of service to the profession
• Experience with open educational resources.

About the Abington Library:

The Penn State Abington Library is located in the Woodland Building at Penn State Abington.  The space spans three floors and includes a variety of different environments to accommodate different types of student learning. The Library’s staff includes two full-time research and instruction librarians, one full-time outreach librarian, one shared (10%) time librarian, three full-time staff, and many part-time staff and student employees. In the 2024-2025 academic year, the library saw close to 90,000 visitors, conducted 71 instruction sessions, and 48 outreach events. The Abington Library is also home to the Abington Campus archives and the Ogontz Collection, which documents the history of the institution that existed prior to Penn State.

Environment:

The Penn State University Libraries are a strategic asset to Penn State, advancing intellectual discovery, information literacy, and lifelong learning, all in support of the University’s strategic goals of teaching, research, and service. The University Libraries is currently ranked among the top 10 research libraries in North America, according to the Association for Research Libraries investment rankings, and provides services at University Park and 22 other campus locations throughout Pennsylvania including online programs. We serve more than 6,800 faculty at University Park, 4,124 faculty at the Commonwealth Campuses, and approximately 97,500 students university-wide. More than 120 faculty librarians in the University Libraries benefit from extensive technological resources and research support services. Penn State is a member of the Big Ten Academic Alliance, the Association of American Universities, and the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities. The University Libraries is a member of the Association of Research Libraries, the Association of College and Research Libraries, the Center for Research Libraries, Digital Preservation Network, AP Trust, SPARC, CNI, the ACRL Diversity Alliance and a number of other organizations.   

Penn State Abington is four-year college with a population of approximately 3,000 students located just 5 miles from the Philadelphia city line. The campus serves students from a range of socio-economic backgrounds, many of whom represent racially- and ethnically-diverse populations, as well as first-generation college students and a significant international student population. Candidates are expected to demonstrate a commitment to helping all students succeed through engagement in and out of the classroom.

While maintaining a close-knit academic community atmosphere typical of a small liberal arts college, Abington offers its students and faculty all of the resources of a major research university. More details about the Penn State Abington campus can be found at http://www.abington.psu.edu 

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary is commensurate with a candidate’s qualifications, education, and experience.  In addition to a competitive salary, full-time employees also receive a comprehensive benefits program, generous paid time off, and tuition discount for employees and eligible family members.  In addition, faculty in the University Libraries are afforded funds for professional development travel annually. The University’s Total Compensation Calculator provides an estimated summary of the value of compensation and benefits.

Application:

All candidate materials must be submitted via Workday. Interested candidates are expected to upload a cover letter and a resume or CV. Candidates also must provide four professional references, and must include a current/previous direct supervisor, a colleague, an employee who was/is a direct report, and one at the candidate's discretion. References will be contacted later in the search process.  

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

This position requires the following clearances in addition to applicable background checks: PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check. Due to the financial and fiduciary responsibilities of this position, successful completion of a credit history check will be required in addition to standard background checks.

BENEFITS

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional wellbeing. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.

For more detailed information, please visit ourBenefits Page.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.

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