HEAD OF SERIALS SERVICES DEPARTMENT

The Pennsylvania State University Libraries seeks an energetic and
creative librarian with a strong background in serials management and
cataloging for the position of Head of Serials Services Department. This
is an administrative position responsible for all aspects relating to
serials and electronic resources issued on a continuing basis. In addition
to the main University Park campus, Serials Services oversees
subscriptions for 20 Penn State campuses across the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania. The department is comprised of approximately 12 FTE
positions organized into 3 teams, including the Serials Ordering, Serials
Check-in, and Serials Cataloging teams. The University Libraries subscribe
to approximately 32,000 current print and electronic serials with an
annual serials budget of approximately $7,000,000. The Libraries is
currently migrating to the SIRSI integrated library system from a locally
developed system. The position reports to the Assistant Dean for Technical
and Access Services.

Responsibilities: The University Libraries is creating a new department by
bringing together all aspects of serials operations. The Libraries is
seeking a motivated professional who will provide leadership in developing
a serials department organized into three teams, organized under the
principles of continuous quality improvement, and who must be responsive
to a continuously changing environment. The successful candidate will
oversee all aspects of the department, including personnel management,
responsibility for the departmental operations budget, communicating
priorities, and providing guidance in the use of the latest technologies.
The position includes cataloging, managing electronic serials, and
developing skills in the use of license management and metadata. Penn
State is actively involved in national initiatives, and requires a
professional to stay abreast of national print and electronic serials
acquisitions and cataloging standards and practices, which will be
implemented and applied in our local environment.

As a member of the Dean�s Library Council, the Department Head
participates in library-wide planning, policy-making activities, and
library governance. As a member of the faculty this position will also be
responsible for maintaining a national presence, and contributing to
scholarly activity and research, and may be asked to develop collections
in a selected discipline or language.

Qualifications: Required: ALA accredited MLS or equivalent degree;
demonstrated expertise and proven leadership ability in technical services
relating to serials and electronic resources; strong commitment to users
and to serving diverse communities; at least 5 years experience in a
research library with progressive responsibility in library technical
services; expertise in utilizing information technologies; excellent
planning, analytical, interpersonal, and oral and written communications
skills; budgetary experience; commitment to professional growth; and the
ability to lead and work collaboratively in a team environment. The
candidate must demonstrate potential for promotion and tenure.
Preferred: Experience with serials cataloging. Knowledge of CONSER
practices; expertise in metadata; expertise in managing, organization, and
access to Internet resources; management skills; working knowledge of one
or more foreign languages.

Salary & Benefits: This is a tenure track faculty position. Evidence of
potential for tenure and promotion will be considered. The successful
candidate will be expected to carry out active research and contribute to
scholarship and service as a faculty member at Penn State. Salary and rank
commensurate with experience, minimum $50,000. Excellent fringe benefits
include liberal vacation; excellent insurance; State or TIAA/CREF
retirement options and educational privilege.

Environment: Penn State, a land-grant institution, is a member of the CIC
(Big10) consortium. A recent U.S. News & World Report survey ranked Penn
State University as the 10th (tied for 10th place) among public
universities. The Libraries hold membership in ARL, OCLC, RLG, CRL, and
the Digital Library Federation. Collections exceed four million volumes.
The University Libraries are located at University Park and 23 other
campuses throughout Pennsylvania, with about 6,000 faculty and staff and
nearly 40,000 students at University Park and a total of 82,000 system
wide. The University Park campus is set in State College, a university
town located in the heart of central Pennsylvania. State College offers a
vibrant community with outstanding recreational facilities, a low crime
rate, and excellent public schools. The campus is within a half-day drive
to Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, NYC, and Pittsburgh.  For more
information visit our web site at http://www.libraries.psu.edu.

To apply, send letter of application, resume and the names and addresses
of three references to: Search Committee, Head of Serials Services
Department, Box HS, E511 Paterno, University Park PA 16802. Review of
applications will begin on February 14, 2000, and continue until the
position is filled. Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal
opportunity and the diversity of its workforce.

Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and the
diversity of its workforce.

Rosann Bazirjian
Assistant Dean for Technical & Access Services
University Libraries
The Pennsylvania State University
126 Paterno Library
E-mail: rvb9@psulias.psu.edu
Phone: (814) 865-0404
Fax: (814) 865-3665