Director of Special Collections and Archives, College of Charleston Libraries
Position Description:
Reporting to the Dean of Libraries, the Director of Special Collections and Archives is responsible for the care, development, and leadership of College of Charleston Libraries' collections of rare books, archives, manuscripts and artifacts and the Libraries' engagement with historical research and programming with an emphasis on student engagement, experiential learning, and instruction. This senior faculty position will provide strategic leadership and administration of the College of Charleston Libraries' Special Collections unit, forge dynamic partnerships within the university community and academic institutions statewide, and provide expertise and creativity in developing rare book and modern manuscript collections in a variety of physical and digital formats. The Director works collegially with members of the South Carolina Historical Society to ensure the responsible stewardship of all collections stored within Special Collections and to deliver a coordinated, consistent and complete research experience for all patrons. The SCHS, a private non-profit organization, is the state's oldest and largest private repository of books, letters, journals, maps, drawings, and photographs about South Carolina history. As part of partnership with the College of Charleston, many of these resources are housed at the College of Charleston and available to students and researchers.
The Director manages the acquisition, preservation, processing, and cataloging of the College of Charleston's manuscripts, rare books, and other cultural heritage materials. Additionally, the Director establishes and enforces all policies regarding the accession, retention, de-accession, preservation, and use of manuscripts and rare books housed at the College of Charleston libraries. They also supervise research and instruction activities for Special Collections and work closely with the Dean of Libraries and the Development Office in grant and fundraising efforts.
The Director of Special Collections and Archives will be a tenured or tenure-track member of the Library Faculty, depending on experience, and will serve on the Dean of Libraries senior leadership team.
Leadership and Management:
- Provides strategic leadership for all Special Collections departmental functions including collection development, collection management and maintenance, research and instruction, exhibits, and outreach and oral history programs.
- Responsible for developing and implementing the department's operational plans, policies, and procedures.
- Sets and implements a vision for the enhancement of student engagement, experiential learning, and instruction using the resources of the College's Special Collections and the South Carolina Historical Society archives at the College of Charleston.
- Manages and evaluates the work of the unit's faculty and staff positions, facilitating their professional growth, and encouraging participatory leadership within the unit.
- Identifies and develops solutions to address the challenges and opportunities facing Special Collections, including the implementation of digital tools for collection management, preservation, and access.
- Supervises the department's instruction program which includes instruction in the use of special collections as well as tours and special lectures.
- Serves as a member of the Libraries' senior leadership team and collaborates with other administrators to advance the Libraries' Strategic Plan and to contribute to Libraries-wide budgeting, planning, and policy development.
- Assesses the department's program and services.
- Develops and implements preservation plans for the department's rare and fragile holdings.
Collection Development:
- Primary person responsible for the acquisition of rare books, manuscripts and other collections for the College of Charleston in accordance with the department's collection development policy, through donors or purchased with funds from gifts, endowments, grants, and the general operating budget.
- Builds collections that support the curriculum and faculty interests, and which document underrepresented voices in the College and local community. Identifies and initiates new collecting areas in support of the University's evolving research and teaching mission.
- Works with the Dean of Libraries to pursue opportunities to support and expand the work of Special Collections through foundations and fundraising. Seeks grant and other external funding in support of departmental initiatives and collections and administers grants awarded.
Library and College Affairs:
- Undertakes research, and/or professional development activities related to professional and scholarly interests.
- Represents the College of Charleston Libraries and Special Collections in local, statewide, and national organizations.
- Serves on library and College committees, elected or assigned.
Required Qualifications:
- Advanced degree in Library and Information Science, Public History or related field with demonstrated experience in archives.
- Experience administering special collections, museums, historical societies, or archival repositories.
- Working knowledge of 21st century archival practices, initiatives, and technologies.
- Excellent oral and written communications.
- Strong managerial, leadership, and project management skills.
- Strong commitment to outreach and student engagement.
- Knowledgeable about development and donor relations.\
- Working knowledge of intellectual property and copyright issues pertaining to special collections and records management.
- Demonstrated record of accomplishment in archival collection development and management.
- Distinguished scholarship and professional accomplishments meriting appointment with Tenure.
- Ability to work competently and sensitively with a broadly diverse constituency with regards to the many facets of identity, including, but not limited to, gender, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, and religion.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Specialization in oral history, digital humanities, or archival administration in an academic or special library.
- Experience participating in digital and scholarly communications initiatives.
- Experience with the creation, management, and preservation of oral histories.
- Strong experience with budgeting and strategic planning.
- Success in securing and managing grants.
To review the full posting and to apply, visit https://jobs.cofc.edu/postings/9794.
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Mary Jo Fairchild, MA, CA, MLIS
she/her/hers
Manager of Research Services
Special Collections
Addlestone Library
College of Charleston
http://speccoll.cofc.edu/(843)-953-1424 (desk)
(843)-953-8016 (main)
Physical Address:
205 Calhoun St.
Charleston, SC 29401
Mailing Address:
66 George St.
Charleston, SC 29424
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