Job Description

The Boston University Libraries are seeking a Library Experience Manager, who will oversee the Libraries’ general reference program (e.g., virtual reference and consultation booking) and serve as the lead for information literacy instruction and outreach. Reporting to the Head of Access and Library Experience, the Library Experience Manager contributes to the University’s commitment to a “vibrant academic experience,” leading a team of librarians and library reference assistants and serves as the lead and principal with other campus stakeholders for BU Libraries’ general reference and information literacy instruction program.

This position collaborates closely with colleagues across the Research and Learning division, including the Head of Research Services for Instruction and Consultation, to coordinate the delivery of library instructional services and provide support for the full range of instructional need from the BU campus community. The Library Experience Manager has liaison responsibilities with academic and intramural campus partners and is expected to collaborate with those partners in support of major campus events (e.g., orientation, graduation, final exams) and other cooperative projects and assignments. This position will coordinate the work of all staff supporting general reference and consultation services, including reference librarians, subject specialists, liaisons, and reference assistants and will work with BU Libraries’ leadership to develop policies and workflows that set service level expectations for the experience of users in library spaces both physical and virtual and coordinates with stakeholders about communication and outreach for these expectations.

A resume and cover letter are required to be considered.

Responsibilities

• Manage general reference and information literacy instructional services for the Research and Learning division, including and especially library reference services. Work with the Head of Access and Library Experience to develop and adapt introductory and general research services and engagement programming in response to evolving and emerging needs. Develop general reference and information literacy instructional programs that align with other user services and support, especially with the Head of Research Services for Instruction and Consultation.
• Work directly with all staff (including reference librarians, subject specialists, liaisons, and reference assistants) participating in the reference and instruction programs in the Research and Learning division to coordinate efforts, ensure service coverage, and meet departmental objectives. Support departmental and divisional goals through management of the general reference and information literacy instruction program, especially through the coordination staffing for these services with staff from several Libraries departments.
• Supervise two reference & instruction librarians and two reference assistants in the Library Experience unit. Support the professional development of supervised staff and provide management feedback, coaching, and performance evaluation. Advocate for Library Experience unit needs. Share communications from leadership and create space for information sharing by supervised individuals.
• Provide general and introductory reference and research support services. Participate in library information literacy instructional programs. Serve as a liaison to assigned academic and intramural programs and departments.
• Provide coordination and leadership for access outreach and library experience for major campus events and milestones (e.g., orientation, graduation, final exams), working within Research and Learning and with other stakeholders and decision-makers. Work with the Library Technology and Discovery Services, the Communications Manager, and other stakeholders and decision-makers to support communication and outreach around general reference and informational literacy instructional programming across our media platforms.

Required Skills

• Master’s degree
• 3-5 years of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree or second Master’s degree
• 5-8 years of relevant experience

Boston University Libraries is a learning organization that supports the work of BU librarians, archivists, and information and subject specialists to seek and share knowledge, practices, and perspectives that advance library services to the university community. Embedded in numerous vibrant regional and national library and information specialist networks, the Boston University Libraries are active members within the Boston Library Consortium, the Association of Research Libraries, and the Coalition for Networked Information, and library staff at BU serve as engaged thought-leaders on a wide breadth of library management and service areas across diverse communities.

Through the Libraries, BU also is a member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI), the Northeast Research Libraries Consortium (NERL), HathiTrust, the Boston Library Consortium (BLC), the Eastern Academic Scholars’ Trust (EAST), the OCLC Research Library Partnership, the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC), and the Higher Education Leadership Initiative for Open Scholarship (HELIOS).

Boston University, a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), is one of the leading private research and teaching institutions in the world, with two primary campuses in the heart of Boston and programs around the globe. Chartered in 1869, the University is home to more than 33,000 students from more than 130 countries, 375,000 living alumni, 10,000 faculty and staff, and 17 schools and colleges.

Please note all newly hired staff and faculty will need to be in compliance with Boston University’s COVID-19 Vaccination and Booster Requirement within 30 days of date of hire. You must upload your vaccine documentation or request a medical or religious exemption ( instructions ). For further information on the University’s response to COVID-19, please visit the COVID-19 Resources site.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Required Experience

• Master’s degree
• 3-5 years of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree or second Master’s degree
• 5-8 years of relevant experience

Boston University Libraries is a learning organization that supports the work of BU librarians, archivists, and information and subject specialists to seek and share knowledge, practices, and perspectives that advance library services to the university community. Embedded in numerous vibrant regional and national library and information specialist networks, the Boston University Libraries are active members within the Boston Library Consortium, the Association of Research Libraries, and the Coalition for Networked Information, and library staff at BU serve as engaged thought-leaders on a wide breadth of library management and service areas across diverse communities.

Through the Libraries, BU also is a member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI), the Northeast Research Libraries Consortium (NERL), HathiTrust, the Boston Library Consortium (BLC), the Eastern Academic Scholars’ Trust (EAST), the OCLC Research Library Partnership, the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC), and the Higher Education Leadership Initiative for Open Scholarship (HELIOS).

Boston University, a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), is one of the leading private research and teaching institutions in the world, with two primary campuses in the heart of Boston and programs around the globe. Chartered in 1869, the University is home to more than 33,000 students from more than 130 countries, 375,000 living alumni, 10,000 faculty and staff, and 17 schools and colleges.

Please note all newly hired staff and faculty will need to be in compliance with Boston University’s COVID-19 Vaccination and Booster Requirement within 30 days of date of hire. You must upload your vaccine documentation or request a medical or religious exemption ( instructions ). For further information on the University’s response to COVID-19, please visit the COVID-19 Resources site.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.