Head of Area Studies

Company: Digital Library Federation
Location: Columbus
Posted on: May 24, 2025

Job Description:

The Ohio State University Libraries aspires to be the model library advancing the educational, research, and engagement missions of a 21st-century public, land grant, urban, community engaged university. We seek a dynamic, growth-oriented, and values-driven leader to provide strategic direction and vision for our Area Studies unit in support of this vision. Reporting to the Associate Dean for Special Collections and Area Studies, the Head of Area Studies partners with internal and external stakeholders to create a shared vision for the unit and works with a wide variety of campus partners to ensure robust library support for teaching, research, outreach, and service needs of the university community, particularly in the area studies centers. As a leader within the Libraries, the Head of Area Studies demonstrates in-depth knowledge of trends and emerging solutions in areas relevant to area studies; engages in appropriate international, national, and consortial dialogs; seeks mutually beneficial collaborations with peer institutions; and contributes to the fields of librarianship and area studies through active professional engagement. The Head of Area Studies manages, supervises, and provides direction for a cohort of librarians who understand and can interpret the current landscape of new research methodologies and technologies to advance and deepen research support, and who can strategically advance teaching and learning initiatives aimed at student success. The Head of Area Studies promotes global collections for research, teaching, and learning. The Head of Area Studies seeks opportunities to learn and collaborate using leadership skills to define problems, provide solutions, and support colleagues in their own professional growth. They consistently demonstrate commitment to our values and promote an organizational culture of Discovery, Connection, Equity, Integrity, and Stewardship, modeling The Ohio State University's .The Head of Area Studies has a subject specialty as well as a managerial role. As a subject librarian, this individual also serves as a subject liaison to faculty, undergraduate, and graduate programs; is knowledgeable regarding scholarly communication and publishing patterns of the area supported; manages and builds a distinctive research collection; and is familiar and conversant with research methodologies and emerging trends in pedagogy. The Head of Area Studies understands current practices in the field and develops a repertoire of strategies for staying current with disciplinary priorities and initiatives.Administrative Responsibilities:

• Manages 6 FTE, including faculty and staff, and oversees the services and programs of Area Studies in partnership with library-wide services and programs. Serves as department head for the following areas:
  • Chinese Studies
  • East European/Slavic Studies
  • Japanese Studies
  • Jewish Studies
  • Latin American and Iberian Studies
  • Middle East and Islamic Studies
  • Develops and implements a strategic vision for the department in alignment with the Libraries' and the university's strategic objectives. Oversees assessment and user statistics that inform a regular review of collection development, services, and programming to address collection needs of the university community.
  • In collaboration with the Libraries' Office of Advancement, engages in growing philanthropic support to enhance collections, services, and outreach. Assists with grant writing and supports wider university grant efforts such as Title VI grant applications.
  • Working across divisions, establishes partnerships within University Libraries, with other campus constituencies, and with external groups to support the advancement of strategic activities and collection development related to research, teaching, and student success.
  • Establishes strong communications with the Office of International Affairs and various international centers on campus.
  • Engages in professional development activities, including participating in regional, national, and international professional organizations and consortia.Subject Area Responsibilities:
    • Serves as subject librarian that allows for broader representation in an area of need, such as:
      • African Studies
      • Eurasian Studies
      • Indigenous Populations (outside United States) Studies
      • Korean Studies
      • Studies in other geographical or international regions in line with university curricular needs
      • Responsible for outreach and engagement activities on campus and within the community.
      • Works with the Collections Strategist to build and manage a distinctive, interdisciplinary, responsive research collection in specialty areas in support of distinguished academic and teaching programs and promotes current services and collections.
      • Assesses user needs to develop and maintain relevant, high-quality services and collections.
      • May teach courses or conduct workshops.Required Qualifications:
        • An ALA-accredited master's degree, or another terminal graduate degree in a relevant discipline, or a comparable graduate degree from a non-U.S. university (reviewed on a case-by-case basis).
        • Record of research, publication, service, and scholarly achievement sufficient to warrant appointment with tenure at the Associate Professor or Professor level.
        • At least 5 years' experience managing non-western-European language collections.
        • Experience purchasing collections from non-Western countries.
        • Knowledge of issues related to non-Roman language materials.
        • Linguistic skills in a non-English language.
        • Experience supervising faculty and/or staff.Desired Qualifications:
          • Significant experience supporting area studies centers.
          • Experience in an academic library environment or comparable setting.
          • Grant writing or fundraising experience.
          • Experience managing related but discrete units/multiple departments and divisions under one umbrella.
          • Understanding of global or area studies librarianship.
          • Excellent communication skills.
          • Demonstrated initiative and the ability to create and thrive in a collaborative and interdisciplinary work environment.Appointment:This is a full-time, regular, 12-month appointment as a tenure-track faculty member. The candidate will be required to meet university and Libraries requirements for promotion and tenure. Faculty rank at either Associate Professor or Professor is dependent on qualifications and experience.Salary:$100,000 to $120,000 annual salary negotiable.Application:Please submit cover letter, CV, references, and application by November 17, 2024 at . Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disability. Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check.
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Keywords: Digital Library Federation, East Lake , Head of Area Studies, Other , Columbus, Florida