Head of Public Services

Hilton M. Briggs Library
South Dakota State University

South Dakota State University’s Hilton M. Briggs Library seeks a forward-thinking Head of Public Services to lead, coordinate, and administer the library’s Public Services Department encompassing circulation, reference, library instruction, interlibrary loan, government documents, and outreach. This is a 12-month, 100% time, benefits-eligible position that reports to the Dean of the Library. The successful candidate must meet the requirements for the rank of Associate or Full Librarian.

The Hilton M. Briggs Library fosters academic excellence, collaborative endeavor, creative scholarship, student engagement, and lifelong curiosity. The library serves all SDSU academic disciplines and holds approximately 775,000 bound volumes and 600,000 government documents and provides access to over 100,000 electronic journals as well as e-books and streaming videos. The library building offers a variety of collaborative and individual workspaces.

South Dakota State University promotes access to and opportunities for all to receive the benefit of and participate in education, research, and service and is especially interested in candidates that can contribute to this land-grant mission of access.

Must be authorized to work in the U.S.  Sponsorship is not available for this position.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Plan, coordinate, and facilitate departmental activities and provide leadership in setting goals and priorities. 

• Supervise Public Services faculty and staff.
• Work with the Dean of the Library, the Head of Technical Services, and the Archives & Special Collections Librarian to foster collaboration, sharing in policy-making decisions, planning, and management responsibilities.
• Determine unit and individual work priorities and routines, assign tasks, and schedule staffing.
• Manage personnel, equipment, software, space, and fiscal resources.
• Develop and strengthen campus, local, statewide, and regional partnerships.  
• Lead library assessment and user experience efforts and actively participate in the improvement of library services.
• Compile, analyze, and report on statistical data regarding information services.
• Participate in collection development.
• Serve as a liaison to selected academic departments.
• Provide general information services to library users. Occasional evening and weekend duty is required.
• Provide leadership in applying existing and emerging technologies.
• Participate as an active member of the university community and promote the library and its resources.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• ALA-accredited master’s degree in library or information science or equivalent.
• Second earned graduate degree.
• At least 10 years experience as a professional librarian (for rank of associate librarian) or 15 years (for rank of librarian).
• Recent experience in public services in an academic, research, or comparable public library.
• Supervisory, administrative, and/or leadership experience.
• Reference and library instruction experience.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively (verbal, written, and public presentations) with stakeholders including students, faculty, staff, and the research community.
• Knowledge of relevant trends, techniques, and issues in academia and library services.
• Demonstrated success applying existing and emerging technologies.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Academic background in a discipline relevant to SDSU.
• Experience in performing a variety of library outreach and liaison activities for faculty and students.
• Demonstrated experience with assessment of student learning and evaluation of instructional programming.
• Interlibrary loan and/or government documents experience.

SALARY:

The minimum salary for this position is $100,000. Both salary and rank are contingent upon qualifications and experience.

BENEFITS:

South Dakota State University offers a wide range of excellent benefits including medical, dental, and flexible benefits, retirement plans, compensation packages, paid holidays, and vacation leave.  Employees also have access to internal and state-sponsored training as well as reduced tuition for state-supported courses at all State of South Dakota academic institutions.

UNIVERSITY AND THE BROOKINGS COMMUNITY:

South Dakota State University is the state’s largest, most comprehensive university with more than 200 academic programs, an enrollment of approximately 12,000 students, and over $60 million annual research expenditures.

South Dakota State University offers a rich academic experience in an environment of inclusion and access through inspired, student-centered education, creative activities and research, innovation and engagement that improve the quality of life in South Dakota, the region, the nation and the world. Its employees embrace the university’s core values of being people-centered, expanding knowledge through creativity, embracing organizational and personal integrity, commitment to diversity of thought, and excellence through continuous improvement.

As the state’s 1862 Morrill Act land-grant institution, the work of South Dakota State University is carried out on its main resident campus in Brookings, at sites in Sioux Falls, Pierre, Rapid City, and Aberdeen, and through Extension offices and Agricultural Experiment Station research sites across South Dakota.

Jackrabbits Athletics competes as an NCAA Division I member with membership in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, the Summit League and the Big XII for wrestling. 

Brookings is home to approximately 24,000 residents and is located 60 miles north of Sioux Falls and 200 miles west of Minneapolis. Brookings is listed as an ideal community for families, students, young professionals and retirees, and is rated among the safest and most vibrant cities in South Dakota.

The Brookings Public School District educates approximately 3,300 K-12 students and ranks among the state’s highest academic achieving school districts. The district includes three elementary schools, an intermediate school for fourth and fifth grade, one middle school, and a high school.

The city also boasts an abundance of attractions and activities, including the Children’s Museum of South Dakota, Dakota Nature Park, South Dakota Art Museum, McCrory Gardens, South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum, Outdoor Adventure Center and the Brookings Summer Arts Festival.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  

Position is open until filled with full consideration given to applications received by February 10, 2025.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

SDSU accepts applications through an on-line employment site.  To apply, visit:  https://yourfuture.sdbor.edu, search by the position title, view the job announcement, and click on “apply for this job.”  This system will guide you through the electronic application form. This employment site will also require the attachment of a cover letter, which should specifically address how the candidate meets the qualifications as outlined in the advertisement, curriculum vitae, and a reference page with contact information for three professional references.  Email applications will not be accepted.  Please contact SDSU Human Resources at (605) 688-4128 if you require assistance with this process.  

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by law and/or university policies, including but not limited to, successful completion of a criminal background check.   

South Dakota State University is a tobacco free environment. It is university policy to maintain a drug-free environment and to thereby establish, promote, and maintain a safe and healthy working and learning environment for employees and students.  This position is subject to South Dakota State University’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy 4:14.  

For questions on the position, contact Kristi Tornquist at (605) 688-5106 or Kristi.Tornquist@sdstate.edu. 

South Dakota State University promotes access to and opportunities for all to receive the benefit of and participate in education, research, and service and is especially interested in candidates that can contribute to this land-grant access mission. SDSU is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to, and SDSU prohibits discrimination on, the basis of, sex, race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran’s status, or any other status that may become protected in the offering of all educational programs and employment. Arrangements for accommodations required by disabilities can be made by emailing HR@sdstate.edu.  Individuals with concerns regarding discrimination should contact: Equal Opportunity Officer/Title IX Coordinator, Human Resources, Morrill Hall 100, SDSU, Brookings, SD  57007.  Phone: (605) 688-4128.