Job Description

About SAIC

For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program consistently ranking among the top four graduate fine arts programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago Museum, on-campus galleries and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world—as seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, and LeRoy Neiman.

About the Department

The John M. Flaxman Library at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago is located at the heart of the campus. We provide services and resources to encourage critical thinking and creative practices. We support teaching, learning, and research across the entire curriculum. The Library collections include extensive interdisciplinary materials focused on late 20th- and 21st-century art and design, hundreds of thousands of print and media collections, as well as a range of digital resources, such as ebooks and ejournals for research, databases for scholarly information, digital images for visual study, and streaming video for instructional and creative use. Notable Special Collections include: the Joan Flasch Artists' Book Collection, the Randolph Street Gallery Archives, and the 16mm Film Study Collection.

The Library advances student learning and enriches the research environment through active collaboration with students, faculty, and staff. It fosters critical thinking, creativity, and information literacy while promoting inclusive, accessible collections and services. Through outreach, partnerships, and campus engagement, the Library contributes to a dynamic and supportive academic community.

Position Summary

Under the general supervision of the Head of Collection Management and often in collaboration with other staff in the Library & Special Collections is responsible for the selection and acquisition of library materials and the management of the electronic resources and serials subscriptions; ensuring seamless access to digital content that supports creative and academic endeavors of our community. Collaborates with other librarians to provide a broad range of research and instructional services.

Responsibilities

• In collaboration with the Head of Collection Management and other librarians, lead efforts to acquire library materials; evaluate and select/deselect databases and other electronic resources; manage serial subscriptions; and work with librarians to gather feedback from faculty.
• Ensures timely, cost-effective acquisition of print and electronic resources for the library’s general collections.
• Responsible for creation, ongoing maintenance, and analysis of data in local-, consortia-, and/or vendor-hosted systems.
• Collaborates with the Head of Collection Management to ensure electronic resources and serials are accessible through the library catalog, discovery system, authentication system, and link resolvers.
• Advises, coordinates, and collaborates with Library + Special Collections staff to develop, maintain, and assess the library’s electronic resources to optimize and promote teaching, learning, and research activities on campus.
• In consultation with the Head of Collection Management, responsible for training student workers, and assigning and directing their work based on unit priorities.
• Serves as library liaison to one or more curricular departments or programs at SAIC, and provides a broad range of research and instructional services.
• Proactively engages the School’s agenda for student success.
• Performs other duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

• Master’s degree in Library or Information Science or related field.
• One or more years of relevant work experience in a library, archive, or similar institution.
• Background in the arts or humanities.
• Commitment to the educational mission of the School and demonstrated knowledge of the principles of accessibility, diversity, and inclusion; the ability to work well with diverse populations; and demonstrated level of cultural competence.
• Broad knowledge of current library systems and technologies utilized in the assigned areas of responsibility.
• Understanding of basic cataloging and metadata standards, especially as related to serials and electronic resources.
• Experience in public service and the ability to work effectively in a collaborative and culturally diverse environment.
• Experience with Alma, Primo VE, and OpenAthens or other discovery and authentication systems.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proficiency using standard office software, web services, and networked environments.
• Ability to work flexibly and collaboratively with colleagues, staff, faculty, and students fostering a collegial work environment that encourages innovation, curiosity, and inclusivity.

Preferred

• Professional experience in a similar position, especially at a school of art, design, or architecture.
• Experience working in an academic environment with faculty and students.

Compensation & Benefits

Please click on the links below to view our competitive, comprehensive benefits package:

• Hiring Range: $54,000 - $64,000

The expected hiring range is an estimated amount for positions based on the grade. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, qualifications and other job-related reasons.

• Benefits
• PTO Overview
• Job Classification: Full time staff
• Employment Category: Exempt
• Grade Level: 7

If you are accessing this listing from a third party, not all links to salary and benefits information may work. Please visit our career page at saic/ artic.edu/employment for complete information

Application Instructions

Please submit your resume and cover letter to be considered for this position.

Union

This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 31.

Accessibility

If you are a job seeker with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, you will find the contact information to request the appropriate accommodation by visiting the following page:

Accessibility Accommodation for Applicants

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals compliant with federal and state laws. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at [email protected].

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