Dean of Library and Information Services

Company: New College of Florida

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Job Summary

Dean of Library and Information Services

New College of Florida (NCF) is Florida's designated public honors college, built on the conviction that a liberal arts education should teach students how to think, not what to think. Our core courses connect foundational ideas and the Great Books to the challenges of the present, and our logos/techne curriculum joins rigorous reasoning to applied knowledge—culminating for every student in an individualized educational contract and an original senior thesis.

The Jane Bancroft Cook Library stands at the vibrant center of this academic journey: it is a dynamic hub where students and scholars engage directly with primary sources, transformative ideas, and state-of-the-art information systems.

NCF seeks an innovative, forward-thinking leader for the position of Dean of Library and Information Services. The Dean shapes the strategic vision of the library, driving operations, collection strategy, and digital services to support the evolving needs of our world-class faculty, dedicated staff, and highly ambitious honors students. Serving as a key academic partner across campus, the Dean ensures the library’s resources mirror the depth of a rigorous classical liberal arts education while fostering a modern, tech-forward learning environment.

Responsibilities

• Architect and execute a modern collection strategy that provides robust, high-level research materials, Great Books holdings, primary source texts, and critical scholarly collections across disciplines to support faculty research and student achievement.
• Plan, organize, and lead all operations, programs, and spaces within the Jane Bancroft Cook Library. Set ambitious goals and establish clear assessment frameworks for collections, public services, access systems, and emerging academic technologies.
• Partner with academic departments to build tailored research support, expand user access, and deliver active instructional programs that build a campus culture of sophisticated, critical information literacy.
• Collaborate closely with the NCF Office of Information Technology to integrate cutting-edge information technology tools, digital archives, and modern library platforms that streamline research and enhance user experience.
• Provide inspiring, collegial leadership to a dedicated team of library professionals. Recruit, mentor, and empower professional and paraprofessional staff in a collaborative, growth-oriented environment.
• Serve as NCF’s lead representative to statewide consortiums (e.g., CSUL, FLVC, TBLC) and national network partners (e.g., HathiTrust, CRL, Lyrasis). Partner with the New College Foundation on donor development, grant proposals, and strategic fundraising initiatives.
• Direct library budget planning and resource allocation; ensure compliance with state/federal regulations, Board of Governors standards, and institutional accreditation requirements.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to articulate and execute a compelling, forward-looking vision for a 21st-century honors college library—one that balances rich, foundational scholarly collections with modern digital access and innovative user services.
• Proven track record of successful administrative, operational, and fiscal management in an academic library setting.
• Deep understanding of modern library technologies, digital curation, and emerging trends in academic research infrastructure.
• A consultative leadership approach with outstanding communication skills and a demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive climate grounded in service, respect, and shared purpose.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Library or Information Science (MLIS/MLS) from an ALA-accredited program, alongside a record of scholarly engagement and professional involvement.
• An additional advanced degree (Ph.D. or Master's) in an Arts and Sciences discipline (e.g., History, Literature, Philosophy, Classics, or related field) is highly desirable, highlighting an ability to engage deeply with faculty across disciplines on curriculum and collection needs.
• Experience or demonstrated skill in fundraising, donor cultivation, and securing external grants.
• Experience with statewide or national library consortia, accreditation processes, and inter-institutional partnerships.