Library Director

The library director provides strategic, administrative, and spiritual leadership for the G. Allen Fleece Library in support of Columbia International University’s mission of educating people from a biblical worldview to impact the nations with the message of Christ. As the chief administrator of the library, the director provides vision, leadership, and oversight for library services, collections, personnel, operations, technologies, facilities, and assessment. The director ensures that library resources and services effectively support undergraduate, graduate, and online learners while advancing institutional priorities related to academic excellence, spiritual formation, and global ministry preparation. Working collaboratively with library leadership, faculty, and campus partners, the director fosters innovation, stewardship, continuous improvement, and responsiveness to the evolving needs of students and academic programs. The director is accountable for the effective administration of the library and delegates operational responsibilities appropriately to members of the library leadership team. Responsibilities Strategic Leadership and Mission Integration Lead long range planning, annual goal setting, and assessment of all library programs and services. Ensure library operations reflect CIU’s commitment to biblical worldview, global mission, and academic integrity. Represent the library in institutional planning, academic leadership meetings, and accreditation processes (SACSCOC, ABHE, and program level agencies). Monitor trends in higher education, academic libraries, and emerging technologies to guide strategic direction. Develop service models that support diverse learners, including online, graduate, commuter, and international students. Administrative and Personnel Leadership Provide leadership and supervision for library personnel through the library’s management structure. Supervise and evaluate direct reports. Support hiring, onboarding, evaluation, mentoring, and professional development of library employees. Foster a collaborative, Christ-centered workplace characterized by integrity, accountability, and mutual respect. Develop future leaders by appropriately delegating responsibilities and encouraging professional growth. Ensure compliance with institutional personnel policies and applicable employment regulations. Budget and Resource Stewardship Develop and administer the library budget. Provide oversight for expenditures related to collections, technology, staffing, equipment, and operations. Monitor resource utilization and recommend strategies to maximize effectiveness and sustainability. Participate in multi-year financial planning and major initiative forecasting. Review and approve contracts, subscriptions, licenses, and vendor agreements in accordance with institutional policies. Seek opportunities for grants, donor support, and other external funding sources when appropriate. Library Services and Academic Support Ensure the effective delivery of public services, research assistance, circulation, interlibrary loan, information literacy instruction, and user support. Collaborate with library managers to provide high-quality services across all instructional modalities. Encourage partnerships between librarians and academic departments to support teaching, learning, and scholarship. Promote initiatives that strengthen student success, research competency, and lifelong learning. Serve as an academic liaison to selected departments as institutional needs require. Collections and Scholarly Resources Provide strategic oversight of collection development and resource allocation. Ensure library collections support institutional curricula, theological distinctives, accreditation expectations, and emerging academic needs. Delegate and oversee cataloging, metadata, acquisitions, and collection maintenance functions performed by qualified personnel. Support preservation, digitization, archives, and special collections initiatives as appropriate. Evaluate collections regularly to ensure relevance, accessibility, and responsible stewardship. Technology and Digital Strategy Provide leadership for the effective use of technologies supporting library operations and services. Oversee the administration and strategic development of library systems in collaboration with designated staff and campus IT. Ensure that the library’s digital presence promotes accessibility, usability, and effective engagement. Support the evaluation and implementation of technologies that enhance teaching, learning, research, and operational effectiveness. Participate in long-term planning related to technology infrastructure and digital initiatives. Compliance, Copyright, and Academic Integrity Provide institutional leadership regarding copyright awareness and responsible use of information resources. Oversee administration of copyright licensing agreements and related compliance activities through appropriate staff and campus partners. Support institutional efforts related to academic integrity, including educational initiatives and technology tools used to promote ethical scholarship. Ensure library operations comply with applicable laws, regulations, and institutional policies, including FERPA and records-management requirements. Assessment, Accreditation, and Institutional Effectiveness Establish and maintain assessment practices that demonstrate the effectiveness and impact of library services. Utilize data to support planning, decision-making, and continuous improvement. Prepare reports and documentation supporting institutional effectiveness initiatives. Coordinate library contributions to regional, professional, and programmatic accreditation processes. Ensure alignment with recognized professional standards, including the Association of College and Research Libraries Standards for Libraries in Higher Education. Serve as the primary library representative during accreditation reviews. Facilities and Operations Provide oversight for the effective operation of library facilities. Collaborate with institutional partners regarding maintenance, safety, security, renovations, and capital improvements. Promote library spaces that support study, collaboration, research, and community engagement. Ensure continuity of operations through appropriate planning and risk-management practices. Support emergency preparedness and disaster-response planning related to library services and collections. Policy Development and Governance Develop, implement, and periodically review library policies and procedures. Ensure policies reflect institutional values, professional standards, and applicable regulations. Address issues related to intellectual freedom, challenged materials, and ethical practice in a manner consistent with CIU’s mission and educational objectives. Promote transparency and consistency in decision‑making and operational practices. External Relations and Institutional Partnerships Represent the library within professional organizations, consortia, and collaborative networks. Cultivate productive relationships with vendors, donors, alumni, and community partners. Advocate for the role and value of the library throughout the institution. Collaborate with other campus units and departments to advance shared goals. Christian Leadership and Community Engagement Demonstrate mature Christian character and leadership consistent with CIU’s doctrinal commitments. Integrate biblical principles into leadership practices, decision‑making, and service. Encourage an environment of grace, hospitality, and servant leadership. Support the spiritual formation mission of the university through meaningful engagement with students, faculty, and staff. Participate in institutional committees, events, and community activities as appropriate. Other Duties as Assigned Qualifications Demonstrated leadership in academic library administration. Knowledge of academic library operations, emerging technologies, and information resources. Strong strategic planning, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills. Ability to analyze information, make sound decisions, and manage change effectively. Commitment to collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. Ability to lead diverse teams with humility, clarity, and spiritual maturity. Commitment to the integration of faith and learning within Christian higher education. Experience in Christian higher education preferred. Experience supporting undergraduate, graduate, and online learning environments desired. Familiarity with accreditation processes and institutional effectiveness practices. Graduate coursework or advanced study in leadership, administration, theology, biblical studies, or related disciplines. Five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in academic librarianship required. Demonstrated supervisory and leadership experience necessary. Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA‑accredited institution required. CIU provides a benefits package that includes: Health Plan 401(k) plan with match opportunity Employer provided group life insurance Long‑term disability insurance Vacation days, holidays, sick leave, family leave Educational benefits: tuition reduction for PreK3‑Graduate #J-18808-Ljbffr