Director of the Library & University Librarian

The Director of the Library provides visionary leadership for a dynamic, student-centered library at an urban liberal arts institution. This role ensures that the library remains a cornerstone of intellectual life, fostering inquiry, creativity, and ethical engagement with information in all its forms. The Director will champion traditional scholarly values while advancing digital literacy across the curriculum.

This is a non-tenure-track faculty position on a 12-month contract.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership in a Liberal Arts Context
  • Align library services with the university’s mission of teaching excellence in an inclusive learning environment, preparing students for success in professional endeavors as responsible and productive contributors to a global society.
  • Develop a strategic plan that balances the preservation of print collections with innovative digital resources.
• Academic Partnership & Pedagogy
  • Support undergraduate research and experiential learning through curated digital archives and technology-assisted research tools.
  • Serve as a thought partner to faculty in designing assignments that integrate library resources and emerging technologies.
• Digital Literacy & AI Integration
  • Lead campus-wide initiatives to teach students and faculty how to evaluate and ethically use digital texts and AI-generated content.
  • Collaborate with faculty to embed information literacy, data ethics, and AI competencies into first-year seminars and upper-level courses.
  • Position the library as a space for dialogue on the meaning and impact of technology in society with a focus on critical interrogation of AI and digital systems within ethical, cultural, and historical contexts.
• Operations & Resource Stewardship
  • Oversee acquisitions, cataloging, and digital platforms with attention to diverse voices and inclusive scholarship.
  • Manage budgets strategically to sustain both traditional collections and cutting-edge technologies.
  • Supervise and mentor a team committed to service excellence and innovation in a liberal arts environment.
• Community Engagement and Advancement
  • Position the library as a hub for intellectual dialogue.
  • Build partnerships with local cultural institutions to enrich student learning.
  • Serve as the ambassador of the library to all constituents—board of trustees, administration, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the community.
  • Cultivate relationships with donors to the library and archives and special collections resulting in larger, more diverse collections with minimal cost.
  • Write grants (in collaboration with other departments) to bring funds for projects to enhance the academic success of students
• Other Duties
  • Teaching academic courses as needed.
  • Other duties as assigned.

• Master’s in Library/Information Science (ALA-accredited); additional graduate degree in an academic discipline preferred.
• Five years of progressive leadership in academic libraries, preferably in a liberal arts setting.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills; ability to inspire faculty, staff, and students.
• A demonstrated understanding of technological systems for libraries, Open Education Resources, and archival collections management systems.
• Expertise in digital scholarship, emerging technologies, and AI integration.
• Strong commitment to inclusive excellence in library collections and services.

About Oglethorpe University

Founded in 1835, Oglethorpe University is a liberal arts college that unites a close-knit campus community with the big city culture and opportunities of Atlanta, Georgia. Today, the university enrolls over 1,400 students, representing 33 states and 31 countries, and offers students Atlanta’s premiere undergraduate learning experience. Students at Oglethorpe benefit from small classes and close connections to our outstanding faculty.

Oglethorpe University is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusive excellence. Oglethorpe prohibits discrimination against all applicants and employees based on race; age; color; religion; national origin or ancestry; sex; sexual orientation; gender; gender identity or gender expression; marital status; pregnancy; childbirth or related medical conditions; disability; genetic information; citizenship status; veteran status; or any other category protected by federal, state or local law.

Application Instructions 

Candidates should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information for three references. In the cover letter, please address all the qualifications stated above and share how your experiences align with Oglethorpe’s commitment to an inclusive learning environment.

To ensure full consideration, please submit all required materials via the application portal.  Review of applications will begin on February 16, 2026, and continue until the position is filled. Specific questions about the position may be directed to Dr. Glenn Sharfman, chair of the search committee (gsharfman@oglethorpe.edu).

Work Environment/ Physical Demands:

This position requires regular lifting 20 pounds, regular pushing/pulling 50 pounds, standing, walking, bending, crouching, working at office desk required.

This job description is intended as a summary of the primary responsibilities of and qualifications for this position. The job description is not intended as inclusive of all duties an individual in this position might be asked to perform or of all qualifications that may be required either now or in the future.