Head Librarian, Open Society Foundations – NY
Foundations work to build vibrant and tolerant societies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people.
Purpose of Position
During this one-year term the head librarian will be expected to conduct a needs assessment and present a strategy of how to ensure that the library is being maximized throughout the Open Society network.
The head librarian will also be responsible for the day to day operation of the library services and will be expected to manage, maintain, and maximize all of Open Society’s information resources. These services are available to all projects, departments, staff, and Fellows.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Serve as the main point of contact for information services to staff and Fellows;
- Acquire articles, books, and reports for projects, departments, and staff, according to their requests, via inter-library loan and/or purchase;
- Assist staff with their research needs;
- Supervise maintenance of the computerized library catalog;
- Manage subscriptions to online databases and periodicals available to all staff;
- Set up programmed searches in various databases for staff and projects;
- Orient new staff and Fellows to library services;
- Manage periodicals subscriptions for projects which request this service;
- Supervise the associate librarian;
- Catalog publications into OCLC’s First Search (aka WorldCat) database;
- Inform staff of memberships in affinity groups of funders;
- Participate in professional organizations, such as the American Library Association, the Consortium of Foundation Libraries, and/or the Special Libraries Association (SLA);
- Present papers at conferences such as the Internet Librarian, the National Online Meeting, or Special Libraries Association as needed;
- Provide training to staff, as needed;
- Write articles for publication as needed.
