POSITION: Head, User Services, Librarian III or IV 
DEPARTMENT: User Services, Robarts Library 
DATE REQUIRED: As soon as possible 

Are you looking for challenging, meaningful work in a supportive and diverse environment? Are you looking for a career at one of Canada’s top employers? Work where the world comes to think, discover and learn. Consider a career at the University of Toronto. 

About the University of Toronto 

The University of Toronto has assembled one of the strongest research and teaching faculties in North America, presenting top students at all levels with an intellectual environment unmatched in breadth and depth on any other Canadian campus.  

U of T faculty co-author more research articles than their colleagues at any university in the US or Canada other than Harvard. As a measure of impact, U of T consistently ranks alongside the top five U.S. universities whose discoveries are most often cited by other researchers around the world. The U of T faculty are also widely recognized for their teaching strengths and commitment to graduate supervision.  

U of T attracts undergraduate, graduate and professional program students from across Canada and abroad. Students have unique opportunities to learn from top researchers. Off campus, they can enjoy the extraordinary amenities and attractions of the Toronto region, Canada’s pre eminent urban cluster. On campus, students are able to craft intimate learning communities within a unique undergraduate college system, participate in more than 1000 clubs and co curricular activities, and compete on a wide variety of intra-mural and inter-collegiate sports teams.  

Established in 1827, the University of Toronto has three campuses: the St. George campus in downtown Toronto, Mississauga and Scarborough.  

About the University of Toronto Libraries  

The University of Toronto Libraries (UTL) system is the largest academic library in Canada and is consistently ranked in the top five among academic research libraries in North America. The system consists of 40 libraries located on three university campuses: St. George, Mississauga, and Scarborough. This array of college libraries, special collections, and specialized libraries and information centres supports the teaching and research requirements of over 300 graduate

programs, more than 70 professional programs, and about 700 undergraduate degree programs. In addition to more than 15 million volumes in 341 languages, the library system currently provides access to millions of electronic resources in various forms and over 31,000 linear metres of archival material. More than 150,000 new print volumes are acquired each year. The Libraries’ data centre houses more than 500 servers with a storage capacity of 1.5 petabytes. 

About Robarts Library 

Robarts Library is the largest library at UTL with a strong emphasis on the humanities and social sciences. Its collection strengths are the arts, humanities and social sciences and Government information. Robarts Library is also home to many of the Central Library’s shared services, including Metadata Services, Information Technology Services and the Collection Development Department. Building maintenance and community safety functions are supported by colleagues in other units. The User Services Department appointed staff complement consists of approximately 37 staff members including, librarians, professional managers, and unionized staff. User Services at Robarts consists of several service teams, including research & education, user access, fulfillment, stacks maintenance and information desk services.  

The Opportunity 

The University of Toronto Libraries invites applications for an innovative, experienced, and knowledgeable library leader to serve in this key position. Reporting to the Deputy Chief Librarian, the Head, User Services is responsible for the oversight, budgeting and strategic planning of frontline user services support, which occur both in-person and virtually. The day to-day operation of these services are led by the Information Services Manager and the Assistant Head, User Services to whom professional managers, librarians and staff report. Together they develop policies and programs that enable an exceptional, consistent and coherent user experience, while recognizing the diverse needs of multiple constituencies and the organizational complexity of the UTL system. Services offered within User Services include a variety of fulfillment services and public service points, user access, teaching, research support via in-depth consultations, email and a virtual reference chat service, stacks maintenance, as well as evolving support for systematic and scoping reviews within the social sciences. Additionally, User Services Librarians, reporting to the Assistant Head of User Services, serve important liaison roles, which encompass support for teaching, research, relationship development and collection building. The successful candidate will work with library staff members to ensure that services are proactive, inclusive, curriculum-informed and learner focused.  

As an active member of the University of Toronto Libraries senior management team, the Head will participate in central library committees and work with UTL administrative colleagues to implement UTL’s strategic plan, develop strategic directions and assess service quality of the User Services department. The Head will be responsible for the overall direction of user services broadly, working with colleagues within UTL and in the wider academic community to scope 

out future trends and address emerging needs and priorities. They will offer leadership, support and mentorship to library employees within the unit and direct management of two positions:  he Information Services Manager and the Assistant Head, User Services. The successful candidate will have a lifelong learning approach to personal and professional development. They will promote the Libraries’ culture of diversity and inclusion and support UTL’s Mission Statement and Values.  

Required qualifications  

1. A degree from an accredited Masters level program in library and information studies.

2. A strong administrator with proven management experience. 

3. Demonstrated commitment to the values of equity, inclusivity, diversity, and accessibility. 

4. Demonstrated planning, decision making and problem-solving skills. 

5. Demonstrated leadership abilities, particularly in team building, with proven experience creating a common vision and fostering a positive work environment. 

6. Outstanding interpersonal, intercultural, and communication skills. 

7. Demonstrated deep understanding of research, teaching, learning and collections priorities in the humanities and social sciences. 

8. Record of effective collaboration involving diverse faculty, library staff, students and other campus stakeholders. 

9. Demonstrated commitment to mentorship and staff development and growth.

10. Capacity to thrive in an environment of change, and to nurture that capacity in others. 

Preferred qualifications:  

1. Academic background in the humanities or social sciences or equivalent library professional or work experience in these subject areas. 

2. Experience working in a unionized environment. 

Salary and Terms of Appointment: This is a permanent status stream position to be hired at the Librarian III or IV level. Salary and appointment level are based on experience and qualifications. This is a five-year renewable term position.  

Benefits: We offer generous benefits packages to all employees. Additional information is available at: https://people.utoronto.ca/careers/benefits/ 

Additional information 

Librarians at the University of Toronto are members of the University of Toronto Faculty Association.

How to Apply 

Application Materials Required: A cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references of which at least two have supervised your work. Please send a single electronic file (MS Word or pdf) with a file name convention of [Surname,FirstName. HEADUS] to Library Human Resources at utlhr@utoronto.ca; or to Room 1140, 130 St. George Street, University of Toronto Libraries, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A5; by April 21, 2022. 

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. 

Diversity Statement 

The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous / Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. 

University of Toronto Libraries’ Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Statement: https://www.library.utoronto.ca/inclusion-diversity-and-equity-statement
University of Toronto Libraries’ Anti-Racism Statement: 
https://www.library.utoronto.ca/anti-racism-statement

Accessibility Statement 

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission. 

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.  

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact utlhr@utoronto.ca. 

The University of Toronto Libraries thanks all applicants but will only contact applicants selected for an interview.  

University of Toronto Library System: http://onesearch.library.utoronto.ca/
University of Toronto: https://people.utoronto.ca/ 
Policies for librarians: https://people.utoronto.ca/policies/