Summary
Job Purpose
The Library and Archives Director is a
member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), led by the Chief Executive and comprising
Marketing, Education and Operations Directors.
S/he will provide leadership in all aspects of the management and
development of the VWML ensuring excellence in collection management and
customer care, and developing, in association with the Chief Executive and
members of SMT, activities that make the contents of VWML accessible in a
variety of ways to a wider public.
Key
Responsibilities and Accountabilities
Collections
Care, Management and Acquisitions
1.
Planning
and managing the development of the VWML and associated resources over the long
term in consultation with the Chief Executive, and ensuring that best practice
and industry recognised standards are achieved (eg National Archives
guidelines).
2.
Identifying
collection development and dissemination policies and priorities and managing
the collections, maintaining the archives in good physical condition and
adequately protected and undertaking a regular programme of stocktaking,
repairs and maintenance, and weeding of stock in line with policy.
3.
Continuing
to up-date, develop and manage effective library systems, including cataloguing
and classification equipment and software, and procedures which facilitate
access to library resources.
4.
Overseeing
and developing the Library’s preservation and conservation practices and
policies.
5.
In
conjunction with the [Web Manager] maintaining and developing the Library’s
digital resources and resource discovery tools
6.
Developing
and maintaining the VWML environment, archive areas and other related
facilities, ensuring appropriate access to the collections and working
practices that meet legal requirements, embracing equality and diversity.
7.
Ensuring
that VWML maintains a high level of customer care when dealing with enquiries
of any kind.
Strategic
Development, Financial Management and Fundraising
8.
Working
with the Chief Executive and as part of the SMT to develop EFDSS as a whole and
the VWML specifically, producing reports to support developmental ideas as
appropriate.
9.
Preparing
with the Chief Executive, and managing the annual library budget.
10.
Working
with the Chief Executive to identify sources of income to support the on-going
costs of VWML and specific projects, developing appropriate contacts and
working on funding applications and associated reports as required.
11.
Developing
opportunities to commercially exploit the contents of VWML eg the photographic
collection, where copyright and ownership of materials allows.
- Working
with the EFDSS Web Developer to increase digital library content including
the online catalogue, VWML collections eg sound and photographic, and
looking to bring relevant folk arts collections held by other institutions
into the EFDSS/VWML digital archive.
Project
Development and Management
13.
Working
with the Chief Executive , the SMT and other members of staff as appropriate to
develop projects that increase access to the folk arts, and in particular
collections of folk materials, through digital and participatory projects.
14.
To
develop and managed such projects or elements of such projects.
Marketing and
PR
13.
To
work with the Marketing and Communication Director and her team to profile VWML
and its activities through print, press and online media including managing the
content of the VWML section of the EFDSS websites.
14.
To
act as an ambassador for both EFDSS and VWML, including attending relevant
conferences and meetings etc… with the folk and library/archive sectors and
developing relationships and partnerships with other relevant organisations.
Staff
Management and General Administration
16.
Line
managing the Library and Archive staff, and volunteers as required (the
majority of the latter is undertaken by the Librarian). Ensuring annual appraisals of staff take
place and encouraging relevant training and development (in association with
the Operations Director and within EFDSS staff training budgets).
17.
Undertaking
own administrative tasks
18.
Any
other duties as the Chief Executive sees fit.
Person Specification
Essential Experience
·
Relevant qualifications in Library and Information
technology
·
Relevant experience in the operation and management of
a library and archive or a department/collection within a large library/archive
organisation.
·
Experience of working with collections in different
formats
·
Experience of working with digital collections and resources
·
Experience of developing and managing
activities/projects to increase access and awareness of the library/archive
and/or its specific collections
·
Experience
in financial and budget management
·
Experience
in managing staff and volunteers
·
Excellent
oral and written communications skills
·
Ability
to work within a team and to lead a team
·
Proven
capacity to juggle multiple tasks and responsibilities simultaneously
·
Ability
to network and communicate with a wide range of agencies and individuals
including funders, statutory and voluntary organisations, the folk and other
arts professions and the media.
·
Experience
of cataloguing and indexing standards and procedures in one or more formats
·
General
computer literacy including Word, Excel and email/internet.
Desirable Experience
·
Experience
of working within the heritage and/or arts sector
·
Knowledge
of the folk arts and folklore
·
Experience
of fundraising
·
Experience
of creating digital archives and platforms
·
Experience
of conservation and preservation practices
·
Experience
of capital developments/physical library/archive re-organisation