Director of Library and Archives [Ingalls Library, Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH]

Description

The Cleveland Museum of Art seeks an innovative and experienced Director of Library and Archives to provide vision and strategic leadership for the coordination and management of its distinguished Ingalls Library and museum archives, both devoted to the research priorities and educational mission of the museum.

The Ingalls Library is a nationally recognized art research library founded in 1916, with 500,000+ volumes in all formats reflecting the encyclopedic art collection of the museum and with particular depth in Asian art, French decorative arts, European Painting and Sculpture and Modern Art.  The museum archives contain records documenting the academic, cultural and educational history of the museum.  The library and archives offer comprehensive access to art information and serve the general public, students from every school and degree level, independent researchers and all museum departments.  Additionally, the library and archives function as the art library for the graduate students and faculty in the Cleveland Museum of Art/Case Western Reserve University Joint Program in Art History and Museum Studies, providing access to resources, problem-based learning orientation, course reserves and bibliographic instruction.

THE POSITION:

The Director of Library and Archives oversees a staff of 22 employees and fosters innovative collection development, services and programs to ensure that the Ingalls Library and Museum Archives meet the evolving research priorities and scholarship mission of the museum, the CMA/Case Joint Program in Art History and Museum Studies, and other constituent groups. The Director of Library and Archives works closely with the Division of Institutional Advancement to develop funding in support of library and archives projects and collections.  The position works closely with the Chief Curator on special projects such as the Keithley Institute.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS:

Master’s degree in library science (M.L.S. / M.L.I.S.) from an ALA accredited program with a preferred second Master’s degree in art history. A minimum of seven to ten years of experience in an academic or research library including a demonstrated record of progressively responsible leadership, management, financial and administrative experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Substantial executive leadership background with experience in planning, budget and staff development.  Comprehensive knowledge of art historical research methodology and a commitment to the support of scholarly research.  Demonstrated knowledge of traditional and emerging information resources and library technologies and a commitment to the creation of a culture emphasizing up-to-date staff skills.  Comprehensive knowledge of collection management and the ability to develop library and archives collections in alignment with curatorial expertise.  Experience with building design and space planning.  Knowledge of best practices and emerging developments and trends in archives, digital humanities, open access, scholarly communication and conservation of library and archival materials.  Experience developing user-centered services.  Experience with the selection and implementation of library systems.  Demonstrated ability to lead collaboration with institutional departments, community partners, donors and other stakeholders. Should possess excellent organizational, problem-solving, research and written and oral communication skills. Excellent interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to work with a diverse population of museum professionals, faculty, students, donors and library colleagues.  Success in development, fundraising and public relations in a research library setting.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

Position available:  January 1, 2017.  Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.  The position includes a competitive, comprehensive benefit package including 20 days of vacation.  To apply, please send a completed application form (available via instructions at http://www.clevelandart.org/about/employment ), resume and cover letter with three references by October 1, 2016 to The Cleveland Museum of Art, Attention Human Resources, 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio 44106 or email to: careers@clevelandart.org .

INSTITUTIONAL BACKGROUND:

The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) is known nationally and internationally for the quality and scope of its collection, which comprises some 45,000 objects and covers 6,000 years of art history. Founded in 1913, the CMA is today one of the world’s most distinguished comprehensive art museums and one of the top five in the country.

In 2013, the museum completed a $320 million renovation and expansion project designed by the architect Rafael Viñoly. The project, which was funded by a successful capital campaign, included the complete restoration of the original 1916 building and 1971 Marcel Breuer addition, as well as the addition of two symmetrical wings on the east and west sides. Central to the design is the large, light-filled Ames Family Atrium, enclosed by an elegantly soaring roof. The CMA is now considered one of the most beautiful and impressive civic spaces in Northeast Ohio and its galleries are among the finest of any museum.

Key elements of the expansion project include:

• An increase of 33 per cent in gallery space, with enhanced interpretation of the collection through state-of-the art technology as well as installations that engage both the first-time visitor and the long-time devotee;
• Gallery One, a 13,000-square-foot interactive introductory space that includes The Collection Wall, the largest multi-touch screen in the United States — a 40-foot, interactive, micro-tile wall that changes every 40 seconds and features more than 4,200 works of art from the permanent collection;
• The 39,000-square foot, glass-enclosed atrium—Cleveland’s largest free public space;
• A rededication of the Breuer building to its original mission of education with renovated classrooms, lecture and performance halls and a distance learning studio;
• Restored integrity of the 1916 building including upgraded mechanical and structural systems with the latest environmental controls throughout;
• Improved and expanded special exhibition spaces for preeminent loan exhibitions from around the world;
• A more prominent location for the Ingalls Library, including an expanded reading room.

The CMA has more than 400 employees and an operating budget of $38 million. Its endowment now stands at more than $750 million. Founded “for the benefit of all the people forever,” the CMA remains free to all visitors with attendance at close to 600,000 annually.

The museum’s most recent strategic plan, completed in 2010, stresses the primary importance of the collection as the foundation for everything the museum does. It also underscores the primacy of the visitor experience and the museum’s participation in the life of the city and the surrounding community while balancing local responsibility with a national and international presence. The museum is about to develop a new strategic plan that will establish the vision and guide the work of the next five years.