University of California, Santa Barbara

Assistant University Librarian for
Collection Development

Statement Of Professional Duties And Responsibilities

Assistant University Librarian (AUL) is a senior administrative position normally holding responsibility for managing a major division or function of the Library. The main focus of the AUL position is the welfare of the entire Library as a whole, within the context of special divisional or functional responsibilities. Further details on the general characteristics of the AUL position and its duties are contained in the document, Statement of the Generic Duties and Responsibilities of Assistant University Librarians (December 17, 1982). All AUL positions report to the University Librarian.

The AUL for Collection Development administers all aspects of collection development and collection management in the UCSB Library:

• Determines collection development needs and priorities as dictated by the campus' academic programs.
• Determines collection development policies and interprets them to faculty and library staff. Collection development includes de-selection as well as augmentation of holdings.
• Supervises the selection of materials for storage.
• Allocates the library materials budget; oversees expendi-tures of all library materials money, state funds as well as extramural funds so that they are spent responsibly.
• Reviews and approves approval plan parameters, recommendations for bulk purchases, and acceptance of large gifts.
• Oversees preparation of variety of management tools, including a published collection development policy statement, to maintain the effectiveness of the collection development program.
• Conducts studies, formulates proposals, undertakes initiatives, and implements results as feasible and/or necessary to maintain effectiveness of collection development program.
• May represent the UCSB Library to a variety of external organizations related to collection development, such as the Center for Research Libraries or discussion groups, such as the ALA's Chief Collection Development Officers of Medium-Sized Research Libraries, and RLG's Collection Management and Development Committee.
• Represents UCSB campus interests in Library Council's Collection Development Committee and its Program of Shared Purchasing.
• Preservation: Guides, defines, and coordinates the Library's preservation program.

As a member of the Administrative Group, the Library's principal policy making body, participates in the general administrative processes of the library, contributing to overall policy formation, resource allocation decisions, long-range planning, budget planning, decisions on personnel actions, proposal formulation and review.

Prepares reports, analyses, studies, initiatives, proposals--and related documents--for the University Librarian; provides information, analysis, advice and counsel to the University Librarian for use with Library Council, the Administrative Group, the campus administration, Systemwide Administration or other agencies.

In fulfilling responsibilities associated with personnel administration:

• Directly supervises the Head of the Department of Special Col-lections and a direct-reporting Asst. Collection Development Officer.
• Exercises line authority over all library personnel involved in collection development and contributes to their performance appraisals.
• Consults with subject recommenders.

Maintains liaison with faculty:

• Establishes and maintains variety of communication channels with academic departments and campus and university administrations in order to assure the Library's awareness of change in academic programs.
• Determines the impact of proposed new academic programs on the Library's acquisitions and cataloging capabilities and on its budget, with special reference to potential reallocations of the library materials budget and the effect of such reallocations.
• Meets with the Senate Library Committee to report on all aspects of the collections, including budget.

Administers the Library's gift solicitation and fund raising programs:

• Recommends policies and procedures for gift acceptances and assures that such policies and procedures accord with those approved by the University.

Coordinates all aspects of the Library's compliance with copyright legislation; establishes and supervises all Library procedures that involve compliance with copyright law.

Serves as an ex officio member of the Executive Board of the Friends of the UCSB Library; attends all meetings and functions of the Friends; serves as the principal liaison between the Library and the Friends.

May represent the University Librarian on campus or intercampus committees.

Supports the University's Plan for [Library] Development and contributes to implementation of the President's "one library" concept through cooperative activities involving one or more other campuses, other universities/libraries/consortia, and/or Systemwide Administration.

Performs other duties as assigned.

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Collection Managers' Manual Procedures Table of Contents

Author: Cecily Johns
Created December 1987; Last modified: March 30, 1997