SPEC Kit 296: Public Services in Special Collections (November 2006)
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134 · SPEC Kit 296 Duke University DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES POSITION DESCRIPTION POSITION: Director of Research Services for the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library LIBRARY: Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Provides leadership for the Research Services Department of the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library (RBMSCL) and participates with other RBMSCL department heads in the functioning of the RBMSCL management group. Sets goals and objectives to assess user needs and supply users with services appropriate to research in primary source materials. Supervises the Research Services Department staff in providing reference, circulation (retrieval, reshelving, and reserve services), security, duplication of materials, class instruction, exhibitions, and bibliographic guides, and in publicizing and promoting collections. With the other department heads and the library director, helps set goals and objectives for the library, monitors progress toward those goals, coordinates activities of the staff, and provides leadership for the library's vision. Acts as liaison between the RBMSCL and other public services staff of the Duke University Libraries and contributes to the work of the Administrative Council of the Perkins Library system. DUTIES: 1. Provides leadership in serving on-site users, monitors service quality, and supervises Research Services staff in providing circulation, reference, and security. Prepares schedules for reference and circulation desk staffing. Coordinates the work of staff involved in providing reference service and supports staff in problem resolution. 2. Coordinates Research Services and other RBMSCL staff doing outreach and bibliographic instruction, including presentations for graduate and undergraduate classes and other groups, and preparation of printed materials to assist researchers. Identifies potential campus users of RBMSCL materials, initiates contacts, and establishes working relationships with Duke researchers and faculty. Works with faculty to design RBMSCL assignments or find library materials for courses. Helps students find research topics and instructs them in methods used in research. 3. Interprets the library's finding aids and holdings to users and assists researchers in finding primary source materials in the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library and from other sources including the World Wide Web and other on- line sources. 4. Supervises Research Services staff in providing external users with timely responses and duplication services for inquiries received by phone, mail, e-mail, FAX, and ILL.