Director of the Performing Arts Library

Located on the 11th floor of the historic Auditorium Building at 430 S. Michigan Ave in downtown Chicago, the Roosevelt University Performing Arts Library has one of the best academic music and theatre collections in Illinois. It has an impressive collection of more than 35,000 music scores and 20,000 books, and more than 27,000 recordings. The Library is fully equipped with listening and viewing facilities for tapes, records, compact discs, videotapes and digital video recordings. In addition, the Library's computers provide instant access to many of the most important music and/or research databases, as well as linking with over eighty Illinois libraries and thousands of research collections throughout North America and the world. The Library’s collections show particular strengths in the history and performance practices of Western art music, contemporary music and jazz studies. The library also houses an extensive collection of critically edited complete works sets of individual composers and collections.  The library carries periodical subscriptions in dance, drama, film, music and more, in both electronic and print formats, and has complete runs of several important music and theatre journals. The Performing Arts library maintains a collection of play scripts, monologues, dramatic literature, journals and books concerning theater techniques and study.  There is also a considerable collection of musical theater scores and recordings, both video and compact disc.  The Performing Arts Library Archives maintains a collection of historically important documents, rare books, scores and sound recordings. The archive holds extensive materials relating to the music school dating to its origins in the 19th century, including personal papers and a large audio archive of the great Swiss pianist and last president of Chicago Musical College (CCPA’s predecessor institution) Rudolph Ganz, to whom Ravel’s Scarbo is dedicated.

Roosevelt University seeks a creative and energetic performing arts librarian to facilitate the research, performance, educational and professional/scholarly activities of the students, faculty and staff of the Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA) within the Performing Arts Library in the historic Auditorium Building. CCPA faculty, students and staff are strongly involved with local, national and international arts organizations, venues, performances, etc. The Director of the Performing Arts Library will have supervisory responsibility over the professional and support staff of the library, developing and managing the collections, providing reference and instruction, planning, organizing and implementing exhibits and programs in the newly renovated library. Reporting to the University Librarian, the Director will be expected to develop creative partnerships to expand and enhance the Library’s collections and services. Active participation in professional associations is expected. The Performing Arts Library of Roosevelt University is an excellent opportunity for a professional librarian with an interest in the performing arts and with the vision and initiative to build an excellent research center in the performing arts.

Candidates must have: an ALA accredited MLS or its equivalent and a minimum of three years library experience, including collection development and public services related to music, theater, or dance; a commitment to working closely with faculty, students and staff within performing arts; knowledge of and experience with analog and digital audio and video technologies; familiarity with metadata standards for multimedia formats; familiarity with relevant copyright/fair use law, especially as regards performance, is preferred; an advanced degree in music, theater or dance, and proficiency in a second language is preferred;  excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently and collegially.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.  

Qualified applicants should submit application materials on-line at http://jobs.roosevelt.edu

Roosevelt University welcomes women, LGBT, disabled, international, minority-classified individuals as applicants for all positions.