Library Director

ABOUT THE POSITION AND US
The Oregon Historical Society seeks a visionary library and archive professional with a passion for providing leadership for collections stewardship, broad public access to library collections and digital resources, building visibility and resources, cultivating relationships, and community engagement for the position of Library Director. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with a proven record for collections management, project planning, outreach, fundraising, developing and managing a complex budget, and directing staff and library operations, as well as a solid grounding in Pacific Northwest and/or US history.

The Library Director will lead an experienced and dedicated team of professional librarians, archivists, and public historians to drive mission-related projects and priorities supported by OHS’s strategic plan, including three special projects currently underway and a fourth in the final planning stages:
• Citizen(s) Yasui, a two-year CLIR grant-funded collaborative digitization project with Densho will broaden access to the library’s extensive holdings originating from the Yasui family of Hood River, Oregon.
• Portland Digital History addition to the Oregon History Project website will provide an online public resource on the people, places, and events that inform the history of Portland, Oregon based on the unique collections of OHS’s research library and museum.
• Architecture, engineering, and design collections project to bring the library’s flagship design archive to a high standard of collections care and access.
• Improvements to library collections storage at OHS’s offsite storage facility envisioned for the successfully completed The Next 125 capital campaign.

OHS’s research library is committed to providing broad access to its collections for teaching, learning, and research, both onsite in our beautifully renovated downtown Portland library and online through robust digital collections and digital history websites. The library holds the largest collection of archival and published materials relating to the history of Oregon, including the historical regions of Oregon Country and Oregon Territory. Our collections serve as a foundation for scholars, teachers, students, and the public to research and reflect on our state and regional history.
The resources and staff of the OHS Research Library play a significant role in fulfilling OHS’s mission to “preserve our state's history and make it accessible to everyone in ways that advance knowledge and inspire curiosity about all the people, places, and events that have shaped Oregon.”

The Oregon Historical Society is a private non-profit organization chartered in 1898 as the state’s historical society. OHS is dedicated to making Oregon’s long, rich history visible and accessible to all. Our research library, museum, digital platforms, educational programming, and historical journal make Oregon’s history open and accessible to all. We exist because history is powerful, and because a history as deep and rich as Oregon’s cannot be contained within a single story or point of view.

The Oregon Historical Society practices and promotes inclusiveness. We honor the diverse strengths, needs, voices, and backgrounds of all members of our community and are committed to the equitable treatment of all people and the elimination of discrimination in all its forms. We are committed to building a diverse workforce and strongly encourage applications from diverse candidates.

SUMMARY
The Library Director provides leadership, vision, and direction for all aspects of the Oregon Historical Society’s (OHS’s) research library in alignment with OHS’s mission and strategic objectives and serves as a member of OHS’s senior leadership team. The position advances broad public access to and engagement with historical materials and scholarly content, stewardship and growth of the library’s collections, development of its online resources, and community partnerships and relationships, and oversees all programs and activities of the department.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. As department director, sets the vision, priorities, and long-range plans for OHS’s research library to excel in stewardship and judicious growth of its resources, providing broad access to the library’s holdings and historical scholarship, delivering public services onsite and through relevant technologies, and cultivating community partnerships and relationships.

2. Oversees the library’s functions, activities, holdings, and operations in alignment with institutional priorities and policies. Develops short-term plans to address specific issues as they arise.

3. Provides leadership to a team of professional staff (15-20 FTE), including librarians, archivists, and public historians.

4. As a member of OHS’s senior leadership team, participates in collective decision-making and setting institutional policies and programmatic direction. Participates in developing OHS’s institution-wide strategic plan, ensuring achievement of its goals and objectives, and evaluating outcomes.

5. Fully participates in institutional budgetary and financial decision-making and holds signature authority on OHS accounts. Actively seeks revenue sources to support library projects and strategic priorities. Exercises independent analysis, judgement, discretion, task fulfillment, complex problem-solving, and decisiveness to accomplish institutional goals.

BENEFITS
We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
• Health insurance (medical, vision, alternative care, prescription)
• Dental insurance
• Generous paid time off
• 4% matching 401(k) retirement plan
• Flexible spending accounts
• Long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Museum admission and lectures, programs and gift shop discounts

HOW TO APPLY:
Submit the following required materials at: https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/Details/3083543

• Cover letter addressing how your personal and professional skills and experiences have prepared you for this position.
• Resume

Application Deadline April 6, 2025.

Employment is contingent on passing a background check.