Library Dean

February 09, 2026

Lake Forest College seeks a forward-thinking and collaborative leader to guide the library as a central partner in teaching and learning, research, and student success. The appointment will begin June 2, 2026. Reporting to the Krebs Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Library Dean provides strategic leadership, management, and advocacy for library services, collections, spaces, and staff within a rapidly evolving information environment. The Library Dean will be a strong communicator who has a proven track record of working with different campus constituencies to promote the use of the library’s resources and spaces to advance Lake Forest College’s overall mission

Following a comprehensive self-study and external review in 2023, the Donnelley and Lee Library developed a five-year strategic plan that is actively being implemented. The incoming Library Dean will have the opportunity to guide the next phases of this work, translating strategic priorities in impactful ways.

A selective liberal arts college located on Chicago’s North Shore, Lake Forest College enrolls approximately 1,800 students from more than 40 states and from more than 70 countries. Lake Forest is one of the most diverse small colleges in the Midwest with nearly 40% of our student body comprised of domestic minority and international students. Lake Forest College embraces diversity and encourages applications from women, members of historically underrepresented groups, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide vision and strategic direction for library services, collections, spaces, and programs aligning priorities with the College’s mission and values.
• Foster an inclusive and welcoming environment that advances the success of a diverse student body with library services, collections, and spaces.
• Manage and forecast the library’s annual operating and materials budgets, ensuring responsible stewardship of financial and human resources and continued delivery of high-quality, curriculum-aligned services and resources.
• Update/revise staff responsibilities as appropriate, creating opportunities to best meet the evolving needs of library users.
• Oversee all areas of library operations across Access Services, Reference and Instruction, Technical Services, Systems and Electronic Resources, and Archives staffed by professional and support staff.
• Assess and reimagine library spaces using data and user feedback aligning study areas, collections, and instructional spaces with evolving student and faculty needs.
• Oversee collection development and management, including course reserves, digital resources, open access initiatives, and deselection.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop library faculty and staff; support a robust and inclusive student employment program.
• Provide leadership, in collaboration with the reference and instruction librarians, to ensure library instruction, reference, and research services meet the evolving campus needs.
• Build strong partnerships across campus to advance teaching, learning, and research goals.
• Engage with local, state, and national library consortia and encourage staff participation in professional development opportunities.
• Collect and submit data annually on staffing, expenditures, collections, and library services for national, statewide, and consortia benchmarking surveys used in academic library assessment.
• Perform other duties as assigned in service of the College’s mission

Qualifications

• Education
  • MLS or MLIS degree from an American Library Association-accredited program.
• Experience
  • A minimum of 5 years of experience that demonstrates progressive responsibility and success in an academic library, including leadership, budget management, and oversight of evolving services and programs.
• Leadership and Team Development
  • Ability to recruit, mentor, motivate, and develop library faculty and staff; build effective and inclusive teams, and establish priorities and expectations.
• Strategic Thinking
  • Long-term strategic focus and understanding of trends affecting higher education and their impact on library services.
• Collection and Digital Resource Expertise
  • Strong knowledge of collection management, electronic resources, and emerging trends in academic libraries.
• Financial and Operational Management
  • Expertise in managing significant budgets, allocating financial and human resources effectively, and adjusting operations to meet institutional needs.
• Communication and Collaboration
  • Excellent communication skills and demonstrated success in collaboration across academic and administrative environments.
• Performance Management
  • Experience establishing short and long-term strategic goals, assigning responsibilities, setting clear expectations, and fostering employee growth through ongoing feedback, coaching, and mentorship.
• Planning, Organizing and Accountability
  • Ability to manage competing priorities, set clear objectives, assess outcomes, and ensure accountability.
• Problem Solving and Decision Making
  • Demonstrated initiative and sound judgment and the ability to address complex challenges and opportunities effectively.

Salary and Benefits

Lake Forest College offers comprehensive and competitive pay and benefits to attract and retain talented individuals to further our mission. The salary range for this position is $112,000-117,000 and our benefits can be found at Employee Benefits | Lake Forest College.

Application Process

Applicants should send a cover letter and resume to [email protected]. Review of applications will commence immediately.

If you are interested in learning more about employment at Lake Forest College, please visit Working at Lake Forest | Lake Forest College.