Fast Facts

Carleton College is seeking a visionary College Librarian to lead Gould Library in supporting academic excellence and innovation, ensuring equitable access to resources while fostering collaboration across campus.

Responsibilities: The College Librarian will develop strategic plans for the library, inspire and lead a team, enhance library services and spaces, and advocate for equitable access to resources.

Skills: Candidates should possess leadership and management experience in library administration, understanding of liberal arts education, and skills in strategic planning and collaboration.

Qualifications: A Master's degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS) and a minimum of ten years of progressively responsible library administration experience are required.

Location: Northfield, Minnesota, USA

Compensation: $190000 - $210000 / Annually

Carleton College has exclusively retained Jack Farrell & Associates (www.jackfarrell.com) to lead the search for its next College Librarian. Interested candidates should provide a CV and 2-page cover letter to Jack Farrell ( [email protected] ). Please see below for guidance on the letter. Thank you. 

Position Overview

Carleton College ( https://www.carleton.edu/ ) is a nationally ranked liberal arts institution known for academic rigor and intellectual vitality. The College seeks an accomplished and visionary leader to serve as its next College Librarian . Reporting to the Provost and in close collaboration with the Chief Technology Officer and other academic support services, the College Librarian will lead the Gould Library in shaping a vibrant and forward-thinking academic support ecosystem aligned with the College’s mission of providing a transformative liberal arts education.

The Library is a strategic partner in the College's academic mission, serving as a dynamic hub for discovery and intellectual growth. We seek a visionary leader to guide the Library as it works with all campus constituencies, identifying needs, developing innovative programs, and aligning information resources and services with the College's core priorities. This individual will be instrumental in forging powerful collaborations and partnerships that directly benefit our students, staff, and faculty. Additionally, this leader will extend the Library's influence beyond our campus, providing crucial leadership in developing and enhancing consortial and cooperative relationships. Serving as a key partner in groups like the Bridge Consortium and other regional and national initiatives, the College Librarian will expand our resources and enhance our collective impact.

The College Librarian will be an advocate for information access, academic innovation, and inclusive scholarship while ensuring that the Library continues to be a dynamic center for student learning, faculty teaching and research, and collaborative inquiry. A highly competitive compensation and benefits package including relocation assistance is available to the successful candidate.

About Carleton College

Located in Northfield, Minnesota, Carleton College is a top-tier, residential liberal arts college with approximately 2,000 students and 240 faculty. Carleton is known for its intellectual rigor, commitment to teaching excellence, and a strong sense of community. The College prides itself on fostering curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking across all disciplines. Carleton is recognized by U.S. News & World Report in 2024 as the #8 ranked National Liberal Arts College and #1 in Best Undergraduate Teaching .

Gould Library is a central academic hub on campus, playing an essential role in Carleton’s educational model. The Library’s staff, services, collections, and partnerships empower students and faculty to thrive in a rapidly evolving information landscape. 

Opportunities and Expectations for Leadership

The next College Librarian will:

• Lead Strategically : Develop and implement a visionary strategy for the Library’s evolving role in academic work, including digital scholarship, in alignment with Carleton’s new strategic direction: Carleton 2033: The Liberal Arts in Action .
• Inspire The Team: Lead, motivate, and elevate a highly capable team of 25-30 FTE; directly supervise Department Heads, the College Archivist, and an Administrative Assistant.
• Encourage Innovation: Build on the Library's current strengths while identifying and addressing opportunities for growth. Create an atmosphere that encourages strategic risk-taking and leads to innovative ways to meet the changing needs of patrons and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate the Work: Facilitate the work of the library management team (Department Heads and Library Leadership Groups) by contributing to goal-setting, developing new services, and evaluating Library programs. 
• Champion Teaching and Learning : Collaborate with faculty and academic departments and programs to support curriculum development, research, and pedagogy.
• Enhance Library Spaces and Services : Oversee ongoing efforts to maintain Gould Library as a welcoming, adaptable space that supports individual and collaborative work as well as student success.
• Facilitate Staff Development : Advocate and provide resources and leadership for professional development of the Library staff, and foster an atmosphere of continual improvement. 
• Advance Access : Ensure equitable access to library resources and foster an environment that supports diverse scholarly voices.
• Serve as an Ambassador : Work closely with the Library and Information Technology Committee and other campus governance entities, participate in College-wide committees and initiatives, and represent the Library at regional and national professional conferences and events.
• Foster Campus Partnerships : Strengthen connections across academic and administrative departments, particularly in areas like digital humanities, archives, IT, and academic technology. 
• Steward Resources : Manage an annual budget of over $4.5 million which includes collections, staff, and digital infrastructure to ensure sustainability and excellence.

About Gould Library

The Laurence McKinley Gould Library is named after Carleton’s fourth president, a geologist, explorer, and educator. It is home to over 900,000 print and digital volumes and provides a wide range of services including research support, instruction, digital curation, and interlibrary loan. The Library’s staff of professionals and student workers are dedicated to creating a welcoming and intellectually vibrant environment for the Carleton community.

Application and Nomination Process

Carleton College has exclusively retained Jack Farrell & Associates (www.jackfarrell.com) to lead the search for its next College Librarian. Interested candidates should provide the following to Jack Farrell ( [email protected] ): 

• A curriculum vitae.
• A two-page cover letter that addresses the following questions: 1) Why am I interested?, 2) How am I qualified?, and 3) What is my vision for the library at a select liberal arts college in the 21 ^st century? 

The position will remain open until filled, but for full consideration, candidates should apply by October 6, 2025 .

About the region

Learn more about Northfield, MN and the region here: https://www.northfieldchamber.com/

Carleton College is an equal opportunity employer

Carleton College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, veteran status, actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, status with regard to public assistance, disability, or age in providing employment or access to its educational facilities and activities.

The expected starting salary range for this position is between $190,000 and $210,000. Actual pay will be adjusted based on job-related factors permitted by law, such as experience and training; licensure and certifications; market factors; departmental budgets; and responsibility. Carleton also offers a robust suite of benefits including:

• A generous 403(b) retirement plan with a 10% employer contribution and 2% employee contribution
• Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for all employees
• A dependent tuition program after six years of service

Qualifications and Experience

Carleton seeks candidates with:

• A Master’s degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS) from an ALA-accredited program or equivalent credentials.
• A minimum of ten years of relevant and progressively responsible experience in library administration ideally in a liberal arts setting.
• Demonstrated effective leadership and management experience.
• Understanding of the mission, values, goal, and pedagogical approaches employed in liberal arts colleges.
• Demonstrated success in strategic planning, staff development, budget management, and cross-institutional collaboration.
• Outstanding organizational and project management skills, and the ability to deal with complex problems in a changing environment.
• Ability to view issues from a college-wide perspective, foster teamwork across college departments and divisions, and stimulate cross-functional collaboration within the library.
• A deep understanding of current trends in libraries, including open access, digital scholarship, technology trends such as artificial intelligence, and instructional support.
• A commitment to serving a community from a wide variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and scholarly fields.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and change management skills.
• Demonstrated ability and desire to contribute to the profession nationally.