Head Of The American Geographical Society Library

Head of the American Geographical Society Library

Location: Milwaukee, WI

Job ID: JR10009695

Department: UWM Libraries

Compensation: $65,000 to $85,000

The Golda Meir Library seeks an experienced and creative leader to serve as the head of the American Geographical Society Library (AGSL), one of the oldest, largest, and most distinguished geographical research libraries in North America. Reporting to the Director of Libraries, the head is responsible for developing the extraordinary collections of the AGSL, promoting their use by the UWM community and researchers worldwide, and leveraging digital technologies to develop new services and uses of the collections. The head will also expand awareness of the AGSL through instruction, presentations, and participating in national and international associations and conferences.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Oversees day-to-day management of unit operations, services, and space, including collection development, collection management (including gift and processing workflows, conservation and preservation), reference services, research consultations, and course-related instruction, outreach programs (such as lecture series, fellowships, and exhibits).
• Supervises staff and student employees, including onboarding, coaching, performance review, and goal setting.
• Teaches and lectures about the AGSL collections and other areas of expertise.
• Designs, develops, and provides leadership on projects, programs, procedures, and services.
• Resolves complex issues which may impact policies and procedures within the unit.
• Manages the operating budget.
• Collaborates with other library departments such Digital Collections & Initiatives, Archives and Special Collections, and Collection & Resource Management.
• Collaborates with UWM Advancement on grant and gift proposals for acquiring, processing, digitizing, and preserving materials.
• Contributes to and provides leadership in the field of cartographic and geospatial librarianship at the local, national, and international levels.
• Advances librarianship at the campus, national, and international levels through committee participation.

Required Qualifications:

• MLS/MLIS from an ALA-accredited institution.
• Evidence of knowledge of cartography, its history, and the history of geographical ideas earned through coursework, degrees, certifications, or work experience.
• Three years of experience in a research library or equivalent institution.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree or above in geography or other relevant field.
• Evidence of experience with rare materials librarianship, including conservation/preservation techniques.
• Evidence of successful grant writing and fundraising expertise.
• Demonstrated strong professional leadership and involvement.
• Strong evidence in professional leadership of a team.
• Evidence of participation in professional and scholarly associations and conferences.
• Evidence of supervisory experience of professional and/or para-professional staff.

Competencies:

• Knowledge of digital technologies, such as GIS, and trends, such as treating digital collections as data sources.
• Strong written and communication skills.
• Initiative and resourcefulness in generating new ideas.
• Outstanding interpersonal, presentation, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory skills, with the ability to motivate, guide, and support team members to achieve high performance and maintain a positive work environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to discern multi-layered environments.
• Ability to work in a highly collaborative and consistently changing environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to user services.

Education: Master's Degree or above

How to Apply: All interested applicants please apply on-line and provide both a resume and cover letter no later than April 17, 2026. Apply here.

Contact: Any questions regarding this position, please reach out to Amy Rehfeldt at rehfelda@uwm.edu.

More information on the AGSL: https://uwm.edu/libraries/agsl/