About this role
Position Title: University Librarian
Job Group: Professional & Scientific
Required Minimum Qualifications: Master's degree and 10 years of related experience
Job Description: University Librarian
Iowa State University of Science and Technology (www.iastate.edu), one of the nation’s leading land-grant institutions, invites applications and nominations for the position of Colonel Gary G. Swenson, Ph.D. Endowed University Librarian. This is an endowed senior leadership position responsible for all university libraries.
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
Ranked as one of the nation's top 50 public universities by U.S. News, Iowa State is located in Ames, a community of 67,000 that enjoys numerous national recognitions for its quality of life, its business environment, and its focus on youth. Iowa State serves over 30,000 students. The university is a student-centric leading research institution with a comprehensive land-grant mission of education, innovation, extension, and outreach that benefits Iowans and the world. Innovate at Iowa State reflects the university’s national leadership for providing innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for all students. More information on Iowa State’s mission, vision, and aspirations can be found in the University’s 2022-2031 Strategic Plan.
Iowa State offers approximately 100 undergraduate degree programs and nearly 200 fields of study leading to graduate and professional degrees. Iowa State has led the development of several fields of study that are central to the land-grant movement, including engineering, agriculture, human sciences, and veterinary medicine. Extension, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2003, traces its roots to Iowa and early outreach programs.
THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
The University Library (www.lib.iastate.edu) is a student-centric R1 academic library providing world-class collections, services, and technologies to advance research and instruction in every discipline at Iowa State University. The University Library consists of Parks Library, the main library on central campus, as well as the Veterinary Medical Library in the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Remote Library Storage Facility. The library has an operating budget of approximately $24 million, as well as a $5 million endowment and private giving of more than $500,000 annually. The library also enjoys a collaborative relationship with academic partners and campus co-curricular leaders and also serves as a focal point for local community engagement.
The Parks Library is the intellectual and social heart of Iowa State’s campus and a highly visible expression of its commitment to student success and research excellence. Serving nearly one million visitors annually, the library is a dynamic academic commons integrating study, technology, wellness, and community. Parks Library offers extensive seating and varied study environments; robust public computing, printing, and technology lending; specialized spaces such as Studio 2B for recording and livestreaming; and learning labs that support innovative pedagogy. The library also plays a central role in student wellbeing through initiatives such as Cyclone Support Central, developed in collaboration with the divisions of Student Affairs and Academic Affairs.
Distinguishing Characteristics of Iowa State University Library
Open access: As a land-grant institution, providing open access to scholarship is in Iowa State University’s DNA. At Iowa State:
• Approximately 25% of the collections budget supports open access: Article Processing Charges for ISU researchers, support for Diamond and S2O (subscribe to open) books and journals, and open infrastructure.
• The Digital Repository expands access to Iowa State research. Dedicated staff work with researchers to make copyright compliant versions available. Approximately 119,000 research outputs are publicly available.
• Research Data Services stores, preserves, and makes publicly available and reusable 600+ Iowa State University research datasets.
Research excellence: Iowa State University has R-1 status and is a member of the Association of Research Libraries. A trusted partner in the campus research ecosystem, library experts support the entire lifecycle of research and innovation for students and scholars.
• Library Research Data Services worked with the Office of the Vice President for Research and other data-related units across campus to create a Research Data Hub, a one-stop-shop for Iowa State researchers to manage, store, analyze, safeguard, and publish data.
• Data librarians meet with researchers to advise and create data management plans in support of compliance with funding agency requirements.
• The Digital Repository makes Iowa State research outputs broadly and freely available to individuals around the world. Items in the Digital Repository have been downloaded over 48 million times.
• Datasets in the library’s DataShare repository have been downloaded over 1 million times.
Supporting Affordable Education: Iowa State University is a national leader in open educational resources and affordability. The use of Open Educational Resources (OER) saved Iowa State students $3+ million since 2018.
• Librarians partner with faculty and the University Bookstore to keep course materials costs low. Librarians support the creation and sourcing of open educational resources. Course reserves make both open educational resources and library collections freely available to students.
• Iowa State’s Open Education Mini-Grant Program encourages instructional innovation at Iowa State by providing instructors with the time, resources, and planning support to redesign their courses around the use of OER. Awards range from $1,000 - $10,000.
• The Affordability Data Dashboard highlights the impact of Iowa State’s affordable course material initiatives by providing a snapshot of course material costs for the academic year across undergraduate courses.
• The Iowa State University Library provides leadership at the state and national levels in the Iowa Board of Regent’s Open Education Action Team, the Open Education Association, and SPARC Open Education Advisory Group.
• Parks Library serves as a central tech hub for campus providing Tech Lending, 220+ public computing stations, and printing services. Specialty tech services include Studio 2B for one-button recording and streaming, high processing computer stations, and a specialized Game Learning Lab.
• Iowa State’s Tech Lending program has been identified as a national leader by Apple Inc. Tech Lending staff have presented nationally on their service model, which provides the campus community free access to more than 1,600 devices.
Student-centric: The library advances student success, retention, and career readiness via curriculum-integrated information literacy resources, instructional support, and holistic student support. Unique to Iowa State:
• Library 1600 is Iowa State’s 100+ year old information literacy course. What sets it apart from other research methods courses is that it is required by every bachelor’s degree program, and is continually evolving to meet the needs of modern students. The most recent iteration includes evaluating misinformation and AI literacy.
• Cyclone Support Central, located in Parks Library, is a wellness resource center featuring drop-in wellness experiences curated by Student Health and Wellness, programs led by partners from across campus, and peer-to-peer connections to academic and personal support services using EAB Navigate software. What distinguishes Cyclone Support Central is the depth and intentionality of its cross-unit partnerships and its engagement of trained student peers as trusted navigators to campus resources.
PUT THIS IN A HIGHLIGHTED BOX
Please see Bookmarks, the Library’s online, twice annual publication for additional information.
THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIAN
The Colonel Gary G. Swenson Ph.D. University Librarian (an endowed position) serves as a senior academic leader, reporting to the Senior Vice President and Provost and advancing the university’s land-grant mission around three strategic leadership pillars:
Student Success: Advancing learning and belonging by stewarding high impact library spaces and services that support students throughout their academic journeys. This work includes fostering flexible study environments, ensuring access to technology and learning resources, supporting affordability through course reserves and open educational resources, and curating globally informed collections and partnerships.
Research Excellence: As an essential component of Iowa State’s research infrastructure, cultivating an environment where discovery thrives by ensuring seamless access to scholarly resources and data, strengthening interdisciplinary research support, and advancing open scholarship, data sharing, and scholarly communication practices that extend the reach and impact of Iowa State research.
Technology and AI Leadership: Leading the thoughtful integration of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to enhance research, teaching, and operational effectiveness while maintaining a strong commitment to ethics and stewardship.
The University Librarian is a member of the campus administration, responsible for advancing excellence, supporting the development of strategies and action planning, and generating internal and external support. The University Librarian is expected to be a leader in attracting and advancing excellent academic librarians and library staff and building collaborative relationships both inside and outside the university. The successful candidate for the position will bring a mindset that values current success but also seeks innovation and best practices consistent with a world-class R1 institution.
The University Librarian leads a team of 103 staff and 100 student employees across 12 departments: administration, access and acquisitions, access services, collections and open access, communications, digital scholarship and initiatives, library IT, metadata services, preservation, research and instruction, and special collections, and University Archives.
QUALIFICATIONS
REQUIRED: An earned master’s degree or equivalent professional degree, and ten years of related experience PREFERRED: • An MLS or graduate degree in library or information science from an American Library Association accredited institution. • Ph.D. in an academic discipline. • Extensive leadership experience in R1 or R2 academic libraries, with a demonstrated understanding of challenges and opportunities facing academic libraries and higher education. • Strong budgeting expertise and financial acumen, with the ability to translate resources into financial strategy and organizational impact. • A record of data-driven, evidence-based decision making in a transparent and collaborative environment. • Excellent communication skills (written, spoken, interpersonal). • Experience in personnel management with evidence mentoring and development in support of a high functioning team. • Exposure to fundraising and creating engaging opportunities for increased visibility engaging opportunities for increased visibility. Academic Search is assisting Iowa State University in this search. All inquiries, nominations, and applications will be held in strict confidence. To learn more about this opportunity and discuss your qualifications and interest, potential applicants are encouraged to schedule a confidential conversation with our Senior Consultant, Stacey Morgan Foster, JD. Please contact IowaStateUL@academicsearch.org.
DEADLINE FOR BEST CONSIDERATION: While the search remains open until closed, the deadline for best consideration is September 10, 2026. The University Librarian is expected to start by February 1, 2027 (negotiable).
A complete application requires three separate documents (each in PDF format) submitted to Academic Search at academicsearch.org/IowaStateULApply:
• A detailed cover letter, addressed to the Search Committee, addressing your interest in this position and the specific ways you meet the qualifications and expectations outlined in this search profile. • A current full resume or curriculum vitae that includes relevant education, positions/titles, responsibilities, and accomplishments. • A list of five professional references, including their names, titles, organizations, phone numbers, and email addresses, noting your relationship with each reference. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should reach out to IowaStateUL@academicsearch.org to schedule a conversation with the Senior Consultant. References will not be contacted until later in the search process upon the candidate’s permission. All nominations and applications will be held confidential until finalists are publicly announced. NOMINATIONS Although nominations are not required to be considered for this position, leaders who know of outstanding candidate are welcome to submit confidential nominations by sending an email to IowaStateUL@academicsearch.org. Be sure to include the nominee’s full name, position, institution/ organization, and email address. Academic Search will notify individuals of their nomination, provide details about the position, and encourage them to apply.
COMPENSATION
Compensation will be commensurate with experience.
For a quick snapshot of Iowa State’s benefits for new employees, Snapshot of Iowa State’s benefits for new employees
Iowa State University employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits:
• Medical and dental insurance
• Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
• Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time and leave plans
• Onsite childcare
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various voluntary benefits and discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellbeing program
OTHER
Visit the Iowa State University website at https://www.iastate.edu/
Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, creed, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu.
This position serves at the pleasure of university administration and is exempt from certain P&S policies.
Appointment Type: Regular
Number of Months Employed Per Year: 12 Month Work Period
Time Type: Full time
Pay Grade: PS816
Original Posting Date: April 6, 2026
Posting Close Date: September 27, 2026
Job Requisition Number: R18697
Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu. General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.