Job Posting

Director of Library Services – Nazarene Theological Seminary – Kansas City, MO

Job Summary

The William Broadhurst Library at Nazarene Theological Seminary serves as both an academic hub and a theological resource, fostering rigorous scholarship and intellectual formation in the Seminary community. The Director ensures that collections and services support the Seminary’s academic work in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition, equipping users with the resources necessary for academic inquiry across all programs. The Director provides leadership for all aspects of library operations, ensuring access to high-quality print and digital resources and services for all users. The Director also oversees the Seminary’s educational technology and writing support, creating a centralized hub that enhances learning access, and providing academic tools that contribute to a holistic and technologically enhanced seminary education.

Job Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities & Duties:

  • Lead the development and implementation of a strategic vision for the library in a time of profound change.
  • Develop and maintain the library collection in keeping with the research and educational needs of Seminary faculty, students, and the wider community.
  • Attend faculty meetings and participate in academic programming work.
  • Engage in professional development for library management and academic research in theology and related fields.

Library Operations & Collection Management:

  • Hire, train, and supervise library staff.
  • Oversee circulation, acquisitions, cataloging, interlibrary loan, and collection management.
  • Prepare, evaluate, and manage library budget and vendor contracts.
  • Lead institutional repository efforts and digital archiving.
  • Maintain and continue the cataloging of the James McGraw Rare Book Room.

Research & Academic Support:

  • Provide research and reference assistance, including digital literacy and research strategies, to faculty and student users.
  • Provide orientation, library access, and library instructional support to incoming students.
  • Direct the Center for Academic Writing and supervise online tutors.
  • Facilitate the review of student dissertations for Turabian style and formatting, prior to final binding.

Educational Technology & Digital Services:

  • Manage the library webpage.
  • Collaborate with IT and EdTech staff for seamless integration of digital resources.

Institutional Engagement & Planning:

  • Evaluate library use and effectiveness, providing data for annual reporting processes.
  • Represent the library in faculty meetings and institutional planning.
  • Represent NTS in Wesleyan-Holiness Digital Library and Nazarene Librarians networks, and facilitate the Seminary’s contributions to the WHDL.
  • Collaborate with Seminary Events for use of library space, book sales, etc.

Educational/Experiential Requirements

Qualifications:

  • Education: Master’s degree in Library Science (MLS or MLIS) required; additional graduate degree in theology, religious studies, or a related field preferred.
  • Experience: Minimum of 3-5 years of library experience, preferably in a theological or academic library, with at least 2 years in a leadership or supervisory role.
  • Theological Understanding: Familiarity with theological education, research, and resources, especially within the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition.
  • Technical Proficiency: Experience with library systems, digital databases, and educational technology platforms (e.g., Moodle, proxy servers, institutional repositories).
  • Student & Faculty Support: Strong background in research assistance, academic writing support, and student success initiatives.
  • Administrative & Budget Management: Experience with acquisitions, vendor negotiations, collection development, and budget oversight.
  • Collaboration & Communication: Ability to work effectively with faculty, students, staff, and external partners to enhance the library’s role as an academic hub.

Job Application Instructions

Please submit a resume/CV and three letters of reference to hr@nts.edu. Applications will be reviewed beginning April 18 until the position is filled.