Director of Library Services

Position:

Director of Library Services

Reports to:

Assistant Head of School, Academics

Position Group:

Faculty

Term:

Full time continuing after successful probationary period, commencing September 2026

Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School

Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School (STS) is a premier co-educational day school nestled in the Foothills of the Rocky Mountains just outside of the City of Calgary on a 220+ acre campus. As an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, STS offers all three IB Programmes from Kindergarten through to Grade 12.

In addition to the global perspective offered by the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, the School offers an extensive co-curricular program in a technology-rich environment. Students take advantage of the amazing natural setting including a small pond, forest, and extensive trail system to complement their academic learning.

STS combines the rich traditions from its 120 years of history with innovative and research-based instructional practices where students pursue lives of purpose, flourishing emotionally, physically, and intellectually.

STS values pluralism. We are committed to welcoming, respecting and valuing people for who they are as individuals, learning from their differences, embracing their uniqueness, and providing a positive workplace for all.

Position Overview

Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School (STS) is seeking an experienced and visionary Director of Library Services to lead the evolution of its Library Learning Commons. This full-time, continuing position (subject to a successful probationary year) reports to the Assistant Head of School, Academics. The position will also include a 0.2 FTE teaching accountability. The Director will ensure the Peter B. Ditchburn Library remains the academic heart of the school—a dynamic hub for inquiry, collaboration, and knowledge creation. In this role, the Director will empower K-12 students and staff with essential digital literacy, research, and critical thinking skills, equipping them to navigate an increasingly complex information landscape.

The Director of Library Services is an information specialist who fosters inquiry, literacy, and lifelong learning within STS’s IB continuum and Alberta Programs of Study. This role ensures the library remains a center for exploration, collaboration, and innovation, aligning with the IB mission, Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills, the IB Learner Profile, and Alberta’s literacy and critical thinking goals. In today’s evolving information landscape, the DLS equips students and staff with essential digital literacy, research, and analytical skills, ensuring they can thrive in a technology-driven world. From digitized catalogues and electronic databases, the Director of Library Services is technologically proficient in managing these tools effectively—enhancing the user experience, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring the library remains relevant in the digital age. The Director of Library Services cultivates a vibrant, inclusive learning environment that inspires curiosity, creativity, and academic excellence through strategic leadership, curriculum integration, and resource management.

Core Areas of Responsibility

1. Instruction & Inquiry Leadership

· Implement the vision of a Library Learning Commons (LLC) that integrates inquiry-based learning, information literacy, and research skills into IB and Alberta curricula.

· Guide students in navigating the digital information landscape, teaching them to access, evaluate, and ethically use digital and print resources.

· Develop students as inquirers, equipping them with critical thinking, data analysis, and problem-solving skills to handle misinformation and engage as principled digital citizens.

· Partner with faculty to embed ATL skills and research methodologies across subject areas, ensuring horizontal and vertical curriculum alignment.

· Lead digital literacy initiatives, ensuring students and teachers effectively use technology to support learning, research, and communication.

· Promote a love of reading by curating diverse, inclusive collections and leading initiatives that reflect global perspectives, multilingualism, and Canadian literature.

2. Collaboration & Community Engagement

· Work with faculty to co-develop, co-teach and refine instructional strategies, ensuring effective integration of inquiry-based learning, academic research, and media literacy.

· Provide professional development for teachers in information management, research skills, and digital literacy, strengthening their ability to integrate these into classroom learning.

· Foster cultural understanding and global awareness by ensuring library resources reflect diverse voices, lived experiences, and global perspectives.

· Serve as a mentor to teachers, guiding them in integrating library resources

3. Library Management & Digital Innovation

· Oversee the development and maintenance of the Virtual Library Learning Commons (VLLC), ensuring it serves as a digital hub for student learning, research, and collaboration.

· Manage and curate print and digital collections aligned with IB principles, Alberta curriculum goals, and 21st-century literacy needs.

· Utilize data analysis to assess library usage, user behaviour, and resource effectiveness, making informed decisions to enhance library services.

· Design and implement equitable access policies, ensuring safe, inclusive, and accessible library environments for all students.

· Apply technological proficiency to streamline library systems, manage digital resources, and support faculty and students in technology integration.

· Budget for and acquire resources that reflect diverse learning needs, ensuring students access high-quality, globally relevant materials.

· Understands the role of student agency in shaping the library collection by encouraging students to share their reading interests and considering their requests to keep the collection relevant and engaging

4. Leadership & Professional Growth

· Lead literacy development in all its forms, including digital, cultural, information, and media literacy.

· Stay informed on emerging library trends, children’s and young adult literature, and evolving digital tools to continually improve services.

· Engage in ongoing professional development, including IB-specific training, and contribute to Professional Learning Networks (PLNs).

· Cultivate adaptability and critical thinking, ensuring the library evolves alongside technological advancements, pedagogy, and information management.

· Advocate for ethical and responsible use of information, guiding students and teachers in academic integrity and responsible digital citizenship.

Qualifications and Experience

· Demonstrated ability to work in an economically, culturally and racially diverse environment.

· Master’s degree in Library Science or a related specialized diploma/certificate is preferred.

· Experience in IB education and Alberta Programs of Study is an asset.

· Expertise in digital literacy, research methodologies, and data analysis.

· Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills to engage faculty, students, and parents.

· Ability to adapt to evolving technologies and educational practices, ensuring the library remains a cutting-edge learning hub.

· Commitment to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and globally minded library.

· Demonstrate and uphold a strong commitment to occupational health and safety.

Professional Development

· Demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning and reflection to refine teaching practice.

· Engage in ongoing professional learning.

· Keep current on educational research about how students learn and factors that influence students’ learning and achievement.

· Ensure that skill development and technology use by students keeps pace with changing needs at the post-secondary level to ensure that students are well prepared for the next stage of their learning.

Application Instructions

Applications must contain a cover letter, your resume, teaching philosophy statement (limited to one page) and the names and contact information for three work-related references, one of which must be a direct supervisor (your references will not be contacted without your prior consent). Please submit your application through our recruitment module at https://recruiting.ultipro.ca/STR5005STCN

Applications will be reviewed as received and interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early as the position may be filled as soon as a qualified candidate is selected.

Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School is an equal opportunity employer and provides a welcoming environment for all employees and encourages diversity among staff and students as part of our commitment to the Alberta Human Rights Act.