Social Sciences Teaching and Faculty Outreach Librarian

The University of Louisville (UofL) Libraries invites applications from curious, creative, and energetic candidates for the full-time, tenure track position of Social Sciences Teaching and Faculty Outreach Librarian. This position reports to the Head of the Research Assistance and Instruction (RAI) Department, a collegial, service-oriented, and progressive department of 8 librarians, 2 professional staff, and 6 undergraduate peer research assistants. This department coordinates Ekstrom Library support for learning, teaching, and research within the Colleges of Arts & Sciences, Business, Education, Social Work, and the School of Engineering.

We are a department that likes experimenting; we are engaged in an ongoing discussion about the future of liaison and subject librarianship and open to trying new ideas and new initiatives. We do much of our work collaboratively. We are strong advocates for information literacy. We enjoy doing research and support our new faculty strongly in this endeavor. Recent new initiatives include creating a publishing academy for graduate students, working with our University's Quality Enhancement Plan, helping to revamp the collections analysis procedures, and creating a mentorship program for our peer research assistants. Our department meetings are lively as discussion and productive dissent are encouraged for the refining of ideas.

 

The Social Sciences Teaching and Faculty Outreach Librarian will develop and maintain high quality outreach to the faculty and students in the Social Sciences, primarily the departments of Anthropology, Political Science, Criminal Justice, Sociology, and Psychological and Brain Sciences, by

* Cultivating and communicating an understanding of the research practices, information needs, and publishing patterns in assigned departments and providing specialized research assistance. 

* Actively engaging with faculty in assigned departments to communicate and make decisions about services and information sources.

* Working with faculty to plan, deliver, and assesses innovative, student-centered, general, and subject-specific information literacy sessions using appropriate technologies and instruction methods (face-to-face; online) in consultation with the Coordinator for Information Literacy Services and the Online Learning Librarian.

* Actively and consistently promoting library services to faculty, staff, and students in assigned departments.

* Serving as the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) liaison and supporting the data needs of researchers with expertise in SPSS, EndNote, and other similar software.

* Developing and deploying criteria to evaluate information resources, and analyzing their use and appropriateness in conjunction with other RAI librarians and the collection development librarians.

* Participating in the shared work of RAI, including providing general research consultation service via a variety of mediums.

* Participating in scholarly activities, libraries, university-wide, and professional committee work and completing other assigned tasks.

 

This position will also collaborate with departmental colleagues on initiatives related to the Learning Commons (a partnership of library and university services housed in the library which support student learning) and assist with first-year information literacy instruction efforts and citation tools workshops.

Required Qualifications

* Master's degree from an ALA-accredited program or international equivalent in library or information science 

* Degree or experience in a social sciences discipline

* Demonstrated excellence in written and oral communication 

* Proven ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues

* Strong commitment to information literacy and public service

* Instructional experience

* Proven ability to work successfully with a diverse population of faculty, staff, students, and community members

* Potential for satisfying the University Libraries faculty promotion and tenure requirements including publication and service.  https://library.louisville.edu/hr/faculty

 

Desirable Qualifications

* Experience in providing reference/research service

* Academic library experience

* Graduate degree in a social sciences discipline

* Teaching experience in a classroom setting

* Experience creating online tutorials and/or course guides

* Experience working with data sets and related software

* Experience and/or interest in working with a Digital Scholarship/Humanities Center

 

The anticipated initial rank is Instructor or Assistant Professor; entry rank and salary of the successful candidate depend upon experience and professional achievements. The University Libraries offer a comprehensive benefits package and annual vacation of 22 working days.  Library faculty appointments are twelve-month, tenure-track positions. Promotion and tenure require demonstration of scholarship and successfully satisfying other criteria. The University Libraries, a member of the Association of Research Libraries, values its collaborative efforts both within the university and among other organizations.

The University of Louisville (http://louisville.edu) is a Carnegie Research/High university and recipient of the Carnegie Community Engagement classification for Curricular Engagement & Outreach and Partnerships. The University has a national reputation for its high-quality undergraduate program; over twenty nationally recognized research, graduate, and professional programs; 22,000 graduate and undergraduate students; and a strong commitment to the community in which it resides. UofL is located in the state's largest urban area.

 

The city of Louisville (http://www.loukymetro.org/) offers hospitality, warmth, and smaller city advantages like shorter commutes and lower cost of living, alongside major city amenities like world-class performing arts, great sports, incredible dining, and a nationally-acclaimed parks system.

Applications received by June 25, 2018 are given full consideration in the initial screening. Applications are accepted until the position is filled. Submit AS ONE PDF a letter of interest detailing your familiarity, aptitude, and/or experience with the required and desired qualifications; CV/resume; and name, address, phone number, and e-mail address of three references via the online application at UofL's Human Resources site http://louisville.edu/jobs/  (Job ID 34978) 

If you have questions or would like assistance with the application process, please contact the Search Committee chair:

Anna Marie Johnson

Head, Research Assistance & Instruction Department

117B Ekstrom Library

University of Louisville

Louisville, KY 40292

502.852.1491 or annamarie@louisville.edu