Eugene Garfield Residency in Science Librarianship
University of Pennsylvania Job Location: Pennsylvania Date Created: 12-23-2021
University Overview
The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Employers By State in 2021.
Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.
The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.
COVID-19 vaccination is a requirement for all positions at the University of Pennsylvania. New hires are expected to be fully vaccinated before beginning work at the University. For more information about Penn’s vaccine requirements and the use of Penn Open Pass, visit the Penn COVID-19 Response website for the latest information.
Posted Job Title
Eugene Garfield Residency in Science Librarianship
Job Profile Title
Librarian A
Job Description Summary
This is an entry-level position with a three-year term.
With the goal of broad exposure to science librarianship, the Garfield Resident is involved in day to day responsibilities in physical and health sciences librarianship, including reference, instruction, and outreach as well as engaging in opportunities to participate in specialized library initiatives such as bioinformatics, research data and knowledge management, 3D visualization, systematic reviews, to name a few. The Garfield Resident will work with colleagues across the Penn Libraries system and contribute to both committee work and library projects as assigned.
Job Description
Responsibilities:
The University of Pennsylvania Libraries seeks a dynamic, proactive, service-oriented individual to join its STEM Libraries team in this three-year, entry level residency position with a flexible target start date during the Spring 2022 Semester. The broadest goal of the Garfield Residency in Science Librarianship is to encourage the growth and development of underrepresented groups in academic science and health sciences libraries, and will involve a variety of substantive responsibilities and learning opportunities. Reporting to the Director of Data and Innovation Services at the Biotech Commons (formerly known as the Biomedical Library), this position will provide a new professional the opportunity to develop as a Science Librarian in a supportive environment at a premier research institution.
Based in the newly renovated Biotech Commons, this position will be actively engaged across all of our STEM Libraries, which cover the disciplines of Medicine, Nursing, Biology, Public Health, Health Literacy, Chemistry, Dental Medicine, Earth and Environmental Science, Engineering, Math/Physics/Astronomy, and Veterinary Medicine. The Garfield Resident will participate in the planning, marketing, delivery, and assessment of various programs and services, such as research and instruction, individual and small group consultations, and workshops and curriculum-integrated instruction, covering topics such as database searching, information management, and productivity tools. Target audiences include faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, researchers, staff and health care providers.
A defining feature of this residency, projects and assignments will be designed with both the professional interests of the Garfield Resident and the overall needs of the Science Libraries in mind. For example, the Garfield Resident will have the opportunity to participate in other initiatives in areas such as biomedical informatics, research data and knowledge management, 3D visualization, systematic reviews and other iterative research projects, clinical outreach, and scholarly communications.
The Garfield Resident will be encouraged to explore collaborative projects with other departments in the Penn Libraries and to meet with an established mentor outside of the STEM Libraries cluster. The mentor will provide the Garfield Resident with the opportunity to gain perspective, guidance, and support outside of their day-to-day activities.
Throughout the residency, support and mentorship will be provided in preparing the resident for their next professional job and anticipated career path. The Resident will be supported in professional development activities including conferences and training opportunities, and will maintain a portfolio of projects to showcase at the culmination of the residency.
Duties:
- Partner with librarians across the STEM Libraries to provide specialized reference and research support and collaboration in the planning, development, promotion, implementation, and assessment of services across the STEM Libraries
- Participate in the general Penn Libraries research consultation and Chat Reference Services.
- Participate in the maintenance of the STEM Libraries’ websites, including the design of tutorials and research guides
- Investigate new technologies and resources to effectively respond to changing information needs
- In consultation with subject librarians across the STEM Libraries, identify specialty services of particular interest to the Resident for deep involvement
- Pursue collaborative opportunities with other Libraries and University departments
- Participate in Libraries, University and professional activities as appropriate
- Perform other duties and projects as assigned
Qualifications:
Required:
- Master’s Degree from an ALA-accredited information and library science program or equivalent earned by Spring 2022 or within the past two years
- Interest in physical or health sciences librarianship
- Ability to work successfully in a team environment
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- General knowledge of information literacy and instruction practices
- General knowledge of relevant print and electronic reference sources
- Willingness to learn and a desire for professional growth
- Interest in new technologies and innovation
Preferred:
- Academic background in science or related experience in an academic science library
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in scientific scholarly communication
Application Requirement:
A Cover Letter and Resume/CV are required to be considered for this position. Please upload your Cover Letter where it asks you to upload your Resume/CV; multiple documents are allowed.
Budgeted Pay Range:
$55,000 -- $60,000 commensurate with education and experience
Affirmative Action Statement
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.
Special Requirements
Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.
University Benefits
Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.
Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.
To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay
