SCIENCES REFERENCE & INSTRUCTION LIBRARIAN

Posted by Sally Mason on

THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA LIBRARIES

IOWA CITY, IOWA

Reporting to the Head, Sciences Library, this position supports the education and outreach endeavors of the Sciences Library to relevant academic departments.

Specific responsibilities:

  • Develop, promote, provide and assess subject-based education programs and research services;
  • Investigate emerging technologies and work with others to develop and revise programs to respond to the changing information needs of patrons;
  • Assist users with research and information management tools through individual and small group consultations;
  • Cultivate relationships with faculty and researchers to identify opportunities for library partnerships;
  • Provide reference information services (in person and virtual) for liaison departments;
  • Provide consultation services for liaison departments;
  • Participate as a member of a team that plans and develops collections and services supporting instruction and research;
  • Serve on library committees and contribute to and learn from the profession through such avenues as local, state and national professional organizations and publications.

Required Qualifications:

  • Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited library science program;
  • Subject background in science or mathematics and/or experience providing research and user education services to academic science departments;
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills;
  • General knowledge of information literacy and instruction principles;
  • General knowledge of traditional and electronic information sources;
  • Demonstrated ability to successfully work in a team environment;
  • Demonstrated commitment to diversity in the workplace or community;
  • Demonstrated interest in professional development and contribution.

Desired Qualifications:

  • Experience providing reference, research and instructional services in an academic science library;
  • Demonstrated skill in using electronic and print information resources in mathematical sciences and physics;
  • Ability to efficiently manage multiple projects and priorities;
  • Ability to work with and think creatively about emerging as well as established technologies;
  • Ability to work in an embedded environment outside the library;
  • Experience developing class and subject guides, such as LibGuides;
  • Experience with course management software, web design software and citation management software;
  • General understanding of the mission and functions of a research library and the information needs of academic users;
  • Familiarity with methods and techniques for user education and collection development.

Universal Competencies

  • Positive Impact/Achieving Results: Ability to utilize existing resources and learning to achieve or exceed desired outcomes of current and future organizational goals/needs. Able to demonstrate ethical behavior in diverse situations while producing results.
  • Service Excellence/Customer Focus: Ability to meet or exceed customer service needs and expectations and provide excellent service in a direct or indirect manner. Ability to effectively transmit and interpret information through appropriate communication with internal and external customers.
  • Collaboration and Embracing Diversity: Ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and civil manner while appreciating the unique contribution of individuals from varied cultures, nationalities, genders, ages, etc.

The University of Iowa Libraries: The University of Iowa Libraries system consists of the Main Library, the Hardin Library for the Health Sciences and a number of branch libraries. The Libraries has more than 5 million volumes including thousands of electronic resources and coordinates the development and maintenance of the University’s locally-created open access digital resources including the Iowa Digital Library, featuring close to a million digitized texts, images, and audio and video recordings, as well as Iowa Research Online, our institutional repository. Our Special Collections include over 200,000 rare books, ranging in age from the 15th century to newly created artists’ books.

Library systems are built on a mix of open source, locally developed, hosted services, and vended applications primarily from Ex Libris, OCLC, and Microsoft. The University of Iowa is a member of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), ARL, OCLC, CRL, SPARC, CNI, CLIR, LOCKSS, CLOCKSS, and Portico. The Libraries provides a program of support for professional development activities and its staff members are actively engaged in national cooperative efforts.

The University and Iowa City: A major research and teaching institution, the University of Iowa offers internationally recognized programs in a diverse array of academic, medical, and artistic disciplines, from otolaryngology to fiction writing, printmaking to space science, hydraulic engineering to dance. The University consists of a faculty of 2,000 and a permanent staff of 13,000 serving 30,500 students, more than 40% of whom are from out of state and close to 10,000 of whom are registered in graduate and professional degree programs. Approximately 9% of the University’s faculty and staff and 10% of its student body are members of minority groups, and 8% of the students are from foreign countries.

The University of Iowa is home to the Writers’ Workshop, the oldest graduate creative writing program in the country, and the blueprint for many of the creative writing programs that now thrive on campuses worldwide. It is also home to the International Writing Program where, since 1967, over a thousand writers from more than 120 countries have participated. The University has recently instituted a program in creative writing in Spanish. In 2008, UNESCO designated Iowa City as a world City of Literature.

Iowa City is a community of some 68,000 people (more than 150,000 live in the surrounding area) with excellent educational, recreational, and cultural advantages. It is consistently cited in the national media as a city with an excellent quality of life. The city is readily accessible via interstate highways and a major airport is only 30 minutes away. The community is growing in its diversity; within the Iowa City Community School District, 33% of the students are minority, with 17% identifying as African-American, 9% as Latino/Hispanic, 7% as Asian-American, and .4% as Native American during the 2011/12 school year.

Salary and appointment: Appointment will be made at the Librarian level with a salary range of $43,000 to $46,000. Start date is negotiable. The University of Iowa offers an attractive package of benefits including 24 days of paid vacation per year, your choice between two retirement plans and two University of Iowa health insurance plans, dental insurance, pre-tax child and health care spending accounts, and additional options.

Application Procedure: To apply for this position, please visit the University of Iowa Jobs@UIOWA website at http://jobs.uiowa.edu. Please provide a cover letter, resume and the names/contact information for three professional references. To help facilitate your application process, note the requisition number 62231. Applications must be received by March 10, 2013.

THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER. WOMEN AND MINORITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.

For more information about the University of Iowa Libraries and community, please see http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/about/employment/