Senior Assistant Librarian - Education and Research Help
Position Overview
Organization: University Libraries
Title: Senior Assistant Librarian - Education and Research Help
Position Details
Position Description
THE LIBRARIES
Serving three campuses, the University of Washington Libraries is one of the largest and most innovative libraries in North America with collections exceeding 9 million volumes, over 1.5 million electronic books, more than 190,000 currently received journal titles, as well as millions of scholarly resources in other formats. Beyond the strength of local collections and digital resources, the Libraries is recognized for its excellent service, innovative learning and research spaces, faculty partnerships, global reach, extensive assessment efforts, and diverse award-winning staff. The Libraries play a significant leadership role regionally as a member of the groundbreaking Orbis Cascade Alliance and throughout the profession, as evidenced by the number of its staff selected for competitive leadership programs and honored by professional association lifetime achievement awards.
UW TACOMA LIBRARY
The UW Tacoma Library engages in the full spectrum of scholarly and teaching activities for the University of Washington Tacoma campus. As such, the UW Tacoma Library plays an essential role in the learning, teaching, research, and community partnership work of the University through access, collections, consultations, digital scholarship support, events, instruction, reference, service, and technology. UW Tacoma librarians work in a matrixed model in which all librarians carry responsibility for a single area of library work, but also contribute to all areas of library. The UW Tacoma Library aspires to be a catalyst for UW Tacoma, with agile and innovative approaches to meeting the changing needs of our students, faculty, and community.
UW TACOMA
One of three campuses of the University of Washington, UW Tacoma is an urban-serving university that shares the University of Washington’s commitment to high quality teaching and research and is committed to participating in the educational, cultural, and economic development of the South Puget Sound. Located largely in renovated historical buildings in Tacoma’s downtown warehouse district, UW Tacoma serves students from diverse racial/ethnic and cultural populations. UW Tacoma’s commitment to equity and inclusion is central to maintaining an atmosphere wherein students, staff, faculty, and residents find abundant opportunities for intellectual, personal and professional growth. UW Tacoma has a strong commitment to interdisciplinary research and teaching. Our campus provides a unique environment for the development of creative teaching, research and community collaborations. For more information about UW Tacoma, please visit http://www.tacoma.uw.edu/.
THE POSITION
Reporting to the Associate Dean and Director of the UW Tacoma Library, the Education and Research Help Librarian coordinates all aspects of the Research Help desk and services, including assessing and improving our student-centered services. The successful candidate will be energized by working with students on simple to complex research questions, and is curious about exploring different models of reference service in a student-centered academic library. The Education and Research Help Librarian co-coordinates the Library’s graduate student reference specialist program. The successful candidate conceptualizes student employment as teaching and mentoring and has a pedagogical approach to supervision. The Education and Research Help Librarian will serve as a subject liaison to The School of Education and one or more academic departments, colleges, or schools.
The successful candidate will have the ability to thrive in a future-oriented Libraries environment, and to respond effectively to changing needs and priorities. This is a full-time position with a flexible start date.
This position is not tenure eligible. Please see the Librarian Personnel Code for the Librarian promotion process.
The University of Washington and the Service Employees International Union, Local 925 (SEIU 925) are currently in the process of negotiating their first collective bargaining agreement. This position is subject to the collective bargaining agreement and represented by SEIU 925. For more information and updates on the bargaining process, please visit https://hr.uw.edu/labor/academic-and-student-unions/seiu-925-libraries.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
- Coordinate all activities related to the management of Research Help desk and services including:
- Planning the schedule and hours for all Research Help services.
- Hiring, training, and mentoring student assistants or part time employees.
- Keeping up to date with trends and developments.
- Assessing and improving or updating services.
- Coordinating social media and other activities to promote services.
- Co-supervise graduate student reference specialists in collaboration with the First Year Experience Librarian
- Represent the UW Tacoma Library in tri-campus committees and discussions related to Research Help services
- Serve as a subject liaison to the School of Education and other academic departments, providing reference and instruction services. Specific areas will be determined in conversation with the successful candidate and unit needs
RANK
Position will be at rank of Senior Assistant Librarian, depending on qualifications and background. See the Librarian Personnel Code for librarian rank appointment criteria at http://www.lib.washington.edu/about/employment/hr/libpersonnelcode/view
BENEFITS
Librarians are academic personnel and participate in the University of Washington Retirement Plan on a matching basis. This is a full-time, 12-month appointment. Vacation is accrued at the rate of 26 working days per year; sick leave at the rate of 12 working days per year. No state or local income tax.
SALARY
$60,000 minimum. Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.
ANTICIPATED START DATE
While we hope to fill the position by Fall 2022, we are happy to work with the successful candidate to explore opportunities for an earlier or later start date.
Qualifications
Required
- Graduate degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association or an equivalent graduate library science/information studies degree.
- Minimum 2 years of experience as a librarian.
- Experience in providing reference services.
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity and understanding of the contributions a diverse workforce brings to the workplace.
- Evidence of the ability to work with a diverse set of colleagues and external stakeholders in a rapidly changing environment where consultation, collaboration, and cooperation are valued and essential.
- Evidence of excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Experience with instruction and commitment to a student-centered teaching philosophy.
- Demonstrated interest in working with diverse college students, including adult learners.
Preferred
- Experience with coordinating, leading, or managing a reference or other library program or service.
- Experience working in academic libraries.
- Demonstrated ability to assess and improve services.
- Experience managing student workers or staff.
Instructions
The closing date for applications is 8:59 PDT/11:59 EDT p.m. on Friday, July 8, 2022. To ensure consideration, applications must be completed in Interfolio by this time.
The following documents are required as part of your application for this vacancy:
- Cover letter (addressed to Laura Lillard, Director, Libraries Human Resources)
- Curriculum vitae or resume (include a telephone number, mailing address, email address, and salary requirements)
- List of three references who are knowledgeable of your qualifications for this position, one of which must be your current supervisor (include telephone numbers, mailing addresses, and email addresses, and specify current supervisor). Candidates will be notified before references are contacted.
- Equity Diversity Inclusion (EDI) Statement*
Candidates are typically evaluated using rubrics seeking evidence of the position’s required and desired qualifications in the above documents. We encourage the use of examples from your work and/or life experience. The length of application materials varies, but may exceed two pages to ensure various qualifications are addressed.
* UW Libraries Equity Diversity Inclusion (EDI) Statement Guidelines
Equity is a core value of the UW Libraries and an integral component of the Libraries 2018-2023 Strategic Plan. We aspire to become a truly inclusive and equitable organization. In your application, please include a separate statement of no more than 300 words that describes your potential to support and contribute to the Libraries’ commitment to providing equitable services and resources to all people, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or veteran status.
University of Washington Libraries Home Page is http://www.lib.washington.edu.
For questions about this position, or questions regarding potential disability accommodations, please contact Laura Lillard at libjobs@uw.edu.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status.
Commitment to Diversity
The University of Washington is committed to building diversity among its faculty, librarian, staff, and student communities, and articulates that commitment in the UW Diversity Blueprint (http://www.washington.edu/diversity/diversity-blueprint/). Additionally, the University’s Faculty Code recognizes faculty efforts in research, teaching and/or service that address diversity and equal opportunity as important contributions to a faculty member’s academic profile and responsibilities (https://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/FCG/FCCH24.html#2432).
COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements and Information
Under Washington State Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14.1, University of Washington (UW) workers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof thereof, or receive a UW-approved medical or religious exemption. This requirement will be a condition of any offer associated with this recruitment. For more information, please visit https://www.washington.edu/coronavirus/vaccination-requirement/.