Monday, September 8, 2008

Research Librarian for Emerging Technologies & Service Innovation

The University of California, Irvine Libraries seek a creative, knowledgeable, and user-centered Research Librarian for Emerging Technologies and Service Innovation to plan and deliver innovative direct user services.

The Research Librarian for Emerging Technologies and Service Innovation serves as an explorer of, and champion for, the use of evolving and existing technologies as part of the UCI Libraries’ commitment to research, reference and instruction. The incumbent participates in the supervision of the Libraries’ multimedia labs and technology enhanced classrooms: the Multimedia Resource Center (MRC), the Interactive Learning Center (ILC), and the Technology Enhanced Classroom (TEC). In addition, the incumbent participates with colleagues in the Libraries’ Reference Departments to provide reference service at the physical desks and in a variety of electronic modes.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Research Librarian for Emerging Technologies and Service Innovation identifies and assists in the service implementation of new library technologies initiatives related to the access and use of content in all public services, such as virtual reference, Web 2.0 applications, and other innovative technology-based services. The incumbent keeps abreast of new technologies that facilitate users’ ability to access and manipulate data and enhance the Libraries’ efforts to provide services to patrons in a virtual environment. The incumbent may provide instruction to librarians and the campus on new technologies through the Libraries’ workshop series and the campus-wide Electronic Educational Environment (EEE) workshop series. The incumbent assists the Head of Reference in coordinating a variety of virtual reference services, including scheduling and training. The incumbent also provides excellent and responsive general information and reference services, including in-person, telephone, and electronic. Occasional weekend and evening shifts may be required.

A key responsibility of the Research Librarian for Emerging Technologies and Service Innovation is to coordinate and evaluate the services and activities of the multimedia labs and technology enhanced classrooms (ILC, MRC, and TEC). The incumbent supervises and evaluates personnel and monitors the budget of these units and works closely with intra-divisional teams to support and facilitate team goal setting.

The Research Librarian for Emerging Technologies and Service Innovation works closely with Collection Development librarians and other staff to identify and deploy plugs-ins, software, and new technologies (such as streaming audio and video) to enhance the delivery of information to users. The incumbent also advises and collaborates with Collection Development and Reference staff to effectively utilize Web 2.0 technologies and social networking software to market library resources and to facilitate scholarly sharing.

The successful candidate for this position is a member of both Langson Library Reference and Science Library Reference, reporting to the Head of Reference with a secondary reporting line to the Head of Collection Development.

Qualifications

Required:
• Graduate degree in library science from an ALA-accredited institution or an equivalent combination of relevant advanced degree and library experience
• Knowledge of current and evolving information technologies as applied to direct user services
• Commitment to user-centered services
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including presentation skills and the ability to explain technical issues to non-technical clients
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Ability to exercise technical and professional judgment in order to solve problems in non-routine situations and provide innovative and creative solutions
• Ability to work effectively in a team and in a dynamically changing environment
• Ability to effectively supervise staff
• Ability to work effectively with diverse constituencies
• Ability to meet the University of California requirements for advancement and promotion
Preferred:
• Experience working with multimedia technologies
• Successful supervisory experience


The Reference Department

Langson Library Reference is the research and information center of the Langson Library supporting research and teaching in the arts, education, humanities, social sciences, and business. Science Library Reference is the research and information center of the Science Library supporting research and teaching in the biological sciences, physical sciences, engineering, information and computer sciences, and the health and medical sciences. Both units provide reference services including research consultation, electronic reference, and a wide range of instructional programs and workshops. Each unit maintains a reference collection consisting of key print resources along with a growing collection of electronic resources. The Interactive Learning Center (ILC), a unit of Science Library Reference, and the Multimedia Resources Center (MRC)/Technology Enhanced Classroom (TEC), a unit of Langson Library Reference, provide access to a wide range of specialized media, software, and electronic resources. These units also maintain a variety of computers and other multimedia equipment for use by the UC Irvine community and provide classroom and computer support for the Libraries’ instructional efforts. The Reference Department operates in a team-based environment and the staff consists of 17+ librarians, 10+ library assistants, 2 programmers, and 2 computer resource specialists.

The Libraries

The UCI Libraries are committed to innovation and excellence and are in a major period of growth and change. The Libraries consist of the Langson Library, the Science Library, the Library Gateway Study Center, and the Grunigen Medical Library. The Langson Library primarily serves the Schools of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, Social Ecology, Business, the Department of Education, and Interdisciplinary Studies. The Science Library primarily serves the College of Health Sciences (including the School of Medicine) and the Schools of Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Engineering, and Information and Computer Sciences. The Grunigen Medical Library serves the clinical needs of the Health Sciences at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center, located in Orange, 12 miles from the main campus.

The UCI Libraries have a staff of 273 FTE and an organizational structure that includes the use of teams in conjunction with departments. The library collection consists of over 3.1 million volumes, over 48,000 current serial titles, and an aggressively expanding electronic resources collection. The UCI Libraries are a member of the: Association of Research Libraries (ARL), California Digital Library (CDL), Coalition of Networked Information (CNI), Center for Research Libraries (CRL), Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR), International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and Scholarly Publishing & Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC).

University of California, Irvine

The University of California, Irvine, is nestled in over 1,500 acres of coastal foothills, five miles from the Pacific Ocean, between San Diego and Los Angeles. Founded in 1965, UCI is among the fastest-growing University of California campuses, with more than 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students and about 1,400 faculty members. UCI has had an extraordinarily rapid rise to distinction in its first forty years, including membership in the Association of American Universities, three Nobel prizes since 1995, and ranking in many surveys among the nation’s best public universities.

Student enrollment is planned to reach 32,000 by 2014 accompanied by a proportional growth in faculty and staff. Nearly 60% of UCI students identify themselves as Asian American, African-American, Chicano/Latino, or Native American. The University offers 40 doctoral programs in addition to the M.D. UCI’s academic programs are ranked nationally among the top universities; several doctoral programs are ranked in the top ten.

Librarians at the University of California, Irvine are academic appointees and receive potential career status at the time of their initial appointment. Librarians periodically receive administrative and peer review for merit increases based on the following criteria: 1) professional competence and quality of service within the Library; 2) professional activity outside the Library; 3) university and public service; and 4) research and other creative activity.

Salary & Benefits: Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. Preferred appointment level is $47,087 – $52,860 (Assistant Librarian II – Associate Librarian III). Consideration will be given to applicants with a wide range of years of experience, including qualified early career librarians.

Librarians are entitled to two days per month of annual leave, one day per month sick leave. The University has an excellent retirement system and offers a variety of group health, life, and disability insurance plans. Benefits, which may also include an attractive mortgage program, are equal to approximately 40% of salary.


Deadline for Applications: Applications received by October 6, 2008 will receive first consideration, but applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.

To Apply: Electronic applications are preferred. Qualified applicants who wish to be considered for this position should send their application materials including: cover letter; complete résumé; and the names, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers of three references, with a statement of each reference's professional relationship to the applicant, to:

e-mail: libhr@uci.edu
Library Human Resources
UC Irvine, P.O. Box 19557
Irvine, CA 92623-9557
confidential fax (949) 824-3270

Upon application, candidates should be in possession of proof of their legal right to employment in the U.S. In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, verification of legal right to work will be required between the time of final selection and hiring, and is absolutely essential in ultimately being hired.

This position description is listed on the UCI Libraries web site at http://www.lib.uci.edu/libraries/jobs/libvac.html, with links to additional web sites featuring campus and community information.

The University of California, Irvine is an equal opportunity employer
committed to excellence through diversity

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