Undergraduate Research Librarian Virginia Commonwealth University

Located in culturally diverse, historic, and dynamic Richmond, Virginia, convenient to the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the recreation destinations of the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Commonwealth University is one of Virginia's largest universities and among the nation's leading research institutions. The VCU Libraries, one of Virginia’s outstanding research library systems, advances the University’s teaching, research, service, and patient care mission with holdings exceeding 2.3 million volumes, 61,000 serials, 500,000 e-books, and nationally prominent collections in the health and biological sciences, social work, the arts, the history of medicine, and comic and book arts.

The Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries invites applications and nominations for the position of Undergraduate Research Librarian. VCU Libraries seeks a creative, energetic individual to join the Instructional Services Team in Research and Instructional Services (RIS).  The incumbent will partner with faculty in the University and Honors Colleges to integrate advanced research skills into the curriculum and to design education services that incorporate both classroom instruction and Web-based tutorials.  The Undergraduate Research Librarian will be responsible for designing programs and services that promote academic success for undergraduate students beyond the first year. The successful candidate will join a culturally and academically diverse faculty of the highest caliber.

Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Assistant Head for Instructional Services, the Undergraduate Research Librarian is appointed one of two liaisons to the University College (UC). Faculty in the UC are responsible for the development and implementation of courses and programs that serve as the foundation of the undergraduate Core Curriculum. The Undergraduate Research Librarian identifies and meets the needs of students learning advanced research skills and is responsible for integrating those skills into Tier 2 of the UC Core Curriculum (http://www.vcu.edu/uc/core/).  Together, the Undergraduate Research Librarian and the First Year Student Programs Librarian will develop an integrated suite of programs and learning tools that dovetail with the progression of the undergraduate curriculum and will ensure the full participation of the library in the campus life programs of the University. The Librarian is also appointed liaison to the Honors College and develops instructional programs in support of the curriculum as well as the Summer Undergraduate Honors Research Program and the Summer Freshman Research Institute.  He or she will also serve as liaison to the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program and its affiliated programming. He or she will co-advise the work of the Cabell Library Undergraduate Advisory Committee.  The incumbent will be an active member of the library’s education and outreach programs, teaching introductory sessions, course-integrated instruction and workshops; developing course content and instructing students in the classroom; leading tours and staffing outreach and orientation events.  The Undergraduate Research Librarian also participates in the provision of reference services, including some evenings and weekends.  The Undergraduate Research Librarian is expected to be active professionally and to contribute to developments in the field. Faculty with the VCU Libraries are evaluated and promoted on the basis of job performance, scholarship, and professional development and service.

Qualifications:

Required: ALA-accredited graduate degree or accredited graduate degree in a related discipline. Preferred: Experience working with undergraduate students in an academic research library setting. Demonstrated commitment to teaching and undergraduate education.  Demonstrated success in the application of technology to support student learning and familiarity with Web authoring tools.  Ability to work collaboratively within a team environment and a preference for group work.  Evidence of project management skills and the ability to plan and implement programs.  Academic reference and instruction experience in a research library. Excellent presentation and public speaking skills. Ability to meet deadlines and manage competing priorities under pressure. Strong service orientation. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Libraries

Virginia Commonwealth University is Virginia’s largest research university, enrolling over 32,000 students. Located in Richmond, Virginia (http://www.vcu.edu/richmond/), it is classified by Carnegie as a Research University (very high research activity). VCU offers 40 doctoral, 67 masters, 3 professional, and 60 baccalaureate degree programs. Twenty-seven of VCU's graduate, professional programs are ranked by U.S. News & World Report as among the best in the nation, with 21 programs ranking in the top 25 and two programs — sculpture and nurse anesthesia — ranked number one. Over 1,900 faculty comprise the University's teaching force. Research strengths at the University include health and life sciences, education, engineering, social work, behavioral sciences, public affairs, advertising and design, and the fine arts. Sponsored research funding totals over $230 million, placing VCU among the top 100 research institutions in the United States. VCU’s strategic plan (http://www.future.vcu.edu/plan/index.html) embraces an acceleration in the growth of VCU’s library system and includes a new Master Site Plan that envisions additions to both library facilities operated by the VCU Libraries. An off-site storage facility was completed 2010 and major renovations to create a Learning Commons in Cabell Library opened summer 2010.  A major space planning study for library facilities is underway.

Libraries at Virginia Commonwealth University (including the James Branch Cabell Library on the Monroe Park Campus and the Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences on the MCV Campus) employ 47 professionals and 73 support staff with an annual budget exceeding $16.6 million. VCU also operates programs in Doha, Qatar, including a library supporting the program there; Northern Virginia; and in various additional locations throughout the U.S. and the world. The VCU Libraries is a Resource Library in the National Network of Libraries of Medicine and a member of the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries, SPARC, CNI, BioMed Central, and the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA), a statewide networking consortium for shared access to electronic and print resources. The VCU Libraries uses a suite of products from Ex Libris in addition to CONTENTdm and DSpace as the foundation of its system architecture to enhance access to its collections and services. It has recently adopted Primo as its discovery layer and has been selected by Ex Libris as an early adopter for Alma, its next generation cloud-based system for library management.

The Monroe Park Campus of VCU is located in Richmond's Fan District, a large, residential neighborhood of townhouses, shops, and cafes. The campus is home to most of the University’s undergraduate and many of its graduate programs, including the School of the Arts, the College of Humanities and Sciences, and the Schools of Business, Education, Engineering, and Social Work. The School of Social Work also offers the Masters of Social Work at the Northern Virginia Campus in Alexandria, Virginia. In addition, VCU’s Qatar campus in the Middle East offers degree programs through the School of the Arts.

The VCU University College opened its doors in the fall of 2006 and is a central home for university-wide programs and resources that help to advance students’ undergraduate experience.  Through academic advising, tutoring, writing assistance, group study sessions, orientation programs and courses introducing students to the demands of a university education, the UC provides opportunities for VCU students to achieve greater levels of academic success.  To learn more about the College’s mission, goals and curriculum, please visit:  http://www.vcu.edu/uc.

Salary: 
Salary commensurate with experience, not less than $45,000 annually. This is a full-time, non-tenured faculty position. Normal faculty benefits apply, including 24 vacation days annually and choice of retirement and annuity plans. For more information about benefits, see http://www.hr.vcu.edu/benefits.html.

For more information about the VCU Libraries, please visit our home page at http://www.library.vcu.edu/. Review of applications will begin May 1, 2012 and will continue until the position is filled. Submit cover letter, resume, and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three references to:

Pamela H. Fraga

Assistant to the University Librarian

VCU Libraries, Virginia Commonwealth University

901 Park Avenue

PO Box 842033

Richmond, VA 23284-2033

804-828-1107

804-828-0151 (fax)

phfraga@vcu.edu

Virginia Commonwealth University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.