The
University of California, Irvine Libraries seek a creative, knowledgeable, and
user-oriented Research Librarian for English, Comparative Literature, and
Critical Theory to plan and deliver innovative reference and instruction
services, and to develop and manage excellent electronic, multimedia, and print
collections in English, comparative literature, and critical theory.
The
Research Librarian for English, Comparative Literature, and Critical Theory
will provide liaison and outreach to faculty and students in the Department of
English, the Department of Comparative Literature, and to UCI’s curricular
program in critical theory, the Critical Theory Emphasis. The Department of English and the
Department of Comparative Literature are in the School of Humanities; the
Critical Theory Emphasis is an inter-disciplinary program. The School of Humanities offers
undergraduate degrees in English, Literary Journalism, and Comparative Literature,
a Master of Fine Arts in Writing, and Ph.D.’s in English and Comparative
Literature. More information about
the School and its programs can be found at http://www.humanities.uci.edu/SOH/.
The successful candidate will be based in the Education and
Outreach Department, and will report directly to the Head of Education and
Outreach.
Duties and
Responsibilities
As a member of the Education and Outreach Department, the
Research Librarian for
English, Comparative Literature, and Critical Theory will be involved in the
development, planning, promotion, delivery, and assessment of the Libraries’
information literacy programs. In
addition to subject specific instruction in assigned areas, the incumbent
teaches information literacy skills to undergraduate students through active
participation in the Libraries’ general instruction program which includes the
required undergraduate writing courses.
Along with other members of the Department, the Research Librarian for
English, Comparative Literature, and Critical Theory actively pursues
opportunities to use instructional technology to integrate library resources
and information literacy instruction into academic curricula, with a particular
emphasis on online courses. The
incumbent identifies and uses instructional technology to develop new
educational materials that teach research skills, and assists in the provision
of professional development activities that support the improvement of library
staff members’ teaching abilities.
In
the area of collection development, the Research Librarian for English,
Comparative Literature, and Critical Theory will be responsible for the
selection, assessment, and management of collections and resources in English (including
literary journalism and creative writing), comparative literature, and critical
theory. The incumbent will serve
as liaison to the faculty and students in these subject areas to ensure that
their information needs are being met, as well as to promote the Libraries’
services and resources. The incumbent will also explore how the Libraries can
assist faculty with digital humanities projects and research. The incumbent
will be responsible for monitoring budgets and making collections decisions
that support the teaching and research needs on campus. The incumbent will develop and update
subject guides in support of research in English, comparative literature, literary
journalism, and critical theory. Depending on the profile of the successful
candidate, the position may also assume responsibility for collection
development in one or more of the following languages: German; Spanish and Portuguese; French
and Italian.
In the area of reference, the Research Librarian for English,
Comparative Literature, and Critical Theory will provide specialized reference and
research consultations in English, literary journalism, comparative literature,
and critical theory. The Research
Librarian will also maintain sufficient knowledge to provide effective general
reference assistance in a variety of modes including in-person, telephone, and
digital reference. Occasional
weekend and evening shifts may be required.
Qualifications
Required:
- Graduate
degree in library science from an ALA-accredited institution or an equivalent
combination of relevant advanced degree and library experience.
- Educational
background in English or comparative literature.
- Successful teaching experience.
- Strong
interest in instruction, information literacy, and assessment of library
services and resources.
- Commitment
to user-centered library services.
- Strong
understanding of the key issues and trends in instruction, collection
development, research, and reference in the subject areas of English, comparative
literature, and critical theory.
- Excellent
interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability
to work effectively in a team and in a dynamically changing environment.
- Ability
to work effectively with diverse constituencies.
- Ability
to meet the University of California criteria for advancement and
promotion.
Preferred:
- Strong
understanding of the key issues and trends in the design and delivery of
library services in support of the academic mission of the university.
- Educational
background in critical theory.
- Reading
knowledge of German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, or Italian.
- Experience
managing or leading projects.
- Knowledge
of scholarly communication issues and trends within the literature
disciplines.
- Interest
in assisting faculty with digital humanities projects and research.
The Education and
Outreach Department
The
Education and Outreach Department, which currently includes 2 permanent FTE and
1 temporary FTE librarians and a part-time library assistant, provides
leadership for the Libraries’ outreach and instruction activities and programs
which emphasize research skills, information literacy, scholarly communication,
and critical thinking. The Department has a lead role in the coordination,
integration, and assessment of all library instruction and outreach activities,
including subject-based, graduate, and professional school instruction. The
Department operates in a collaborative, team-based environment and works
closely with members of the Libraries’ Reference and Collection Development
Departments in order to fulfill its mission.
The UCI Libraries
The UCI Libraries are committed
to innovation and excellence and are in a major period of change. The Libraries consist of the Langson
Library, the Ayala Science Library, the Library Gateway Study Center, and the
Grunigen Medical Library. These
buildings contain over 3,300 public seats for study and research and provide
more than 600 public access computers.
The UCI Libraries have a staff of approximately 140 FTE plus
approximately 30 student assistant FTE.
The library collection consists of over 3.4 million volumes and over
137,000 journals and 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),
HathiTrust Digital Library, Center for Research Libraries (CRL), Coalition of
Networked Information (CNI), Digital Library Federation (DLF), Council on
Library and Information Resources (CLIR), Scholarly Publishing & Academic
Resources Coalition (SPARC), Pacific Rim Digital Library Alliance (PRDLA), and
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).
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 has a diverse student body consisting
of more than 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Among the most dynamic campuses in the
University of California system, UCI employs over 1,100 faculty and 9,400
staff. Consistently ranked among
the nation’s best universities, UCI is noted for its top-rated research and
graduate programs, extensive commitment to undergraduate education, and growing
number of professional schools and programs of academic and social
significance.
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 based on the University of California pay scales. Preferred appointment level is $47,544
- $70,956 (Assistant Librarian I – Librarian I).
Librarians
are entitled to two days per month of annual leave, thirteen paid holidays, and
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 are equal to approximately 40% of salary.
Consideration will be given to applicants with a wide range
of years of experience, including qualified early career librarians.
Deadline for
Applications: Applications
received by November 18, 2013 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:
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.
The University of California, Irvine is an equal opportunity employer committed
to excellence through diversity.
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