Sunday, October 27, 2013

Research Librarian for English, Comparative Literature, and Critical Theory

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 ApplyElectronic 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/about/jobs/librarian-vacancies.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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