Information Sciences Librarian

Assistant (or Associate) Professor, University Library

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

 

 

Position Description: The Information Sciences Librarian provides collection development, reference and information services, liaison services to the School of Information Sciences, graduate assistant training, research support services, and collaboration and innovation services. The position works in partnership with programs across campus that support information management, information sciences, related data sciences, informatics and bioinformatics, engaging in online and in-person services to advance those programs.

 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Statement: The University Library of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign values diversity of thought, perspective, experience, and people, and is actively committed to a culture of inclusion and respect. We are dedicated to the practices of social justice, diversity, and equality, and we strive to overcome historical and divisive biases in our society and embrace diverse points of view as assets to the fabric of our community. All positions will be called on to contribute to building this environment in the Library and throughout the campus community, and we encourage candidates who share these values to apply. Additional information can be found on the Library’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility (DEIA) webpage: https://www.library.illinois.edu/geninfo/deia/ .

 

Responsibilities: Reporting to the Head of the Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library (SSHEL), the Information Sciences Librarian will provide subject expertise for the interdisciplinary fields of Library & Information Science (LIS) and Information Management, focusing on the learning, research, and collection needs of the students and faculty of the School of Information Sciences (iSchool), its partner programs, and the faculty and academic professionals of the University Library.  The iSchool program grew from 742 to 1,629 students in the past five years, with new degree programs for undergraduates in Information Sciences and in the Information Sciences + Data Science(IS+DS). The latter degree program is a collaboration between the iSchool, the Gies College of Business, the Computer Science Department in Grainger Engineering College, and the Statistics Department in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.  A graduate degree program in Bioinformatics provides opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and support through University Library services.   The iSchool’s popular dual degree programs in law, history, Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies, and African Studies engages this position in outreach and services in cooperation with colleagues across departments and programs.  The recent assignment of the game studies collection to this position expands the connections between several programs and departments, including the new Game Studies and Design program within Informatics.  Interdisciplinarity necessitates strategic decision-making, negotiation, and resolution. Collaboration and broad consultation with campus and library programs and initiatives are key responsibilities for the Information Sciences Librarian position. 

 

 Specific duties include:

 

• Sustaining and evolving (in person and via distance education) information literacy-related instruction for the master’s degree programs in Library and Information Science, and Information Management; the LIS and Informatics PhD programs; and the undergraduate degree programs in Information Sciences and IS+DS. Approximately 40 instruction sessions are provided each semester
• Collaborating with Library colleagues to support and innovate services in information management, data services, bioinformatics, computer science, and information sciences
• Providing research consultations and multi-modal reference services for these programs, in research areas that span methodologies from the social sciences, humanities, and computer science, and for both on campus and distance students, and for faculty and academic professionals working in the University Library
• Advising graduate students, faculty, and other scholars on possible publication venues
• Providing subject expertise in the form of collection development, information services, instruction, and scholarly services to faculty and students with teaching and research interests in information sciences, information management, related data sciences, bioinformatics,  and game studies
• Promoting delivery of digital information services programs by maintaining and enhancing the Information Sciences web resource site, LibGuides and class guides, and other digital tools relevant to the subject area
• Coordinating maintenance and enhancement of the SSHEL website
• Monitoring trends in information sciences to inform the design of library services and the development of library collections, including the game studies collection
• Serves on the School of Information Sciences Curriculum Committee
• Building a robust assessment program for services to information sciences

 

Qualifications: Required:

• ALA-accredited Master’s degree in Library and/or Information Science or equivalent by the start date. An understanding of the research process including, but not limited to, database searching, literature review, topic selection, and the publishing process. Evidence of strong analytical, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks and demonstrated record of working collaboratively and effectively in a team environment.

 

Preferred:

• Experience with teaching in an academic environment, including one-on-one consultations and class lectures.   Experience or interest in writing peer-reviewed research, and engaging in professional service with campus and/or national/international committees. Experience teaching and/or learning in an online learning environment through systems such as Canvas and Zoom. Experience in the delivery of reference services in all formats (chat, phone, e-mail, in person) in an academic setting. Familiarity with content management systems (particularly WordPress), Springshare products, and HTML. Knowledge of web accessibility and other web standards.

 

Appointment Information

 

The expected start date is August 16, 2023. This is a 100%, twelve-month, tenure-system appointment that may be eligible for a hybrid work schedule. 

 

Salary and Rank: The minimum salary for this position is $60,000. The salary for this position will be negotiated with the successful candidate and will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The University of Illinois Library is committed to competitive salaries and attending to equity in compensation within the organization.

 

Librarians have faculty rank, and must demonstrate excellence in librarianship, research, and university/professional/community service in order to meet university standards for tenure and promotion. Library faculty have an obligation to remain professionally informed, to pursue the discovery of new knowledge related to their field of expertise, to disseminate the results of their scholarly work, and to seek opportunities for service to the Library, campus, state, nation and profession. Library faculty are governed by University statements on review and promotion found in Article IX of the Statutes, and in Provost’s Communication No. 9 https://provost.illinois.edu/policies/provosts-communications/communication-9-promotion-and-tenure/ and Provost’s Communication No. 13 https://provost.illinois.edu/policies/provosts-communications/communication-13-review-of-faculty-in-year-three-of-the-probationary-period/. For more information on library tenure and promotion, see https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/promotion-and-tenure-advisory-committee.

 

Terms of Appointment: Twelve-month appointment; 24 annual vacation days; 11 annual paid holidays; 12 annual sick-leave days (cumulative), plus an additional 13 sick-leave days (non-cumulative) available, if needed, each year; health insurance requiring a small co-payment is provided to employee (with the option to purchase coverage for spouse and dependents); required participation in State Universities Retirement System (SURS) (8% of annual salary is withheld and is refundable upon termination), with several options for participation in additional retirement plans; newly-hired employees are covered by the Medicare portion of Social Security and are subject to its deduction. 

 

Environment:  The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library is a leader in the delivery of user services, and active programs in information, instructional, access, and scholarly services that help the Library to maintain its place at the intellectual heart of the campus. The Library also holds one of the preeminent research collections in the world, encompassing more than 13 million volumes and a total of more than 23 million items. The Library is committed to maintaining the strongest collections and service programs possible, and to engaging in research, development, and scholarly practice - all of which support the University's missions of teaching, research, and public engagement. The Library employs approximately 90 faculty members, and more than 300 academic professionals, staff, and graduate assistants. For more information, see: http://www.library.illinois.edu/ .

 

Campus and Community: The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a comprehensive and major public land-grant university (Doctoral/Research University-Extensive) that is ranked among the best in the world. Chartered in 1867, it provides undergraduate and graduate education in more than 150 fields of study, conducts theoretical and applied research, and provides public service to the state and the nation. It employs 2,765 faculty members who serve more than 33,000 undergraduates and 15,000 graduate and professional students. More information about the campus is available at www.illinois.edu.

 

The University is located in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana, which have a combined population of 207,000 and are situated about 140 miles south of Chicago, 125 miles west of Indianapolis, and 180 northeast of St. Louis. The University and its surrounding communities offer a cultural and recreational environment ideally suited to the work of a major research institution. For more information about the community, visit: https://illinois.edu or https://www.champaigncounty.org.

 

Application Procedures & Deadline Information:

 

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (CST) on January 18, 2023. The submission of the application must include a cover letter, CV, and names and email addresses of four professional references. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting.  For further information about this specific position, please contact 217-333-8169. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

 

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, COVID-19 vaccination requirement, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

 

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.

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