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Humanities and First Years’ Engagement Librarian

Employer
Smith College
Location
Smith College

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Administrative Jobs
Academic Affairs, Librarians & Library Services
Employment Type
Full Time
Institution Type
Four-Year Institution

Job Details

If you have any questions about the position or our application process, reach out to us at recruiting-u@smith.edu.

LibrariesJob Description

Job Summary

The Humanities and First Years’ Engagement Librarian develops and implements a comprehensive, literacies and outreach program for first-year, second-year and all incoming students. They build and maintain connections and collaborations with key campus partners that support first-year orientation and coordinate the library’s participation in campus orientations relating to scholarship. Regularly inform colleagues on best practices and trends relating to first-year students, first generation students, and undergraduate student success.

Ensures that Smith faculty, students, and staff have access to effective and innovative library services and collections serving the scholarship, learning, and teaching needs in the humanities. This librarian engages with the campus community and communicates effectively about library services, collections, facilities, and technologies.

Within Learning, Research and Technology (LRT), a blended department of librarians and academic technologists shared between the Libraries and ITS, the Humanities and First Years’ Experience Librarian will work collaboratively as part of the Teaching, Learning and Research (TLR) unit in the Libraries. All members of TLR participate in the Libraries’ full range of in-person and virtual reference and research services. Additionally, they engage in developing services and learning spaces, alongside their colleagues, for the Smith College Libraries.

Take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Essential Functions

First Years’ Experience Engagement and Outreach (35%)

  • Develop and lead library outreach initiatives for first-year, second-year and all incoming students.

  • Establish working partnerships with campus stakeholders and programs that contribute to the college-wide First-Year Experience Program.

  • Cultivate and sustain collaborative relationships with student-centered college departments, e.g.the Writing Center, First and Second Year Deans, Student Affairs, Wellness Center.

  • Develop, coordinate, assist, and assess academic services and programming that increase student engagement with the library including a comprehensive literacies program for all first-year students via 100-level writing courses, first year seminars, and other opportunities as appropriate.

  • Be knowledgeable of pedagogical theories and practices on developing undergraduate student research skills and literacies.

Liaison to the Humanities (35%)

  • Provide reference, research and outreach to faculty, students, and staff to subject areas in the humanities and across the Smith College community.

  • Leads course-based library instruction for assigned departments and partners with faculty to integrate information literacy into the curriculum.

  • Develops online learning content for the Libraries, including digital learning objects, subject and course resource pages, and other learning materials as part of a team of teaching librarians.

  • In collaboration with the Learning and Design Team, supports digital scholarship technologies and methodologies in the humanities, promotes them to faculty and students and participates on project teams as an active partner in the creation of digital projects.

  • Participates in the Libraries’ general reference service and contributes to Zotero citation management software support including individual assistance and group instruction.

Collection Development (20%)

  • Collaborates with faculty in the humanities and assigned departments to select and evaluate materials in a variety of formats that reflect current and developing curricular and research needs.

  • Develops and maintains knowledge of existing and developing modes of scholarly communication and responds to the changing information needs of students and faculty.

  • Partners with TLR and the Head of Collection Development to conduct collection analysis, collections use studies, and when necessary helping with the processing of gifts.

Other Functions

Additional Responsibilities (10%)

  • Engages in continuous professional self-development and keeps current with emerging librarianship, educational technology, and digital scholarship practices.

  • Participates in the work of the Libraries through service on library-wide and Five College committees.

  • Participates in library wide teams, committees and working groups and professional activities.

  • Represents Smith College Libraries at conferences and engages with national organizations in arts, librarianship, and digital scholarship.

  • Will include occasional nights and weekends.

  • Performs related duties as required.

  • All employees are expected to participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Minimum Qualifications (knowledge, skills, education, experience, certifications, licenses)

  • Master’s in Library Science or equivalent degree.

  • Knowledge of current issues and trends in pedagogy on the undergraduate and graduate level.

  • Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Strong academic background in and/or knowledge of humanities.

  • At least 3-5 years teaching experience in a library setting.

  • Experience developing an orientation program for incoming undergraduate students.

Skills

  • Experience in program development, assessment, and piloting new service models in libraries.

  • A strong commitment to public service, knowledge of current issues and methods of teaching research literacy, experience with providing library reference and research assistance to users, excellent oral and written communication skills, and demonstrated ability to work flexibly and independently with colleagues and library users.

  • Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills including user service orientation with ability to interact with diverse constituencies.

  • Experience working collaboratively with colleagues to evaluate and select materials for assigned subject areas.

Additional Information

For the care and safety of our community, Smith College requires that all employees be vaccinated as a condition of employment and as such, the incumbent will be required to be immunized against COVID-19 on or before their first day of employment. Proof of vaccination status will be required. Individuals may seek medical or religious exemption with HR, but must do so prior to their arrival.

Please attach BOTH a current resume and a cover letter in order for your application to be considered for this position . Be sure you have provided all attachments before submitting your application. You will NOT be able to attach additional files after you have hit the Submit button.

Review of applications will begin

January 30, 2023

Compensation Grade:

Grade H

Position Type:

Regular

About Smith College

Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is one of the largest women’s colleges in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts. A faculty of outstanding scholars interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Students cross-enroll and faculty cross-teach across the Five Colleges.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 151B, it is the policy of Smith College to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact our recruiting team at recruiting-u@smith.edu.

Diversity and a culture of inclusion among students, staff, faculty, and administration are crucial to the mission and values of Smith College. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, color, religions, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression or veteran status in the recruitment and employment of faculty and staff, and the operation of any of its programs and activities, as specified by all applicable laws and regulations. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Organization

Working at Smith College 

Founded in 1871, Smith College is the nation's largest liberal arts college for women. The reputation of the College as one of the finest in the country holds strong because of the dedicated work of our staff, faculty, and administration. We are a diverse group bringing to our community different talents, perspectives, and experiences. Our strength arises from this diversity and is sustained by a community value of providing an outstanding educational environment for our nearly 2,700 students. Smith College is located in Northampton, a lively town of 30,000 in the Connecticut River valley of western Massachusetts.

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