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Outreach and Public Services Librarian

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Position description

THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE

Outreach and Public Services Librarian

Rank: Associate Librarian - Librarian

Salary: $53,116 - $83,674

Organizational Unit: Special Collections and University Archives, Collections and Scholarly Communication Division

Position Overview: The University of California, Riverside (UCR) Library seeks applications and nominations for an innovative, dynamic, and engaged professional to fill the new position of Outreach and Public Services Librarian in the Special Collections and University Archives Department (SCUA).

Located an hour’s drive to the east of Los Angeles, an hour west of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley, an hour east of ocean beaches, ninety minutes north of San Diego, and an hour south of mountain ski resorts, UCR is located in an area of dramatic landscapes and rich cultural traditions. The University is a dynamic, aggressively-developing land grant research institution dedicated to preparing its diverse student body to be successful competitors in the world marketplace of ideas. UCR boasts the first new School of Medicine to open on the West Coast in 43 years; a new School of Public Policy; and the Bourns College of Engineering, ranked 10th in the world according to an international ranking organization.

The UCR Library is a critical partner in preparing UCR’s students to be globally competitive while simultaneously preparing them for careers in the Inland Empire and beyond. The mission of the UCR Library is no less than to bring the world’s information resources to the UCR community and to ensure that UCR students, faculty, and staff have the skills to fully exploit those resources to change the world for the better.

The UCR Library is building a team of intensely collaborative, forward-thinking colleagues dedicated to providing excellent services to our students, faculty, and community members in a rapidly evolving information environment. The successful candidate will be technologically sophisticated; committed to problem-solving in local, regional, national, and international arenas; and able to develop innovative solutions to complex problems.

The UCR Library is comprised of four facilities housing more than 3,000,000 volumes, 97,000 print and electronic journals, and 2,300,000 microforms. The Library provides services to more than 21,000 students and 1,830 faculty and other academics in an institutional environment planning for and experiencing extensive growth. The successful candidate will join an enthusiastic staff of 118 librarians and support personnel (including student FTE) in the work of building a research library of excellence within a dynamic and diverse university ranked among the top 50 in the nation. The UCR Library is a member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL). Among the unique collections of the UCR Library are the Eaton Collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy, the Water Resources Collections and Archives, the Rupert Costo Library of the American Indian, the Paul Chou Collection of Chinese history and culture, the George Brown Papers, and the newly established Inland Empire Memories Initiative. Information about the UCR Library is available at http://library.ucr.edu.

The UCR Library is an integral part of the University of California library system. With collections totaling 30 million volumes, UC’s more than 100 libraries are surpassed in size on the American continent only by the Library of Congress collection. In addition, UC’s California Digital Library provides the core of the University’s digital collections. CDL also assists UC to share resources and holdings more effectively, and provides leadership in applying technology to the development of library collections and services. Organizationally situated within the UC Office of the President, the CDL operates in close collaboration with all UC campuses and their libraries.

Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Head of Special Collections and University Archives, the Outreach and Public Services Librarian is responsible for educational, programmatic, and promotional outreach to faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, visiting scholars, and others whose research, teaching, and learning activities might benefit from engagement with materials held in Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA).

The Outreach and Public Services Librarian is also responsible for managing all aspects of Special Collections and University Archives’ public services. In consultation with the Head, Special Collections and University Archives, the Outreach and Public Services Librarian develops and implements policies and procedures for reference, reprographic, access, and reading room services in accordance with identified best practices.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Creating, coordinating, and managing content for departmental blogs, wikis, social media outlets and websites;
• Identifying and using tools and technologies for effective communication with current and new audiences;
• Promoting and marketing SCUA initiatives, products, and services through tours, presentations, and other appropriate means;
• Working with faculty members to support student learning;
• Developing new and innovative approaches for effective outreach and public services;
• Providing reference service via e-mail, telephone, and in person, for departmental holdings, and coordinating referrals of specialized queries to appropriate colleagues;
• Ensuring that best practices for hiring, training, and scheduling public services support staff (including student employees) are followed;
• Overseeing departmental budget for public services support staff and managing associated administrative processes;
• Coordinating collection management activities, including book and periodical processing, stacks maintenance, and other related functions supporting the use of SCUA materials, in consultation with Head and departmental staff;
• Managing policy, procedural and technical matters relating to departmental access services;
• Supervising SCUA Reading Room Coordinator and Office Manager (1 FTE);
• Managing user education, orientation and instruction activities for individuals and classes in collaboration with colleagues in SCUA and UCR Libraries’ Reference and Instruction units;
• Facilitating collaboration of SCUA with UCR Libraries’ subject specialists;
• Collaborating with colleagues in SCUA to develop, mount, and promote on-site and web-based exhibitions of Special Collections and University Archives materials;
• Assisting the UCR Libraries’ Exhibition Committee with on-site and web-based exhibits, as appropriate;
• Assisting in departmental and Libraries’ fundraising, grant-writing, and development efforts;
• Participating in library-wide activities, administrative committees, special projects and library programs; representing the UCR Libraries on University of California standing committees and ad-hoc groups, as assigned.

UCR librarians are members of the Librarians Association of the University of California (LAUC). Research, publication, and/or service to the University and profession are expected for continuing advancement.

Required Qualifications:
• Degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited institution, or equivalent;
• Minimum of two years of experience providing reference and instruction in an academic setting;
• Minimum of one year of supervisory or project management experience, preferably in a library setting;
• Familiarity with and commitment to the standards, ethics, security guidelines, and best practices in use by special collections professionals and promulgated by core professional groups such as ACRL’s Rare Books and Manuscripts Section and the Society of American Archivists;
• Excellent organizational skills, and effectiveness in balancing multiple assignments and projects;
• Ability to analyze, implement and adapt to evolving technologies;
• Demonstrated high level of initiative and creativity;
• Effective oral and written communication skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to work successfully in an intensely collaborative environment with a broad range of people from culturally diverse backgrounds including colleagues, administrators, students, faculty, donors, and alumni;
• Familiarity with special collections operations and activities;
• Evidence of creative thinking about library services and technologies;
• Demonstrated commitment to providing excellent public service.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Three or more years of experience providing reference and instruction in an academic library setting;
• One or more years of professional experience in public service in a special collection or archive setting;
• Demonstrated knowledge of learning technologies;
• Demonstrated experience with social media technologies;
• Demonstrated experience in creation of in-house or online exhibits.

Salary and Benefits:
Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience within a range of $53,116-$83,674. Appointment at rank of Associate Librarian or Librarian, depending upon qualifications and experience. Excellent retirement system, health, and vacation benefits.

Application Information:

Please complete and submit the information requested in APRecruit (cover letter addressing qualifications and experience related to the primary duties of the position, resume/curriculum vitae, and contact information for three to five professional references as directed at https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/apply/JPF00179). The closing date to apply is October 3, 2014.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter

  • Statement of Research (Optional)

  • Statement of Teaching (Optional)

  • Statement of Contributions to Diversity - Statement addressing past and/or potential contributions to diversity through teaching, research, professional activity, and/or service.
    (Optional)

  • Misc / Additional (Optional)

Reference requirements
  • 3-5 required (contact information only)