Head, Instruction Services, University of Washington Tacoma Library, Tacoma WA
Posted February 12, 2014
TITLE: Head, Instruction Services
LOCATION: University of Washington Tacoma Library
THE LIBRARIES
Serving three campuses, the University of Washington Libraries is one of the largest and most innovative libraries in North America with collections exceeding 8 million volumes, over 500,000 electronic books, more than 120,000 currently received journal titles, as well as millions of scholarly resources in other formats. Beyond the strength of local collections and digital resources, the Libraries is recognized for its excellent service, innovative learning, and research spaces, faculty partnerships, global reach, extensive assessment efforts, and diverse award-winning staff. The Libraries plays a significant leadership role regionally as a member in the groundbreaking Orbis Cascade Alliance and throughout the profession as evidenced by the number of its staff selected for competitive leadership programs and honored by professional association lifetime achievement awards.
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TACOMA LIBRARY
The UW Tacoma Library is located on one of three campuses served by the University of Washington Libraries. The UW Tacoma Library is dedicated to creating community by engaging with student learning and connecting researchers to resources that foster discovery. For more information, consult the UW Tacoma Library web site: http://www.tacoma.washington.edu/library/.
University of Washington Tacoma is forging its identity as an urban-serving university that shares the University of Washington’s commitment to high quality teaching and research, and is committed to participating in the educational, cultural, and economic development of the South Puget Sound. UW Tacoma was established in 1990 to address the needs of transfer students wishing to complete baccalaureate degrees, to offer relevant graduate level education and to enrich the area by its research. In 2007 UW Tacoma expanded its program to include the first and second years of undergraduate education.
UW Tacoma opened its permanent campus in Tacoma’s historic warehouse district in 1997. The campus has been honored with national awards for urban design and preservation. With an enrollment of about 4,200 students and 270 faculty, UW Tacoma offers baccalaureate and graduate degrees, and certification programs. Located across from the Tacoma Art Museum, Washington State History Museum, and the Museum of Glass, UW Tacoma is preparing for rapid program and facilities growth over the course of the next several years.
THE POSITION
Serves as Head, Instruction Services, under the general direction of the Director, University of Washington Tacoma Library, assuming multiple leadership responsibilities in areas of information literacy program development, instruction, learning assessment and instructional technology. This position serves as the Library’s primary liaison to the Freshman Core learning community program and campus instruction assessment initiatives.
Participates in the full range of reference and instruction services serving University of Washington Tacoma students, faculty, and staff, and the South Sound community. Plans, delivers, and assesses research support and instruction for diverse students, faculty, and staff whose primary areas of study, teaching, and research fall within the librarian’s academic subject and program responsibilities. Responsibilities include developing innovative approaches to research assistance tailored to the user populations, collection development and delivery of services in an environment providing authoritative access to and delivery of global information resources.
Collaborates with colleagues in sustaining a technology-rich learning environment. Assumes a creative role in providing guidance and inspiration to support the Library’s commitment to an effective integration of information resources, research skills, and learning technologies within University curricula and other related programs.
Librarians provide assistance for a range of research inquiries, collaborate with faculty and other academic staff in the design of instructional/learning opportunities, and promote the integration of information literacy into the curricula of a developing university. Librarians are members of the University of Washington Libraries and are advised by system-wide expectations for appointment and promotion.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
* Provides leadership and strategic direction for the instruction program, including development and persistent assessment of services and other offerings.
* Serves as primary coordinator and faculty liaison for all general inquiries for library instruction and related services.
* Collaborates with librarians and faculty to develop effective strategies for the delivery, evaluation and promotion of information literacy competencies campus-wide.
* Assists in development, implementation and assessment of electronic and print instructional resources to meet current needs and future expectations.
* Supports professional development of librarians with regard to information literacy, and teaching and learning in higher education. Maintains professional engagement with regional and national information literacy developments and best practice.
* Collaborates with Reference Services and Community Outreach to develop and maintain consistency of information and mission across all venues of instruction and to promote instructional services provided by reference staff. Collaborates with the Teaching and Learning Center, Academic Technologies and others in developing the Learning and Research Commons (LARC).
* Serves as a liaison with responsibilities for instruction, collection development and management for subject areas and programs determined in consultation with the Head, Collections and Access Services. Confers with others as needed to ensure collection development meets Libraries’ system-wide expectations.
* Provides reference assistance and referral to University of Washington Tacoma Library resources and, when necessary, to other resources including University Libraries, and regional academic and community libraries. Shares in providing instruction and reference services. Work schedule may include evenings and weekends.
* Makes recommendations for and assists in formulation of library policies, and contributes to the development of library services responsive to the needs of the campus curriculum and users.
* Confers with Library staff to deal with library-wide questions, problems or emergency situations in the absence of the Director, University of Washington Tacoma Library, or the Assistant Director, University of Washington Tacoma Library.
* Works collaboratively with Library staff, UW Tacoma Library Information Technology, UW Tacoma Marketing and Creative Services, University Libraries’ Information Technology Services, and the user community to foster and maintain effective cross-campus communication and coordination pertaining to web development and implementation.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
* Graduate degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association or an equivalent graduate library science/information studies degree.
* Demonstrated teaching experience including curriculum development and successful collaboration with faculty staff and students.
* Demonstrated commitment to diversity and understanding of the contributions a diverse workforce brings to the workplace.
Preferred
* Demonstrated strong public service orientation and commitment to user-centered services including collection development, instruction and reference services.
* Experience working with lower-division students in reference and instructional settings.
* Ability to work independently as well as to work successfully in a collaborative team environment where consultation, collaboration and cooperation are essential. Ability to work creatively and productively with diverse faculty, staff and students in a challenging and rapidly changing environment is critical.
* Demonstrated experience with technology, web-based resource development, digital reference tools and information resources, and social media.
* Knowledge of current and emerging learning technologies in higher education.
* Evidence of strong written, interpersonal and oral communication skills.
* Commitment to engage in successful professional service and the ability to represent the University Libraries on campus, regionally, and nationally.
* Creative, energetic, innovative, and motivated for on-going assessment of services, collections, and facilities.
* Bilingual skills are desirable.
SALARY: $45,000 minimum. Starting salary commensurate with qualifications and background.
BENEFITS: Librarians are academic personnel and participate in the University of Washington Retirement Plan on a matching basis. Vacation is accrued at the rate of 24 working days per year; sick leave at the rate of 12 working days per year. No state or local income tax.
APPLICATION PROCESS
To apply for this position, please submit the following information to [email protected]:
* Cover letter (addressed to Laura Lillard, Assistant Director, Libraries Academic Human Resources)
* Curriculum vitae or resume (include a telephone number, mailing address, email address and salary requirements)
* List of three references who are knowledgeable of your qualifications for this position (include telephone numbers, mailing addresses, and email addresses)
* Teaching Statement: A separate statement of no more than one page addressing applicant’s general teaching philosophy and commitment to teaching information literacy.
* Please use “Librarian Application” in the subject heading.
* Please submit all three components in a single, multi-page PDF document. All submissions will be maintained in a secure, password protected online file space until interviews are conducted. Then, some application materials will be circulated.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
To ensure consideration, applications should be received no later than 5:00 pm, Friday, March 21, 2014.
University of Washington Libraries Home Page is http://www.lib.washington.edu
For questions about this position, or questions regarding potential disability accommodations, please contact Laura Lillard at [email protected].