Resident Librarian, American University, Washington, DC
Posted January 11, 2018
American University Library invites early-career librarians to apply for its Residency Librarian Program. The Resident Librarian position is a fixed-term three academic year faculty appointment and is designed to provide an immersion into academic librarianship and an opportunity to explore areas of interest. Funding will be provided to support professional engagement at the national level. Through the experience and mentoring acquired by participating in the Residency Librarian Program, individuals will be able to demonstrate skills at the professional level, will be able to develop a professional network, and will be prepared for future career opportunities.
The Residency Librarian Program is part of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Diversity Alliance. American University Library is one of the four founding institutions that established the Diversity Alliance member universities. The Residency Program Librarian will join another Residency Program Librarian already in place at American University Library. The purpose of the resident program is to bring diverse entry-level librarian into the profession, to engage them in professional experience and service at American University, to provide mentorship in librarianship and in building their research and professional service agenda, and ultimately, to prepare them for a career in academic librarianship.
Responsibilities: Provide research and reference assistance services to a diverse user population at a busy research assistance desk, over the Web, and through teaching of information literacy classes. Work with colleagues in the Research, Teaching, and Learning (RTL) Division to support the College Writing Program. Offer other information research and teaching. Integrate new technologies into the instruction process, and contribute to collection development and collection assessment. Prepare LibGuides, online tutorials, and other relevant reference tools and in support of the university community. Actively participate in faculty governance and service to the profession. Over the course of the academic year, some evening and weekend hours will be required.
The Resident Librarian will be a member of the Research, Teaching and Learning (RTL) Division and report to the AU Library Residency Program Coordinator.
Requirements: Candidate must be a recent ALA-accredited M.L.S. graduate (graduated since January 2016). General knowledge of print and digital resources, for example, through coursework, pre-professional or professional experience or coursework related to teaching and library outreach is an asset. Candidate must be able to work independently; to demonstrate a commitment to diversity in the workplace, for example, through coursework, pre-professional and professional experience. Ability to work in a team environment is required and candidate must be able to demonstrate interest in professional development and service.
To apply, submit a letter of application, resume, and the contact information (name, mailing address, email address, and telephone number) of three references through Interfolio.
Review of application will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Position is available June 1, 2018 and ends July 31, 2021.
The American University Library, www.american.edu/library, serves the AU Community through a collection of over 1,300,000 volumes, 52,000 media and 25,000 sound recordings. Notable collections include a branch music library, a strong visual media collection, special collections across campus including those with Language, Career, and Visual Arts resources. AU Library has affiliate collections at the Washington College of Law and a partnership with the Wesley Theological Seminary. The AU Library collection totals over 125,000 journal subscriptions win all subjects. Personnel include 22 library faculty, 75 full-time staff and other professionals, and about 140 student assistants. The Library’s budget is nearly $15 million. The American University Library is an active member of the Washington Research Library Consortium, and it holds membership in LOCKSS, SPARC, NISO, the Patriot League Libraries Group and the University Libraries Group.
The American University, an R-2 university, chartered by an act of Congress in 1891, offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, many with international focus, to over 12,000 students. Its proximity to centers of technology, politics, justice, world affairs, communication, science, business, and the arts in the Washington, D.C. area enhances the learning environment.
For further information about American University, please see www.american.edu, and learn about the University Library at www.american.edu/library.
Additional questions can be addressed to:
Michele Mikkelsen, Director, Administrative Services
American University Library
4400 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20016-8046
[email protected]
*The Diversity Alliance began as a collaborative effort among American University, University of Iowa, West Virginia University, and Virginia Tech committed to mentoring under-represented populations and establishing a networked cohort of early career librarians. The overarching goal is to provide a broad range of experiences working in an academic environment with exposure to research and scholarship.
The Alliance is a collaborative effort based on core principles:
- Each Library will sponsor its own two to three-year residency program.
- A commitment to creating employment opportunities for underrepresented groups in research libraries.
- Target early-career librarians (or librarians new to research libraries).
- Build community among the cohort of resident librarians by providing opportunities for the individuals to network.
- The residency programs will provide for a rich and broad experience including a research component (writing is an important part of the experience), a leadership component (exposure to leadership possibilities), professional development (service experience), and exposure to the broader academy.
- A Diversity Alliance Steering Team comprised of point persons from each library is responsible for ensuring outcomes are met as well as supervising the residents at their institutions.
http://www.ala.org/acrl/issues/diversityalliance
Apply here.