Teaching and Online Learning Librarian, Smith College, Northampton, MA
Posted January 8, 2020
PRIMARY FUNCTION(S):
As a member of a blended department within Smith College Libraries and ITS, lead development for innovative teaching and pedagogical communities of practice. Design, develop, and assess digital learning objects that support and complement the Libraries’ teaching, learning, and research programs. Serve as both a practicing teacher and a pedagogical resource for staff teaching in the Libraries. As a subject liaison to assigned academic departments, conduct research consultations, outreach, and teaching on research tools and methods. Ensure that Smith faculty, students, and staff have access to a suite of robust, effective and inclusive materials supporting their curriculum and research interests.
Participate in current services and follow national trends in libraries to suggest improvements to existing services. Promote new forms of scholarship, following trends such as digital scholarship and open access. Participate as a member of the Learning, Research and Technology department in developing services and learning spaces for the Libraries. Work collaboratively with colleagues and participates fully in the activities of the Libraries.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Teaching and Pedagogy (40%):
Using learning and pedagogical theories, work in consultation with members of the Learning, Research and Technology department and Smith College Libraries teaching staff, to design a program to support the development of innovative teaching practices. Design, conduct, and assess workshops on methods to engage learners and effectively teach skills for multiple literacies. Consult with individual teaching staff on pedagogical practices and promote calibration of pedagogy across the Learning, Research and Technology department and the Libraries. Initiate, design, teach, and assess course-related research methods instruction, orientations, workshops and other curricular-related activities in partnership with faculty in assigned departments.
Lead the Libraries’ Teaching Team in developing teaching community of practice events and workshops for all Libraries staff. Partners with the Sherrerd Center for Teaching and Learning around developing inclusive teaching practices and programming for Teaching Arts Lunch series.
Online Learning (30%):
Lead the design, creation, maintenance, and assessment for instructional modules, digital learning objects, and other digital materials to support multiple literacies. Employ best practices and current theory in universal design for learning, digital pedagogy, blended learning, and active learning. Develop best practices for design of digital learning objects and serve as a resource to members of Learning, Research, and Technology department and other library staff in developing online instructional materials. Work with colleagues to establish collaborative partnerships with key stakeholders within the Libraries and across the college to encourage the use of library resources and services. Collaborate with Office of Disability Services and Five College Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Coordinator around accessibility of digital learning objects. Serve as strategic owner for content with Springshare tools at Smith College Libraries in collaboration with the Digital Strategist and other Libraries staff. Gather data to help assess the quality and impact of online learning and Springshare tools, in collaboration with the Assessment and User Experience Team and campus partners.
Subject Liaison (20%):
Provide expert guidance in the social sciences to print and online resources across multiple interfaces of licensed databases and relevant internet resources to faculty and students. Develop subject content for Libraries’ website, including subject and course resource pages and other web-based tools and digital information services. Collaborate with faculty to build collections in print, electronic and other formats that reflect current and developing curricular and research needs in assigned subject areas. Develop and maintain knowledge of existing and developing modes of scholarly communication and responds to the changing information needs of students and faculty. Evaluate and select materials and partners with the Head of Collection Development to conduct collection analysis and usage studies.
Additional Responsibilities (10%):
Engage in continuous professional self-development and keep current with emerging library, educational technology, and digital scholarship practices, methodologies, and technologies. Participate in the work of the Libraries through service on library-wide and Five College committees. Collaborate with the Sherrerd Center for Teaching and Learning, and other staff with pedagogical or online learning responsibilities. Participate in library wide teams, committees and working groups and professional activities. Represents Smith College Libraries at conferences and collaborations with national organizations in pedagogy, librarianship, and emerging library practices. Perform related duties as required.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education/Experience: Master’s in Library Science, Information Studies, Education, Instructional Design or equivalent degree. At least 3-5 years teaching experience and selecting, implementing and evaluating instructional technologies in a library setting. Knowledge of current issues and trends in pedagogy, especially on the undergraduate level.
Skills: Demonstrated ability to select, implement and evaluate instructional design concepts. Ability to use instructional technologies effectively to enhance in-person and online library instruction. A strong commitment to public service, knowledge of current issues and methods of teaching research literacy, experience with the provision of library reference and research assistance to users, excellent oral and written communication skills, and demonstrated ability to work flexibly, independently and collaboratively with colleagues and library users in a rapidly changing service-oriented environment.
To view the full position and apply, please visit the following link. Please attach/upload a current resume and cover letter in order for your application to be considered for this position. Review of applications will begin January 2, 2020.
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.
Smith College is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, color, religion, 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.