Social Sciences and Data Literacy Librarian, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA

Posted November 29, 2023

Description:

The Occidental College Library is seeking a dynamic Social Sciences and Data Literacy Librarian (SSDLL) to join our Teaching, Learning, and Research Support (TLRS) team. The Librarian will play a critical role in furthering the Library’s Information Literacy Instruction (ILI) program and supporting the College’s Social Sciences departments. This position offers an excellent opportunity for an entry-level or early-career librarian. We will provide the incumbent with on- the-job training, mentorship, and other professional development .

Reporting to the Director of TLRS, the SSDLL will develop, deliver, and support scholarly
information resources and digital technologies for the Social Sciences. The incumbent will focus on ILI objectives and provide support for students and faculty through teaching classes and workshops, providing consultations, and developing online guides and tutorials. The SSDLL will conduct ILI in multiple modalities; offer reference services; participate in supporting scholarly communication and digital initiatives; engage in outreach to faculty, students, staff, and community partners; select scholarly information resources for acquisition; provide disciplinary, pedagogical, and academic technology support services; and engage in programmatic activities and events, such as exhibitions, presentations, and publications.

Essential Duties

Serves as the primary liaison to the College’s Social Sciences departments, including but
not limited to Sociology, Diplomacy & World Affairs, Economics, and Political Science,
maintaining expertise to support faculty members’ and students’ information needs.
Provides research assistance, ILI, and one-on-one research consultations to students,
faculty, and staff, offering guidance on research strategies, source evaluation, topic
development, database searching, and citation management.
Collaborates with faculty to assess and build a diverse Social Sciences collection
supporting open and equitable access to scholarly information resources, manages budget
allocation, and integrates library resources into the curriculum.
Conducts inclusive ILI sessions tailored to the curriculum, focusing on research skills and
the use of library resources that employs a commitment to diversity, equity, justice,
inclusion, and universal design concepts and methodologies.
Promotes and supports the use of digital resources and tools, including online databases,
data sets, and research software, within the Social Sciences, specifically in sociology,
business, marketing, and economic research.
Participates in Library and College committees and projects, contributing to the
enhancement of library services and resources and the success of the College.
Engages with other TLRS team members in the Library’s 4-Year ILI program by teaching
within the Social Sciences and First Year Seminar classes, conducting training sessions, and
hosting workshops.
Cultivates expertise in finding, acquiring, manipulating, and analyzing quantitative and
qualitative data, seeking opportunities for data literacy and skills instruction, and keeping
up-to-date with data-related developments.
Promotes best practices in information and data literacy and facilitates workshops in
areas such as data analysis, data visualization, and data management.

Qualifications

Required

Recent master’s degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS) from an ALA-accredited program or the equivalent in education and professional experience.
Demonstrated knowledge of the social sciences, data literacy, and academic research methodologies.
Furthers the College’s and Library’s deep commitment to equity and justice by supporting inclusive pedagogy and providing equitable access to scholarly information resources.
Knowledge of information literacy principles and best practices with excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with faculty, students, and library colleagues.
Excellent listening, spoken, and written communication skills. Ability to interact successfully with students, faculty, staff, consortial and other professional colleagues, vendors, and off-campus community constituencies.
Energetic, motivated, and innovative team member and colleague who displays flexibility for working within a constantly evolving organization where responsibilities are shared across divisions and between individuals.
Ability to develop mastery of data analysis software such as Stata, SPSS, and Dedoose; and data visualization software such as Tableau.

Preferred

Professional experience in an academic library, preferably as a subject librarian or liaison.
Teaching experience or instructional design knowledge.
BS or second subject masters degree in the Social Sciences.
Demonstrated exposure to data analysis and data visualization software.

EXPECTED HIRING RANGE: $65,000-$66,500/YR

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume and cover letter explaining how your qualifications meet the requirements of the position to https://careers.oxy.edu/en-us/job/494325/social-science-and-data-literacy-librarian

First consideration given to candidates applying by December 15, 2023. Initial interviews will be conducted on Zoom in early 2024. Our ideal hiring date would be April 15.