Job Title: Research & Instruction Librarian
Status: Exempt, 12 months
Department: Library
Reports to: Library Director
Summary :
The Research & Instruction Librarian serves as one of the Library’s liaisons to support faculty, student, and staff engagement with Ohrstrom Library’s diverse and in-depth digital and print holdings. As part of the instruction team the Instruction Librarian co-leads the Library staff in providing innovative and user-centered reference and instruction services. This staff member designs and delivers innovative instruction sessions to best serve a diverse student population and develops strategies to introduce community members to Library services. This position may require an evening (the library is open until 9:30 pm) or weekend shift intermittently.
Teaching and Learning
- Designing and conducting library instruction and orientation sessions for liaison departments.
- Teaching group library instruction classes on research strategies, source evaluation, academic integrity, citation, and other information literacy topics during the academic year as well as during the Advanced Summer Program (ASP).
- Creating research guides, instruction resources, digital materials, videos/tutorials, and making those resources accessible to students, faculty, and staff.
- Instructing individual library users on use of print and electronic and providing research consultations.
- Establishing collaborative and supportive partnerships with faculty in order to ensure that library services and instruction are relevant to curricular needs.
- Developing and sustaining collaborative relationships with faculty, students, and staff in support of faculty and student engagement with the academic services and resources of the library.
- Working with other library staff members to provide frequent, timely, and appealing communication to faculty and students about academic services and resources to increase faculty and student engagement with the academic services and resources of the library..
- Participating in Library, institutional, and outside professional committees, conferences and other scholarly and developmental opportunities.
Collection
- Working with other library staff members to select and maintain the library’s digital collections, keeping current knowledge of digital collection trends and offerings, and working closely with faculty for digital collection development.
- Publicizing, teaching and incorporating new digital collections into the curriculum.
- Participating in the library’s collection development program.
Other Responsibilities
- Making recommendations for the development of new research services.
- Training and supporting library staff with research tools, skills, and services.
- Providing research help to all library users seeking information in person or remotely, using print and digital collections.
- Developing strategies to introduce library reference services to all students.
- Assisting with library projects and initiatives, such as programs, displays, weeding and other collection projects.
- Shelving materials.
Service Desk
The following responsibilities common to all staff are superimposed upon the work outlined in the above job description. Please note that while each Ohrstrom Library employee staffs the service desk, they are required to multi-task, e.g. attending to immediate patron and building needs while simultaneously performing a wide range of position-specific work. Service desk responsibilities include:
- Assisting directly with a wide range of circulation desk operations, including: checking materials in and out, placing holds and recalls on items in various formats; locating library materials; directing patrons.
- Employing strong customer service and communication skills, including: answering general reference questions; assisting students and faculty with navigating Ohrstrom Library’s web page; referring specialized requests to appropriate library staff as necessary.
- Responding to informational requests requiring strong familiarity with Ohrstrom Library’s and St. Paul’s School’s policies, practices, and procedures.
- Employing strong organizational and interpersonal skills and good-judgment, investing special attention to the security and well-being of students; monitoring student behavior to ensure appropriate building use and compliance with rules; facilitating study conditions during specified evening hours; remaining vigilant to visitors and their appropriate interactions with students and use of the library; proactively responding to building emergencies by preparing work order requests or contacting Facilities as necessary.
- Contributing fully on a pre-determined schedule to the detailed and critical opening and closing procedures for the library each morning and evening.
Qualification Requirements :
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Master's degree from an ALA-accredited school
- At least two years’ experience in a library Experience in an academic or school library is preferred.
- At least two years of demonstrated and effective reference, engagement, or instruction experience.
- Strong technology skills and ability to find and learn new programs. Experience with Koha and Springshare are preferred.
- Knowledge and experience in meeting the needs of students and faculty in a variety of subject areas.
- Initiative and the ability to conceive and carry out projects on a deadline, including managing multiple responsibilities and effectively responding to the needs of a campus community that makes heavy demands on library services
- Ability to work in a collaborative team.
- Excellent customer service skills and a demonstrated commitment to excellent service to a diverse group of users, both internal and external.
- Demonstrated interest in working with adolescents.
- Demonstrated interest in outreach initiatives.
- Ability to think critically, analyze problems, and develop and implement creative solutions.
- Ability and experience to plan, manage and oversee complex projects, meet deadlines, and to prioritize work in alignment with the service goals of the library and the school.
- Commitment to professional development.
- Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
- Strong organizational and interpersonal skills, and good judgment.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, would occasionally be required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop or kneel, talk and hear, and use fingers and hands to feel objects, tools or controls
- Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, depth perceptions, and the ability to adjust focus
- Must be able to climb stairs and be capable of using visual display keyboard with continuous wrist movement on a keyboard
- Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Typical of a normal office, some exposure to outdoor elements resulting from movement between physical locations. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
To Apply: Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume with this application.
St. Paul’s School is proud to be an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to the principles of diversity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, gender, ethnic origin, disability, or sexual orientation, and complies with applicable laws for the protection of civil rights.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
