Research Services Resident Librarian
Description
Washington and Lee University Library welcomes applications from collaborative, user-focused, and inclusive early career librarians to join the Research Services team as Research Services Resident Librarian.
The library is launching a new residency program within the ACRL Diversity Alliance framework in 2023. This position will be in a cohort with the E-Resources and Discovery Resident Librarian. The residency is a three-year appointment with the option to continue as a traditional Assistant Professor upon completion of the program. Goals of the residency are to develop the residents' skills and knowledge in a small liberal arts college library setting and to "diversify and thereby enrich the profession" (ACRL Diversity Alliance: https://acrl.libguides.com/da).
Reporting to the Head of Research Services, the Research Services Resident Librarian will: serve as the primary liaison to disciplines appropriate to their background and interests; contribute to general reference and instruction, collection management, and outreach activities in collaboration with the Research Services team; and will participate in service and scholarship activities as a member of the University Library and College faculties. In addition, the two residents will have dedicated time for professional learning, mentoring, and other professional development activities as part of the residency program.
The successful candidate will have a strong and demonstrated understanding of and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, especially as applied to research and instruction services in academic libraries. The Research Services Resident Librarian will be a non-tenure track faculty member at the Assistant Professor rank. The appointment begins on or after May 1, 2023.
About the University and the Library
Washington and Lee University promotes a dynamic and inclusive environment that allows students and employees of multiple backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to learn, work, and thrive together. Successful candidates will contribute to that environment and exhibit potential for excellence in librarianship and for vigorous scholarship. In keeping with the University Strategic Plan, we welcome applications from underrepresented minority candidates and members of other communities that are traditionally underrepresented in academia.
W&L is a highly selective, independent, co-educational, liberal arts college of approximately 1850 undergraduate and 400 law students and located in Lexington, VA, three hours southwest of Washington, DC. W&L is consistently ranked among the top 12 national liberal arts colleges. Established in 1749, it is the ninth oldest institution of higher learning in the nation.
The University Library serves the undergraduate teaching, learning, and research programs, housing approximately 1.3M physical and digital items in roughly 100,000 square feetof public space. The University Library is the home of W&L's Digital Culture and Information (DCI) minor program. Library faculty serve as initial and minor program advisors for undergraduates, may teach courses in DCI and other disciplines, and participate in faculty governance, service, and scholarship opportunities.
Essential and Related Functions
- Serves as the library's primary liaison to selected academic departments for the purposes of supporting disciplinary teaching and research and facilitating communication between the library and departments. This may include providing information literacy instruction, subject-based reference and consultative services, and departmental and individual outreach.
- As a member of the Research Services team, provides general outreach and expert research advice to students, faculty, staff, administrators, and community visitors.
- Collaborates with colleagues across the library to recommend selection and deselection of research and teaching resources for the library's collection.
- Serves as a faculty member of the College.
- Participates in teaching activities of the library, which may include advising students and/or teaching credit bearing courses, among other opportunities.
- Engages in pertinent ongoing service, research, scholarship, and/or creative activity as defined by the library's Departmental Faculty Development Document.
- Participates in professional development activities as appropriate to meet personal and departmental goals and objectives.
- Performs other duties as assigned by the University Librarian or Head of Research Services.
Salary and Benefits
Minimum salary: $60,000 per year. Salary is commensurate with experience.
The residency is a three-year, 12-month, non-tenure track, ranked faculty appointment with the option to move to a traditional Assistant Professor position upon completion. The library provides relocation assistance for new hires and professional development funding for all library faculty and staff.
Washington and Lee offers an extensive range of health care and life insurance benefits, retirement options, educational assistance programs, and other programs and services to our staff and faculty. For more information, visit:https://my.wlu.edu/human-resources/benefits-and-paid-time-off.
Qualifications
- ALA-accredited MLS or equivalent relevant terminal degree, received between May 2020 and August 2023. Holding a terminal degree in a relevant field is a requirement of faculty status.
- Any combination of experience and coursework in the fundamentals of subject-based research support, such as information literacy, reference, instruction, and collection management.
- Demonstrated commitment to applying principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility to academic libraries.
The university requires employees to become fully vaccinated for COVID-19, with one booster. New employees must provide proof of at least their first shot prior to the first day of employment. Individuals may seek a medical or a religious exemption to the vaccination requirement.