Research & Instruction Librarian

Job Title:        Research & Instruction Librarian Status:            Exempt, 12 months

Department: Library

Reports to:     Library Director

Summary : 

The Research & Instruction Librarian serves as the Library’s liaison to support faculty, student, and staff engagement with Ohrstrom Library’s diverse and in-depth digital and print holdings, as well as leads the Library staff in providing innovative and user-centered reference and instruction services. This staff member designs and delivers an innovative instruction program to best serve a diverse student population and develops strategies to introduce community members to Library services. Additionally, the Research & Instruction Librarian is responsible for managing the Library’s vast digital holdings, including promoting the collections to the community. This position requires at least one evening shift; typically, the library is open until 9:30 pm. The Research & Outreach Librarian also serves the St. Paul’s Advanced Studies Program in the summer. 

 Teaching and Learning

• Designing and delivering an innovative instruction program to best serve a diverse student population, which includes:
  • Designing and conducting library instruction and orientation sessions
  • Creating research guides to mirror instruction class
  • Instructing individual library users on use of print and electronic Providing research consultations.
  • Participating in Library, institutional, and outside professional committees, conferences and other scholarly and developmental opportunities.
• Teaching group library instruction classes on research strategies, source evaluation, academic integrity, citation, and other information literacy topics
• Establishing collaborative and supportive partnerships with faculty in order to ensure that library services and instruction are relevant to curricular needs
• Creating research guides, instruction resources, digital materials, videos/tutorials, and making those resources accessible to students, faculty, and staff.
• Working with other library staff members to design and implement outreach initiatives to increase faculty and student engagement with the academic services and resources of the library
• 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

Collection

• Selecting, managing and maintaining the library’s digital collections, keeping current knowledge of digital collection trends and offerings, and working closely with faculty for digital collection development
• Setting up database trials and collecting and analyzing usage to support purchase, renewal, and cancellation decisions
• Publicizing, teaching and incorporating new digital collections into the curriculum

Other Responsibilities 

• Making recommendations for the development of new research services
• Training and supporting library staff with research tools, skills, and services
• Troubleshooting patron connection problems with resources
• 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, particularly new students

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 accommodations 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, Springshare, and Wordpress 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