Assistant Librarian for Research & Instruction
Ensures that the Biola community develops skills in discovering, evaluating, and using scholarly resources by providing research support and instruction and assisting in curating the library collection needed to support research assignments within assigned liaison schools’ curriculum.
The person who fills this position must be someone who personally agrees with Biola’s Articles of Faith and Statement of Biblical Principles and who is supportive of the positions taken by Biola as contained in its Eschatology Teaching Position. As such, this person may not speak against or act in a manner inconsistent with these positions during the course of their employment at Biola.
Department
Library
This position reports to the University Librarian.
MLIS or equivalent from an ALA-accredited program or international equivalent (completed or provisional employment with requirement to complete within 2 years).
Exempt, full-time – 40 hours/week, 12 months per year.
This position requires personal attendance at Biola’s campus in La Mirada, California.
Travel may be required to remain invested in the scholarship of the profession.
Teaching research strategies to students through providing no fewer than eight (8) hours per week of posted availability for research consultations or support including any assigned desk shifts.
Designing and delivering library instructional content on the research process to support course assignments, including in-class instruction sessions, online research and self-service modules, and research consultations.
Managing online research support tools including LibGuides and LibWizard.
Initiating outreach to faculty, especially in assigned liaison school(s), to recommend and support relevant library resources and instructional services.
Providing research instructional strategies for faculty regarding the changing information landscape including open scholarship and artificial intelligence.
Contributing to the ongoing evaluation of physical and digital library resources needed to support the curriculum and creating recommendations for enhanced support and stewardship through collaboration with Library and faculty stakeholders, especially in assigned liaison areas.
Engaging with students to enhance library instructional services through outreach, assessment efforts, and creating new connection points.
Supporting ongoing assessment and data-driven improvements of library resources, policies, services, student and faculty user experiences, outreach efforts, and broader library initiatives and resources.
Participating in library and university service committees and projects including preparing recommendations or updates, leading or supporting projects, and contributing to achieving goals as well as institutional effectiveness.
Assisting in creating and fostering welcoming spaces and services for students and faculty to encounter and engage with scholarly resources.
Compiling data specific to research and instructional services, including managing data integrity in Springshare’s Ref Analytics.
Submitting monthly expense reports for approved purchases.
Contributing to promoting a spiritually and professionally nurturing environment for Biola faculty, staff, students, and community members.
Maintaining a lifestyle in consonance with sound Christian principles and those promulgated by the institution.
All other duties as assigned that the supervisor determines are appropriate.
Objective Goals to be Attained
Achieve goals for increasing students’ utilization of research support in the library as set annually by the supervisor.
Achieve goal for evaluating materials needed to complete course-specific research assignments against current library holdings as set annually by the supervisor.
Provide consistent scheduling of availability for research consultations and support.
Meet minimum qualifications for promotion cycle or rank level review.
Library experience, including providing research support and teaching information literacy skills.
Ability to work a schedule aligned with the needs of the Library and the assigned schools served within the University, which may include a regular evening shift.
Google Workspace Proficiency: Familiarity with Google products including Gmail, Google Calendar, Docs, Sheets and Slides, Google Drive and Google Meet.
Typing: Proficiency in keyboarding (typically 50 to 80 words per minute).
Intellectual Curiosity:
Inquisitive interest in people and their ideas.
Intrinsic exploration and investigation in the pursuit of learning.
Initiative: independently starting a process or action that supports broader goals.
Leadership: positively exercise influence on others including those in senior, supervised (if applicable), and collegial relationships.
Team Player:
Retains individual responsibility in the context of shared goals and projects.
Collaborates with others to identify and accomplish steps needed to achieve team goals.
Communication:
Welcoming, enthusiastic.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills for interacting with diverse clients and team members.
Active listening to understand others’ needs and respond effectively.
Problem-Solving:
Identifying issues and coming up with practical solutions.
Being resourceful and adaptable when faced with challenges.
Learning new technology.
Time Management:
Prioritizing tasks and managing time effectively to meet deadlines.
Juggling multiple responsibilities without compromising quality.
Organization:
Keeping track of details, schedules, and documents.
Maintaining an orderly workspace and digital files.
Adaptability:
Being flexible in a dynamic work environment.
Embracing changes and adjusting priorities smoothly.
Confidentiality:
Handling sensitive information with discretion.
Respecting privacy and maintaining trust.
Resourcefulness: Finding creative solutions and adapting to changing situations.
Ability to lift 20 lbs to library shelf height, to move boxes and other library material, bend to reach items at floor height, stand for long periods of time, and to push a loaded book cart.
Other Desired Duties/Skills
Design Springshare product templates, ideally with HTML / CSS skills.
Create video content, ideally with an instructional focus.
Instructional design.
Statistics: familiarity with advanced analytics on business data.
Assessment: formal review of programs, services, and user experiences.
Strategic Planning: Thinking ahead and anticipating needs or potential challenges of supervisor or department.
Rank and Salary
This Library Faculty position holds the rank of Assistant Librarian 1 or higher, depending upon experience and accomplishments. (A candidate who has not completed the required library master’s degree will be awarded the Library faculty salary and rank of Assistant Librarian 1 on the July 1st following degree completion).
Salary depends upon rank and is equivalent to the corresponding faculty rank salary scale (e.g. Associate Librarian 2 salary = Associate Professor 2 salary). Example $6,703.00 - 7,154.00 per month