The Pennsylvania State University Libraries invite applications and nominations for the Librarian for Asian Studies at its University Park campus. We seek a proactive and creative candidate for a faculty librarian position to serve as one of the liaisons for the Humanities and Social Sciences Department, specifically with the Department of Asian Studies. The successful candidate will benefit from the strong mentoring program developed by the University Libraries to support new faculty in tenure-track appointments in fulfilling expectations in the areas of librarianship, research, and service. Early career librarians are encouraged to apply. 

Responsibilities  

• Serve as a liaison to and lead outreach activities for the Department of Asian Studies and the College of Liberal Arts;  

• Initiate and conduct course-related and general information literacy instruction;  

• Develop content, including course guides, subject guides, and other instructional and outreach materials in assigned areas;   

• Provide reference assistance and research consulting at all levels, both face-to-face and online. Serve as the subject expert for Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hindi and South Asia Studies, Asian Studies and Asian American Studies;  

• Acquire and maintain resources in multiple formats, including monographs, serials, electronic resources, databases, and multimedia;  

• Work with librarians in related subject areas and libraries including Commonwealth Campus Libraries and Big Ten Academic Alliance peers to develop collaborative collections;  

• Contribute to the advancement of Penn State University Libraries’ programs for scholarly communication, open access (OA) initiatives, and open educational resources (OER);  

• Participate in the Ask-a-Librarian online reference service and provide reference and research support to students, faculty members, staff, and visiting scholars;  

• Engage in research, scholarly publication, and professional service activities in areas appropriate to academic librarianship and the disciplines served;  

• Perform other duties as assigned.  

​Required:  

• Master’s degree from an ALA accredited library school and/or advanced degree in a relevant academic discipline.  

• Academic background, professional experience, or other contributions demonstrating expertise in Asian Studies; or Chinese, Japanese, and Korean; or Asian American Studies; or Hindi and South Asia Studies; or another related field.   

• Proficiency (written and spoken) in Chinese, Japanese or Korean.  

• Commitment to fostering an equitable and inclusive workplace.       

Preferred:  

• Experience working in an academic library. 

• Knowledge of collection development and methods for increasing diversity and equity in library collections and services. 

• Experience designing and delivering outreach and information literacy instruction in person and online.  

• Experience working with multicultural and/or international student groups.  

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively. 

Candidates for the rank of Assistant Librarian should possess a graduate degree in library or information studies or other appropriate degree; must have demonstrated potential ability as a librarian; and must have shown promise of growth in research and service. Candidate for the rank of Associate Librarian should possess the same qualifications as the Assistant Librarian, demonstrate excellence in librarianship, show evidence of an established reputation in research, and have a strong record of service to the University and the profession. More information can be found in the Guideline for Promotion and Tenure Criteria https://libraries.psu.edu/policies/ul-acg07.     

Environment: The Penn State University Libraries are a strategic asset to Penn State, advancing intellectual discovery, information literacy, and lifelong learning, all in support of the University’s strategic goals in teaching, research, service, and outreach. The University Libraries is ranked among the top 10 research libraries in North America, according to the Association of Research Libraries’ investment rankings, and provides services at University Park and 22 other campus locations throughout Pennsylvania as well as online. More information about Penn State’s faculty, students, and research can be found on the University’s Data Dashboards. More than 120 faculty librarians in the University Libraries benefit from extensive technological resources and research support services. Penn State is a member of the Big Ten Academic Alliance, the Association of American Universities, and the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities. The University Libraries is a member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), the Center for Research Libraries (CRL), Digital Preservation Network, Academic Preservation Trust, Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC), Coalition for Networked Information (CNI), the ACRL Diversity Alliance, and a number of other organizations.   

The University Park campus is set in the State College metropolitan area, a university town located in central Pennsylvania. State College offers a vibrant community with outstanding recreational facilities, a low crime rate, and excellent public schools. The campus is within a half-day's drive to Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, and Pittsburgh. The University Park Airport is served by three major carriers with flights to Washington D.C., Newark, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Detroit. For more information, please visit http://www.libraries.psu.edu and http://www.cbicc.org.  

Compensation and Rank: Tenure-track faculty position, with rank and salary dependent upon qualifications and experience. For more information visit the Libraries Salaries and Benefits https://libraries.psu.edu/about/jobs/salary-and-benefits.     

The University Libraries values diversity of thought, perspective, experience, and people, and is actively committed to a culture of inclusion and respect. We encourage applicants who want to contribute to a welcoming multicultural environment. More information on Penn State’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive Excellence can be found by visiting http://equity.psu.edu/diversity-statement. Information about the University Libraries’ Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility efforts is available at https://libraries.psu.edu/about/diversity. Information about the University Libraries’ employment opportunities, processes, and culture can be found at https://libraries.psu.edu/about/jobs.