Librarian II (Faculty Outreach Librarian)

Job Title

Librarian II (Faculty Outreach Librarian)

Agency

West Texas A&M University

Department

Library Operations

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Canyon, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

The A&M System strives to maintain a competitive, high-quality benefit package to support the health and wellness needs of our workforce. This includes comprehensive health and welfare insurance plans, additional health and lifestyle programs, and optional retirement savings opportunities. Eligible employees will have access to paid leave programs in addition to 13-15 paid holidays each year. For more information regarding the benefit package go to: West Texas A&M University: Human Resources Benefits

General Summary

Cornette Library's Librarian II: Faculty Outreach Librarian, under the guidance of and in collaboration with the Librarian III: Systems and Emerging Technologies Librarian, will collaborate with instructors and other library staff to provide professional development to faculty in subjects including, but not limited to: information literacy, the promotion of specific databases, new faculty orientation, and Open Educational Resources topics, such as open access publishing, copyright as it relates to OER and Creative Commons, and OER creation/publishing platforms such as Pressbooks. The Librarian II: Faculty Outreach Librarian will develop and lead the library’s OER initiatives on campus, including co-chairing the university's OER Working Group, creating, managing, and maintaining a Libguide highlighting faculty resources, assessment of OER program activities, and managing OER creation/publishing platforms such as Pressbooks. Additionally, this position will develop and lead the library’s faculty outreach efforts on campus, including assisting with the Faculty and Student Research Poster Session and Research Fair. Opportunities for professional development in these areas will be provided. As a part of the library research, outreach, and instruction team, this position works scheduled hours at the 1st floor Research Desk providing reference services, participates in student and community outreach activities, and the delivers library instruction. This position reports to the Librarian III: Systems and Emerging Technologies Librarian.

Responsibilities:

Open Educational Resources:

• Develop and deliver programs, under the supervision of the Systems and Emerging Technologies Librarian that increases awareness of Open Educational Resources (OER) and such things as adaptation/adoption, affordable textbook and resource alternatives, copyright compliance as it relates to OER, fair use, privacy rights, author rights, intellectual property, open access, alternative publishing models and grant writing options.
• Creates, manages, and maintains the library OER web presence and a Libguide highlighting faculty resources.
• Assist faculty with research needs as they relate to the development of OER and OER related copyright compliance.
• Develop and lead OER efforts on campus, including acting as co-chair of University’s OER Working Group in addition to managing creation/publishing platforms such as Pressbooks.
• Assists with the collection and analysis of data related to the faculty use of emerging technologies, such as generative AI and OER.

Faculty Outreach:

• Under the supervision of the Systems and Emerging Technologies Librarian, the Faculty Outreach Librarian coordinates and participates in the execution of faculty-oriented programming, such as information literacy workshops, workshops promoting specific databases, and new faculty orientation.
• Develop and lead Faculty Outreach efforts on campus, including assisting with the Faculty and Student Research Poster Session and Research Fair.
• Assists with the review of current and trial electronic resources, including: marketing the trials and review opportunities to relevant parties such as librarians and faculty, summarizing findings and providing information with faculty, library liaisons, and library Collection Development Committee.
• Communicates updates on new database features in addition to ideas about how to better use the databases to faculty and library liaisons through email, library newsletter, and library PLC’s.
• As part of the library research, outreach and instruction team, assists with student or community outreach activities and events as needed.
• Duties may include moving furniture or equipment for library events.

Research Desk:

• Works scheduled hours at the library’s 1st floor Research Desk delivering reference services, both during scheduled shifts and as needed.

Professional Service:

• Serves as liaison to one or more academic departments.
• Participates in maintenance of library collections in liaison area(s) through evaluation, weeding, and selection of resources in consultation with faculty.
• Serves on library and University committees as needed.

Instruction:

• As part of the library research, outreach and instruction team, assists with instruction, especially with first year instruction.

Professional Development:

• Stays informed and keeps the University community current on trends in OER creation and adaptation in addition to copyright and Creative Commons.
• Maintains currency with developments in library service and pedagogical theory and practice.
• Demonstrates contributions to the profession through such things as membership in professional organizations, scholarly publications and/or presentations.
• Commits to learning and self-improvement, adding value to Cornette Library and West Texas A&M University, through attendance at Cornette Library’s Professional Learning Community (PLC) and through other professional avenues such as conferences, webinars, podcasts, professional literature, and/or publishing.
• This document represents the major duties, responsibilities, and authorities of this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions.  Other duties as assigned.

Necessary Qualifications:

• MLS, MSLS, MLIS from an ALA-accredited program.
• One (1 year) experience developing and providing educational programming in a library, classroom, museum, state park, or related setting.
• Coursework or experience related to openly-licensed materials and copyright compliance as it relates to open licenses and
• Experience working and/or collaborating with faculty.
• Knowledge in the use of academic library resources, including reference tools and the processes of research and information retrieval.
• Knowledge of pedagogical theory and practice.
• Strong presentation skills, with a proven ability to improvise.
• Evidence of creativity particularly in developing outreach programs, products and services relevant to information literacy, library databases, and/or openly licensed materials
• Strong comfort level with information technologies, demonstrating a familiarity with various operating systems and software including but not limited to: MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Demonstrated contributions to the profession such as membership in professional organizations, scholarly publications and/or presentations.
• Strong soft skills: teamwork and collaboration, professionalism or work ethic, oral and written communication skills with the ability to communicate with campus community, and critical thinking or problem,-solving skills.
• Ability to move medium weight boxes, furniture, books, heavy book trucks or similar items.*
• Ability to handle materials containing dust or microscopic mold spores.*
• May work nights and weekends.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctorate in related field
• One (1) year experience providing professional development to educators in a collegiate or K12 (public school) setting.
• One (1) year experience toward developing and implementing a program in an academic community that increases awareness of Open Educational Resources.
• Supervisory experience.
• Teaching certificate
• Proficiency with the use of virtual reference tools such as LibChat or equivalent.
• Proficiency with the Adobe Creative Suite, including Acrobat, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, and Premiere.
• Proficiency using HTML, CSS, or JavaScript.
• Proficiency working with Pressbooks or an equivalent Open Publishing Platform.

Applicant Instructions:

Please include the following with your application:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Three references

Please attach all documents in the attachment box at the bottom of the “My Experience” page before continuing through the application.  Please use the “Upload” button to add each document individually. All revisions must be made prior to application submission.  If you need assistance with uploading documents, please contact WTAMU Human Resources at hr@wtamu.edu.

Texas law requires all males age 18 through 25 to be properly registered with the Selective Service System.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer. 

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.