come work at berkeley.

I’m putting the word out on a new position that just posted for an Undergraduate Instruction and Outreach Librarian in the UC Berkeley Library Instructional Services department, aka my new home:

Undergraduate Instruction and Outreach Librarian
Doe/Moffitt Libraries
Hiring range: Associate Librarian I — III
$48,029-$52,860 per annum, depending on qualifications

The University of California, Berkeley seeks an energetic, creative, and user-oriented instruction librarian to envision, design and implement innovative programming for and marketing to first-year and incoming transfer students. Working collaboratively with library staff and other campus partners, the Undergraduate Instruction and Outreach Librarian will initiate and coordinate services focused on engaging and supporting lower-division undergraduates and other students new to campus. Through traditional in-library encounters and creative outreach methods (such as residence hall visits, social networking forums, and in-library/online exhibit development), this librarian will promote the resources and the services of the library, working towards developing research proficiencies in the undergraduate student population. This librarian will also actively contribute to the planning, development and provision of instruction and reference services.

The Environment

The UC Berkeley Library is an internationally renowned research and teaching facility at one of the nation’s premiere public universities that serves 23,000 undergraduate students, 9,000 graduate students, and 15,000 faculty members. The Library is composed of approximately 20 libraries, including the Doe/Moffitt Libraries. The Doe Library serves as the research library for most of the humanities, social sciences and area studies departments; the Moffitt Library is the central hub for programming and collections for undergraduates and will strengthen this role as it undergoes a major renovation during the next five years. Discover more about the Library through our virtual front door at http://www.lib.berkeley.edu and http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/doemoff.

The Undergraduate Instruction and Outreach Librarian will join the Doe/Moffitt Instructional Services department and collaborate with staff from across the UC Berkeley Library. The Instructional Services department is housed within the Moffitt Library and supports undergraduate education by providing course-integrated and course-related instruction, drop-in sessions, courseware-based instruction, online tutorials and guides, and individual consultations. The instruction is learner-centered and encourages all students to be self-sufficient, lifelong, and technology-proficient learners, who understand how to retrieve, critically evaluate, manage, and use information. The department is particularly interested in individuals with a history of promoting diversity and access in higher education.

Responsibilities

Under the direction of the Head of Instructional Services in the Doe/Moffitt Libraries, the Undergraduate Instruction and Outreach Librarian will work with colleagues to promote, publicize and implement programs, services, and events for incoming first-year students and transfer students and will engage those populations to become more active and engaged users of the library. This person will also coordinate visits and orientations to the Moffitt Library from off-campus and community groups. The incumbent will develop and coordinate library marketing and outreach materials such as displays, exhibits and blog postings, as well as use social networking conduits, liaison relationships, and cultivated relationships with student groups to promote library services to the target community.

This position will coordinate and facilitate online library-related instruction for Berkeley’s diverse student population through a variety of media. In collaboration with library staff, faculty, and other campus partners, the incumbent will design, develop, promote, and assess the effectiveness of curricular materials, tutorials and other digital learning objects for an array of disciplines. This position will also contribute to training and support of other Library colleagues who are developing online instruction. The incumbent will collaborate with the E-Learning Librarian to encourage the incorporation of Library-developed instructional tools into the campus learning management system.

The Undergraduate Instruction and Outreach Librarian will be expected to provide leadership and vision as the Library investigates and experiments with emerging technologies that could strengthen online instruction efforts. This person will individually and with others explore, develop, test, and promote new independent learning tools.

This librarian is an active contributor to the department’s instruction program, presenting course-related instruction and drop-in workshops and providing up to 10 hours per week of reference services in the Doe/Moffitt Libraries, with some evening and weekend shifts.

Professional contributions beyond the primary job, such as publications, leadership in University and professional organizations, and other research and creative activity, are required for advancement within the Librarian series. Candidates must show evidence of or potential for such contributions.

Qualifications

Required

• MLIS from an ALA-accredited institution, or equivalent.
• Experience teaching library instruction classes in an academic environment, preferably to undergraduate students.
• Demonstrated understanding of information needs of undergraduates.
• Familiarity with concepts and goals of information literacy.
• Familiarity of emerging technologies as they relate to information literacy and library services.
• Knowledge of instructional design principles in an online environment.
• Evidence of experience using web authoring tools.
• Experience creating instructional and information materials such as online tutorials, surveys, and guides.
• Excellent analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Evidence of both professional initiative and flexibility.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collegially with a diverse population.

Preferred

• Familiarity with web accessibility issues and usability testing required to meet ADA accessibility standards.
• Experience creating interactive online experiences.
• Experience assessing student learning.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects.
• Experience or significant coursework in providing reference service, including a broad knowledge of both print and online information sources preferably related to humanities and social sciences in an academic library.
• Experience consulting with instructors and other academic support staff related to course and assignment design.

The Library at the University of California, Berkeley is committed to the support and encouragement of a multicultural environment and seeks candidates who can make positive and imaginative contributions in a context of ethnic and cultural diversity.

Professional librarians at UC are academic appointees and are represented by an exclusive bargaining agent, University Council – American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT). This position is in the bargaining unit.

Librarians are entitled to appropriate professional leave, two days per month of vacation leave, one day per month of sick leave, and all other benefits granted to non-faculty academic personnel. UC has an excellent retirement system and sponsors a variety of group health, dental, vision and life insurance plans in addition to other benefits. Relocation assistance is provided.

DEADLINE : Consideration will be given to applications received by October 31, 2008.

Applicants should apply in writing, including with their letter a complete statement of qualifications, a full resume of their education and relevant experience, and the names, addresses, and phone numbers of three references who are knowledgeable about their qualifications for this position. Send applications to:

Barbara Kornstein
Academic Personnel Specialist
Library Human Resources Department
110 The Library
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
Or FAX to: 510.642.8675
Or EMAIL: librec@library.berkeley.edu

Applications received via email preferred.

I must admit that self-interest motivates my plug for this position – I will work closely with this person, and needless to say I would love to see the job filled by someone who seriously wants to collaborate and get some interesting work done (not to mention live in, ahem, paradise). You also get to teach and do direct reference, and I can virtually guarantee that you will love your coworkers – I already do. This library system is going through a period of interesting change/development, and my sense is there will be a great deal of opportunity for putting good ideas into practice (i.e. why I am here). My early impression of Berkeley students is that they are extremely bright and potentially quite receptive to the type of programming this librarian would develop. Needless to say, this is a powerful combination – this job is for someone who wants to 1) positively impact the learning environments of many students and 2) raise the profile of the library accross campus. Please apply if this is you, or pass it on if you know someone who fits the bill.