Vacancy Announcement: Research Librarian for the Sciences and Engineering

Located in historic and dynamic Richmond, Virginia, convenient to the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the recreation destinations of the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, and the cultural resources of Washington, D.C., Virginia Commonwealth University is Virginia’s largest university and one of the nation’s leading research institutions. The VCU Libraries, one of Virginia’s outstanding research library systems, advances the University’s teaching, research, service, and patient care mission with holdings exceeding 2.3 million volumes, 52,000 serials, 500,000 e-books, and nationally prominent collections in the health and biological sciences, social work, the arts, the history of medicine, and comic and book arts.

The Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries invites applications and nominations for the position of Research Librarian for the Sciences and Engineering. VCU Libraries seeks an innovative, motivated individual to create programs and services for VCU’s science and engineering community, initiatives that will advance the research enterprise and foster a climate of scholarly inquiry and student achievement. The successful candidate will join a culturally and academically diverse faculty of the highest caliber.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Assistant Head for Research Services, the Research Librarian for the Sciences and Engineering will be designated Research and Instructional Services’ liaison to VCU Life Sciences, the School of Engineering, and selected departments in the College of Humanities and Sciences. The Librarian will teach curriculum-integrated instructional sessions at all degree levels, collaborate with teaching faculty to develop course content, and to create online learning tools. The Librarian will be an active participant in the department’s growing research consultation service, offering appointment-based, discipline-specific research assistance to individuals and small groups. He or she will develop the science and engineering reference collection in both print and digital formats. The incumbent will work collaboratively with all members of the department as well as colleagues at the Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences to shape and promote overall library outreach, programs, and services. The Librarian will provide point-of-need research assistance at the reference desk, including some evenings and weekends. The Research Librarian for the Sciences and Engineering is expected to be active professionally and to contribute to developments in the field. Faculty with the VCU Libraries are evaluated, and promoted, on the basis of job performance, scholarship, and professional development and service.

Qualifications

Required: ALA-accredited graduate degree or an accredited graduate degree in another appropriate discipline. Preferred: Academic preparation in the sciences and/or engineering demonstrated through an undergraduate or graduate degree in a discipline related to the assigned liaison responsibilities. Substantial public services experience in an academic research library and familiarity with research methods and tools in the sciences and engineering. Understanding of the research behaviors of scientists and engineers, and an awareness of trends in the dissemination of information in these disciplines. Knowledge of instructional design and online learning trends. Experience with Web-authoring tools and standards. Initiative and creativity. The ability to meet deadlines and manage competing priorities under pressure. Excellent presentation and public speaking skills. Ability to work independently as well as part of a team and a preference for group work. Strong service orientation. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Experience working in a culturally diverse environment highly preferred. Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Libraries

Virginia Commonwealth University is Virginia’s largest research university, enrolling over 32,000 students. Classified by Carnegie as Research University (very high research activity), VCU offers 40 doctoral, 67 masters, 3 professional, and 60 baccalaureate degree programs. Twenty-seven of VCU's graduate, professional programs are ranked by U.S. News & World Report as among the best in the nation, with 21 programs ranking in the top 25 and two programs — sculpture and nurse anesthesia — ranked number one. Over 1,900 faculty comprise the University's teaching force. Research strengths at the University include health and life sciences, education, engineering, social work, behavioral sciences, public affairs, advertising and design, and the fine arts. Sponsored research funding totals over $230 million, placing VCU among the top 100 research institutions in the United States. VCU’s strategic plan (http://www.future.vcu.edu/pdfs/Quest_Full_Document.pdf) embraces an acceleration in the growth of VCU’s library system and includes a new Master Site Plan that envisions additions to both library facilities operated by the VCU Libraries. An off-site storage facility was completed 2010 and major renovations to create a Learning Commons in Cabell Library opened summer 2010.  A major space planning study for library facilities is underway.

Libraries at Virginia Commonwealth University (including the James Branch Cabell Library on the Monroe Park Campus and the Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences on the MCV Campus) employ 47 professionals and 73 support staff with an annual budget exceeding $16.6 million. VCU also operates programs in Doha, Qatar, including a library supporting the program there; Northern Virginia; and in various additional locations throughout the U.S. and the world. The VCU Libraries is a Resource Library in the National Network of Libraries of Medicine and a member of the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries, SPARC, CNI, BioMed Central, and the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA), a statewide networking consortium for shared access to electronic and print resources. The VCU Libraries uses a suite of products from Ex Libris in addition to CONTENTdm and DSpace as the foundation of its system architecture to enhance access to its collections and services. It is in the process of adopting Primo as its discovery layer and has been selected by Ex Libris as an early adopter for Alma, its next generation cloud-based system for library management.

The Monroe Park Campus of VCU is located in Richmond's Fan District, a large, residential neighborhood of townhouses, shops, and cafes. The campus is home to most of the University’s undergraduate and many of its graduate programs, including the School of the Arts, the College of Humanities and Sciences, and the Schools of Business, Education, Engineering, and Social Work. The School of Social Work also offers the Masters of Social Work at the Northern Virginia Campus in Alexandria, Virginia. In addition, VCU’s Qatar campus in the Middle East offers degree programs through the School of the Arts.

Salary: Salary commensurate with experience, not less than $45,000 annually. This is a full-time, non-tenured faculty position. Normal faculty benefits apply, including 24 vacation days annually and choice of retirement and annuity plans. For more information about benefits, see http://www.hr.vcu.edu/benefits/.

For more information about the VCU Libraries, please visit our home page at http://www.library.vcu.edu/. Review of applications will begin September 19, and will continue until the position is filled. By email, submit cover letter, resume, and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three references to:

Pamela H. Fraga

Assistant to the University Librarian

VCU Libraries, Virginia Commonwealth University

901 Park Avenue

PO Box 842033

Richmond, VA 23284-2033

804-828-1107

804-828-0151 (fax)

phfraga@vcu.edu

Virginia Commonwealth University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.