VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Reference Librarian for the Arts
The Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries invites applications and nominations for the position of Reference Librarian for the Arts. VCU Libraries seeks an energetic and creative librarian who will provide high-level research assistance, instruction and outreach to students, faculty and staff in all arts disciplines. The successful candidate will join a culturally and academically diverse faculty of the highest caliber. This is one of three new faculty positions in Research and Instructional Services that will significantly expand the range of user services offered by the Libraries. Specific departments will be assigned to the position based on the successful candidate’s academic preparation and interests.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Reporting to the Head of Research and Instructional Services at the James Branch Cabell Library, the Reference Librarian for the Arts will act as the department’s primary liaison to academic departments in the School of the Arts. Provide research assistance, including some evenings and weekends, at the Cabell Library reference desk and via the Ask a Librarian virtual reference service. Actively participate in the VCU Libraries’ outreach and instruction programs. Develop the arts reference collection in both print and digital formats. Work collaboratively with the Collection Librarian for the Arts to coordinate liaison activities with academic departments. Design Web-based instructional materials and research guides. Provide training and continuing education for library staff. May supervise one or more student or hourly employees. The Reference Librarian for the Arts 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 accredited graduate degree in an arts-related discipline. Preferred: Academic background in the arts. Two or more years’ public services experience in an academic research library. Experience working in a culturally diverse environment highly preferred. Familiarity with reference resources in the arts, including visual resource collections. Experience with classroom instruction. Experience with Web authoring tools and standards. Initiative and creativity, willingness to cooperate and to share information, and the ability to meet deadlines and manage competing priorities under pressure. Ability to work independently as well as part of a team. Strong service orientation. Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Libraries
Virginia Commonwealth University is the State’s
largest research university, enrolling over 29,000 students. Classified by
Carnegie as Research University (high research activity), VCU offers 26 doctoral,
66 masters, 3 professional and 57 baccalaureate degree programs. Twenty of
VCU's graduate, professional programs are ranked by U.S. News & World Report
as among the best in the nation, with 13 programs ranking in the top 25 and
two programs — sculpture and nurse anesthesia — ranked number one.
Over 1,700 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, and the fine arts. Sponsored
research funding totaled over $205 million in FY04-05, placing VCU among the
top 100 research institutions in the U.S. VCU is completing a new strategic
plan to guide the University’s development though 2020 (http://www.vcu.edu/VCU2020/)
The plan 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.
The VCU Libraries (http://www.library.vcu.edu/) advances the University’s
teaching, research, service, and patient care mission with holdings that exceed
1.86 million volumes, 15,648 serials, more than 3.15 million microforms, and
national prominent manuscript, film, video, sound, and book art collections.
Together, 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
75 support staff with an annual budget of $13 million. 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 Ex
Libris Inc. software, including ALEPH 500, SFX, and MetaLib, as the foundation
of its next-generation integrated library system to enhance access to its collections
and services.
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: $38,000
minimum 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 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 June 1, 2006, and will
continue until the position is filled. Submit resume and the names, addresses, and telephone
numbers of three references to:
Kathleen McColgan, Personnel Administrator
VCU Libraries
Virginia Commonwealth University
901 Park Avenue
P.O. Box 842033
Richmond, Virginia 23284-2033
TEL:(804) 828-2730
FAX: (804) 828-0151
mccolgankh@vcu.edu
Virginia Commonwealth University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.