[LIBJOBS] Open Position: Education and Behavioral Sciences Librarian, Penn State, University Park, Pennsylvania

Education and Behavioral Sciences Librarian
The Pennsylvania State University Libraries

The Pennsylvania State University Libraries seek an Education and Behavioral Sciences Librarian for a tenure track faculty position at the University Park campus that focuses on reference, instruction, collection development, and outreach.  This faculty member will become part of a team of 3 library faculty in the Education and Behavioral Sciences Library (EBSL), one of 11 subject libraries at University Park. See http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/ebsl.html. The EBSL supports all academic programs in the College of Education, as well as the academic units of Communication Sciences & Disorders and Human Development & Family Studies in the College of Health and Human Development and Psychology in the College of the Liberal Arts. The EBSL also serves as the administrative home of the Pennsylvania Center for the Book (PACFTB), affiliated with the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and sponsored in Pennsylvania by the University Libraries. Outreach initiatives created and implemented by the PACFTB include an online literary and cultural heritage map of the state, an online family literacy curriculum for children birth through 8 and their parents/caregivers, a statewide writing contest for children in 4th through 12th grade, an annual public poetry broadside series, and several national book awards and annual lists including the Lee Bennett Hopkins Award for Children’s Poetry and the annual Baker’s Dozen list of the best books for family literacy. See http://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/.

We seek a librarian with the broadest possible experience and training in our major areas of service—teacher education, higher education, instruction/information literacy, psychology and human development, children’s and young adult literature, and outreach—a specialized generalist in education and the behavioral sciences.

Responsibilities: Reporting to the Head of the Education and Behavioral Sciences Library and Director of the Pennsylvania Center for the Book, the successful candidate will:

•    provide expertise and leadership in general reference services (live, remote, and web-based) in the education and behavioral sciences disciplines,
•    develop and present course-related instruction and conduct seminars, student orientations and student tutorials in all undergraduate and graduate subject areas within the EBSL,
•    create subject web pages and guides to research,
•    develop collections to support the academic units served by the EBSL,
•    serve as liaison to appropriate departments based upon the strengths of the candidate,
•    hold rotating administrative responsibility for particular programs and initiatives of the PACFTB, and
•    engage in research, scholarship, and service in accordance with promotion and tenure guidelines for Penn State library faculty.

Required Qualifications: Masters of Library Science degree from an ALA-accredited program (or equivalent); experience or academic preparation in one of the subject areas served by the EBSL; excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills; strong commitment to service and outreach missions; ability to work independently and collaboratively; expertise in the use of print and online resources.  Preferred Qualifications: Experience or academic preparation in working directly with children in schools, libraries, or other settings; reference, instruction, or outreach experience in an academic, school, or public library; strong web skills; and experience working with diverse populations.

Environment: Penn State, a land-grant institution, is a member of the CIC (Big 10) academic consortium. The Penn State University Libraries currently rank 8th  in North America among private and public research universities, based on Association for Research Libraries data. In  2009 Washington Monthly, a political, inside-the-beltway publication, ranked Penn State 7th in the nation among public universities in preparing students to benefit the nation. The Libraries hold membership in ARL, OCLC, and CRL. Collections exceed 5.3 million volumes, including more than 88,000 current serial subscriptions. The University Libraries are located at University Park and 23 other locations throughout Pennsylvania, with approximately 6,000 faculty and 42,000 students at University Park, and more than 92,000 students system wide. The University Park campus is set in the State College metropolitan area, a university town located in the heart of 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 drive to Washington, DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City and Pittsburgh. For more information, please www.libraries.psu.edu and www.cbicc.org.  

Salary and Benefits: Potential for promotion and tenure will be considered based upon University standards in librarianship, research, service, and outreach. Salary and rank are commensurate with qualifications and experience. Fringe benefits include liberal vacation, excellent insurance and health care coverage, state or TIAA/CREF retirement options, and educational privileges.

To Apply: Send letter of application, resume, and the names and contact information of three professional references (including email addresses) to: Search Committee, Box EBSL-LIBJ, The Pennsylvania State University, 511 Paterno Library, University Park, PA 16802. Review of resumes will begin on May 26, 2010 and continue until the position is filled.

Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce.