[LIBJOBS] Humanities Liaison Librarian, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA

Humanities Liaison Librarian for Spanish and Latin American Studies
The Pennsylvania State University Libraries

The Pennsylvania State University Libraries seek a Humanities Librarian for a tenure-track faculty position, serving as the Libraries’ subject specialist and liaison for the following academic units and their related disciplines:

• Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese
• Program in Latin American Studies
• Program in Latina/o Studies
  

Depending upon background and experience, the librarian may also be responsible for other departments such as Applied Linguistics or French and Francophone Studies.

Responsibilities: The Humanities Liaison Librarian serves with a team of seven other subject specialists in related fields, reports to the Head of the George and Sherry Middlemas Arts and Humanities Library, and is responsible for the above subject areas in the following categories:

• Collections content and access: Build, maintain, and assess collections in all media and formats to support research and teaching in assigned academic units.  Collaborate with librarians in related subject areas and libraries.
• Reference and research: Provide consulting and mentoring for general and subject-specific research at all levels in person, at the Knowledge Commons and other key library service points, and in the virtual world via e-communications and social networking.
• Teaching, learning and literacies: Design and deliver a program of library instruction that supports the curriculum of liaison academic units.  Participate in general information literacy initiatives supporting undergraduate education.
• Liaison activities with assigned academic units: Participate in the intellectual life and operations of assigned academic units; engage with faculty and students as a colleague in both disciplinary activities and in library services.
• Scholarly communications: Participate in digital humanities initiatives involving professional efforts for open access, digital publishing, copyright, and digital curation.
• Research and Service: Engage in research, scholarly publication, and professional service activities in areas appropriate to academic librarianship and the disciplines served.
  

Required Qualifications: Requires a Masters of Library Science degree from an ALA-accredited institution (or equivalent); relevant experience in collection development and public services at an academic or research library; proficiency with the Spanish language and knowledge of literature in Spanish; substantial academic background in one or more of the relevant disciplines; knowledge of current trends and methodologies in humanities research and scholarly communication; ability to work in a collaborative and service oriented environment; potential to achieve the requirements for tenure and promotion in the areas of librarianship, research, and service; excellent oral and written communication skills.

Preferred qualifications: Advanced degree in one of the relevant disciplines; knowledge of Italian or Portuguese languages and literatures; experience in digital humanities projects.

Environment: Penn State, a land-grant institution, is a member of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), a consortium of the Big Ten universities plus the University of Chicago.  In its special "Paths to Professions" section on September 13, 2010, the Wall Street Journal published results of a survey of industry recruiting executives, with Penn State named the No. 1 overall institution in the nation for producing the best prepared, most well-rounded graduates who are most able to succeed once hired.  Based on current Association for Research Libraries investment rankings, Penn State is now among the top ten research libraries in North America.  A Penn State student survey completed in 2010 found overall student satisfaction with the Libraries to be at the top of its category. 

The Libraries hold membership in ARL, OCLC, and CRL. Collections exceed 5.8 million volumes, including more than 102,000 current serial subscriptions. The University Libraries are located at University Park and 22 other locations throughout Pennsylvania, and they serve approximately 6,000 faculty and 44,000 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 D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, and Pittsburgh. The University Park Airport is served by three major carriers with flights to Washington, Philadelphia, and Detroit. For more information, please www.libraries.psu.edu and www.cbicc.org.

Compensation: Salary and rank commensurate with experience. Fringe benefits include liberal vacation, excellent insurance, state or TIAA/CREF retirement options, and educational privileges.

To Apply: Send a letter of application, resume, and the names and contact information of three professional references (including email addresses) to: Search Committee, The Pennsylvania State University, Box HUML-LIBJ, 511 Paterno Library, University Park, PA 16802. Applications and nominations may be sent to the search committee at the above address or to lap225@psu.edu. Please be sure and reference Box HUML-LIBJ in the email subject line.  Review of candidates will begin on May 11, 2012 and continue until the position is filled.

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