[LIBJOBS] Reference Librarian, Woodward Library, UBC Library, British Columbia, Canada

Reference Librarian, Woodward Library

UBC, Vancouver Campus

(Full-time, ongoing)

Anticipated Start Date – April 1, 2016

 

UBC Library

 

The University of British Columbia Library is one of the largest academic libraries in Canada and consistently ranks among the top university research libraries in North America. UBC Library has 14 branches and divisions, two campuses (Vancouver and Kelowna), one off-site hospital library, and the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre - a multi-purpose teaching and learning facility.

 

The Library’s collection of over 7M items includes 1.4M ebooks, 229,020 electronic journals, 850,000 maps, audio, DVD/video and graphic materials, and 1,703 bibliographic and fulltext databases.

 

More than 300 knowledgeable employees – librarians, management and professional staff, support staff and student staff – provide users with the excellent resources and services that they need to further their research, teaching and learning.  The UBC Library Strategic Plan 2010-2015 can be viewed at www.library.ubc.ca/strategicplan/.  To learn more about working with UBC Library and to explore our aspirational values visit UBC Library - Why work with us.

 

For more information about UBC Library and Woodward Library, please visit www.library.ubc.ca and http://woodward.library.ubc.ca/

 

Overview of the Position:

 

The Woodward Science Librarian provides liaison to designated subject areas and departments. Actively engages and collaborates with faculty and instructors to integrate information literacy competencies into the curriculum, collaborates with faculty, students and colleagues to provide support for scholarly communication and research data management services and initiatives and other new library initiatives as they arise. Develops re-usable learning objects and designs, develops and maintains a library of digital materials to support information literacy instruction in online and print environments. Conducts assessment of resources, and provides input on collections management. Willing to take a team lead role in, currently, research data management (RDM).

 

Participates as a member of the Woodward Library team to provide liaison, research and reference support, instructional programs and information services to faculty, students and community users. Assumes responsibility for liaison with designated subject areas and departments. Currently liaises with the undergraduate programs in Biochemistry, Biology and Microbiology/Immunology, and with the departments of Computer Science, Mathematics and Statistics. Provides online and in-person instruction and assistance in the use of information resources. As a member of the Woodward Library team, plans and implements services that respond to the changing needs of the sciences communities. Participates in the development and assessment of library collections for designated subject areas. Participates in the development of library policy, procedures, and services.  Assumes responsibility for coordination and management of staff, services or projects as required. Evening and weekend work may be required. The nature and scope of responsibilities for this and other library positions are expected to change as the Library organization evolves.

Qualifications:

 

Required:

·         Graduate degree from an accredited school of Library, Archival and Information Science

·         Knowledge of electronic information technologies and their applications to reference, as well as knowledge of best practices in online learning pedagogies

·         Demonstrated ability to initiate, plan and carry out projects, both independently and as a member of a team

·         Evidence of a proactive, user-centred vision of services

·         Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills

·         Demonstrated initiative, flexibility and ability to work creatively and effectively both independently and as a team member

·         Ability to adjust and accommodate to changing demands within Libraries and academic institutions

·         Ability to work collegially with a diverse population of colleagues and clients

 

Preferred:

·         Academic background in one of the sciences or engineering as well as relevant work experience

·         Demonstrated interest in research data management and curation

·         Familiarity with research data lifecycle support in an academic environment

·         Experience with outreach, promotion and marketing of library services and resources

Duties:

Reference and Research Services

·         Provides reference and research services to University of British Columbia students, staff and faculty members; and members of the public.

·         As the librarian responsible for particular subjects, advises and assists in difficult or extensive searches in these areas.  Employs the full range of Internet, electronic and print resources.

·         Participates in collection development in liaison areas.

·         Works with others to develop and maintain the Woodward Library presence on the UBC Library webpage and throughout the UBC campus, as appropriate.

·         Provides Information/Reference training for support staff and UBC iSchool student librarians.

Teaching and Orientation

·         Develops and provides instruction on the use of the full-range of the Library’s resources, Open Access resources and key digital literacy competencies.

·         Undertakes specialized instructional programs; including planning, designing and organizing, and including various formats for presentations.

·         Participates in library-use instruction programs.

·         Prepares handouts, research guides and informational brochures in appropriate formats.

·         Provides instruction/presentations to faculty and students (in the library, online and in the faculty departments).

Faculty Liaison

·         Initiates and maintains contact with faculty in assigned departments. 

·         Informs faculty of services and instruction offered to complement research, teaching and learning.

·         Works with faculty on the development of information and research modules and courses for students.

·         Selects print and electronic materials to support assigned liaison areas.

·         Liaises with faculty on issues of collection development.

·         Responds to faculty requests for accreditation, new course proposals, etc., in consultation with the Head of Woodward Library.

·         Attends faculty meetings and participates in faculty committees.

 

Research data management

·         Provide team leadership and training on key research data management competencies.

·         Collaborate with the Research Data Management Librarian to provide RDM services that meet the needs of faculty and students in the life sciences.

·         Develop and maintain instructional materials related to RDM, with a focus on life sciences.

 

Supervision and Administration

·         May be required to supervise staff in the absence of the supervisor(s).

·         May be assigned supervisory responsibility for building maintenance, collections management and storage.

·         May be assigned coordination of reference or instruction services within Woodward Library: reference, information desk scheduling, teaching and instruction, web presence, subject guides and/or information guides, etc.

Library Liaison

·         Represents Woodward Library on library committees and working groups.

·         Liaises with librarians in other areas of the library system.

·         Maintains an awareness of new literature and research developments in areas of research data management, in areas of liaison and specialization and in emerging trends in sciences libraries.

·         Keeps abreast of public services developments in the rest of the Library.

Working Relationships:

Reports to the Head, Woodward Library or designate Head in the branch and consults with colleagues and Library staff as required. Works with all other UBC Library Divisions as required, assessing and trouble-shooting information technologies, marketing services and scheduling information literacy sessions, etc. May be required to supervise student assistants and library assistants for assigned projects or for group-related functions.

Terms of Appointment and Salary:

This position will be filled as a full time ongoing position. If eligible and qualified, the successful applicant may be appointed with a confirmed appointment. Otherwise, there will be an initial three-year probationary appointment.  Normally, such an appointment is reviewed by the end of the second year of the appointment, and a recommendation is made at that time to grant or not to grant a confirmed appointment.

 

Salary will be commensurate with experience and academic/professional qualifications.

 

We are seeking applications from Librarians with up to 2 years of experience.  However, all internal candidates will be considered regardless of years of experience and are encouraged to apply.

 

UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. The University especially welcomes applications from visible minority groups, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, and others with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply. However, Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.

 

Applications will include: a detailed and current curriculum vitae; and a letter of application that includes a statement of citizenship/immigration status and indicates the candidate’s education, training and work experience in the areas listed above.  

 

To view the complete job description and to submit an application, please visit the UBC Careers page at http://www.hr.ubc.ca/careers-postings/faculty.php by midnight on February 18, 2016.

 

 

 

 

(Sent on behalf of Ingrid Parent, University Librarian, UBC)