Student Success Librarian - First Year/Second Year Student Engagement
Job description
This position is for a non-tenure track, twelve-month faculty appointment in the Marx Library. This Assistant Librarian position is an opportunity for an early career professional to gain and expand skills and experience in an academic library instructional setting. The Student Success Librarian will focus on First Year/Second Year Student Engagement responsibilities, including foundational and subject-specialized information literacy instruction, general reference, preparing LibGuides, and other materials to support learning and research. The Assistant Librarian will contribute to our instruction and engagement program and student success initiatives across the University of South Alabama. The position includes collection development activities and management of library resources in support of General Education and Writing. This position will also advocate for the Libraries to be more closely integrated into the entire educational process at the University of South Alabama, including research, coursework, grants, and workshops.
The ideal candidate is interested in developing innovative approaches to instruction, engagement, and student success programming. They will provide encouragement and guidance to foster student success, treat students with respect, and maintain the learning environment to ensure quality and/or sound pedagogy. They should also share the University Libraries' commitment to social justice and inclusive pedagogy, be committed to student success, and work successfully in a collaborative environment. This role will also help pioneer new services in the library. This librarian is also expected to engage in scholarly and service activities expected of non-tenure-track librarians and participate in a library and campus community working to more fully realize diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial justice.
This position reports to the Director of the Marx Library. Some evening and weekend duties may be required.
Job Responsibilities
- Collaborates with instruction/reference librarians to design, develop, implement, promote, and assess instruction for face-to-face, online, synchronous, and asynchronous modes of delivery.
- Develops, delivers, and assesses relevant introductory workshops, instructional guides, orientations, and promotional materials.
- Advocates for library services in first/second-year courses and campus-wide.
- Conducts outreach, instruction, and collection development for the assigned English composition liaison area.
- Collaborates with the Head of Instruction to measure the efficacy of instructional programs; conducts needs assessments to determine information literacy instructional needs.
- Works collaboratively and independently to design and develop online instructional materials, including LibGuides and multimedia instructional materials.
- Composition courses, First-Year experience classes, and other undergraduate research and writing courses.
- Produces outreach and innovative programming to engage undergraduate students and to support student flourishing and success aligned to the university's and libraries' strategic plans.
- Proactively collaborates and fosters campus-wide partnerships with course faculty and instructors to integrate information literacy and research skills into their course assignments.
- Cultivates and sustains collaborative relationships with students, staff, and faculty in support of student success initiatives, including collaborating and leading student engagement activities and initiatives.
- Plans and develops outreach initiatives to advocate library services to First Year/Second Year students, including contributing to our robust social media presence.
Professional development and scholarship
- Supports and promotes University Libraries' shared vision and values.
- Upholds values of diversity, equity, and inclusion; contributes to USA's commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Maintains up-to-date professional knowledge and skills in areas related to primary job responsibilities, as well as maintains general knowledge of higher education, academic libraries, and information and educational technology.
- Actively participates in appropriate/library profession/ professional development and scholarship opportunities leading to presentations and publications.
- Actively participates in appropriate professional meetings, conferences, and workshops and serves on library and university committees.
- Coordinates with the head of circulation to conduct and promote library tours and presentations for IB/AP students; coordinates freshmen orientation events with the student engagement committee.
- Incorporates current and emerging instructional practices, methodologies, and technologies into library instruction.
- Coordinates the first-year information literacy instruction program.
- Provides research assistance/reference services at the point of need in multiple modalities.
- Collaborates with instruction librarians to provide course-integrated library instruction for students enrolled in English
- Meets scholarship and service requirements for promotion as detailed in the USA faculty handbook.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited institution, or international equivalent, by the time of appointment.
- Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills
- Knowledge of providing reference services and research help
- Knowledge of the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education
- Knowledge and familiarity with instruction and engagement with undergraduate students.
- Knowledge of academic library instruction pedagogies, and responsive and quality reference services, including in-depth reference consultations.
- Understanding of current and emerging trends in the assigned subject areas and in academic librarianship; knowledge of electronic resources and information technologies
- Ability to build collaborative and mutually beneficial working relationships with people of varying backgrounds; work effectively with faculty, students, professional colleagues, and diverse academic groups; ability to advocate and promote library resources and services to a variety of patron groups.
- Willingness to work both independently and collaboratively and possessing flexibility to take on new responsibilities as environments change.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Teaching or presentation experience, which may include designing online resources, consulting with individual researchers or project teams, and planning in-person or virtual workshops or class sessions
- Ability to use current technologies for delivering and developing library services, including course management systems and social media.
- Experience with planning, implementing, and promoting service programs.
- Experience in assessment or instructional design
Other
- Performs other duties as assigned
New graduates of ALA-accredited graduate degree programs are encouraged to apply.
Review of applications will begin August 1, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled.
Submit a letter of application, CV or resume, unofficial copies of transcripts, and the names and contact information of three professional references to Sonja Sheffield at libraryadmin@southalabama.edu. Official transcripts and three signed professional letters of reference are required for appointment.
Candidates can view http://www.cityofmobile.org for information about the Mobile area.
The University of South Alabama is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status or any other applicable legally protected basis.
