Research and Learning Librarian Job at Simmons University in Boston

Overview

Located in Boston’s historic Fenway area, Simmons University has a strong tradition of empowering women and challenging traditional gender roles. Simmons was founded for equality 125 years ago as one of the first higher education institutions dedicated to helping women become leaders. Today, our university continues to grow and evolve and now offers Boston’s only women’s undergraduate program and graduate programs open to all.

You’re joining our community at an especially exciting time as we continue to innovate for the future. Simmons recently launched a six-school academic structure that leverages our expert faculty and longstanding expertise in professions that make our communities stronger. In addition, we continue to highlight our high-value education proposition that is delivering greater ROI to students and putting them on the fast track to career growth and success. You’ll find that people who work here truly believe in our mission of preparing students to become social justice-oriented leaders who excel in their professions and their communities. This commitment and pride make for a dynamic workplace.

As a university that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices–at all levels, for all positions–ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.

Job Summary

The Research and Learning Librarian supports the core academic missions of Simmons University and the University Library through the development and delivery of targeted and relevant strategies, tools, services, and practices which directly and indirectly support student learning and academic excellence. The Research and Curriculum Librarian develops subject expertise and engages faculty in order to effectively advocate for library resources and services; designs and implements research services and instruction strategies; and supports the integration of information literacy concepts and skills into the curriculum for assigned academic departments / programs. The Research and Learning Librarian provides direct patron services, including staffing reference desk and chat reference, as well as supporting training for student workers in service delivery.

As part of the University Library’s ongoing commitment to celebrating the humanity, dignity, lived experiences, and contributions of the entire Simmons scholarly and professional community, the Research and Curriculum Librarian actively incorporates principles of antiracism and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into their teaching, service, and support of students.

Essential Job Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Key Work Activities :

Teaching & Learning

Develop and deliver library instruction—including instructional design, teaching, and assessment—in face-to-face, online, and blended modalities and in alignment with the identified program, curricular, and student needs

Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant curriculum initiatives within assigned departments / programs

Demonstrate competency on broad issues of copyright and how to responsibly use resources in an academic setting

Deliver instruction sessions which encourage students’ critical thinking around, engagement with, and evaluation of information sources through the ACRL Frameworks and other societal and systemic lenses of antiracism, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging

Research and Service

Provide high-quality reference and research support on demand by appointment, email, video conferencing, chat, or other vehicles and modalities as appropriate

Create and maintain asynchronous research tools such as LibGuides, resource- or skill-centered tutorials, and instructional videos, with particular attention paid to ensuring the accessibility of content to all students

Extend services through office hours, embedded librarianship, and support of student research programs

Participate in the promotion of library services and materials

Train and onboard student workers in research and learning and user engagement functions

Curriculum & Resources Development

Participate in ongoing collection review and assessment, especially in assigned subjects and with an awareness of the importance of recognizing, affirming, and valuing the worth of individuals and their scholarship, creative works, and perspectives

Maintain an awareness of scholarship in assigned disciplines and relevant curricular initiatives to ensure curriculum-aligned collection management that incorporates antiracism and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as assessment factors

Develop, integrate, and promote the adoption of open access principles and open educational resources into patron resource discovery experiences to help ensure the accessibility of these resources to all students

Engagement

Cultivate partnerships and collaborations with faculty, adjuncts, students, and staff in assigned departments / programs

Maintain an understanding of assigned academic department / program needs and a corresponding awareness of the appropriate library resources / services to meet such program needs

Maintain an understanding and awareness of department-, program-, College- or University-wide initiatives around antiracism, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and identify opportunities to support these through research and instruction services and other activities

Promote the awareness and use of the Library’s collections and services, and pursue opportunities that engage and inform the community

Speak knowledgeably about issues such as scholarly communication, critical cataloging, open access, institutional repositories, and information literacy

Share information about users with library staff and with departments / programs

Seek opportunities for collaboration with academic and co-curricular departments / programs on initiatives impacting resources, services, information literacy, and curriculum support

Serve on appropriate department-, program-, College-, or University-wide committees

Professional Development / Service

Maintain current knowledge of library resources, services and issues with strong emphasis on assigned academic departments / programs

Participate in appropriate professional organizations

Contribute to the profession through activities including publications and presentations and by taking on leadership roles in professional organizations

Maintain an understanding of University and Library strategy, priorities, and initiatives in order to advance shared goals

Note : This section uses allowed formatting in the refined version; original emphasis removed to meet guidelines.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an ALA accredited program in Library & Information Science
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills
• Strong analytical and organizational skills
• Commitment to excellent customer service
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently as well as part of a team
• Experience with library and emerging technology

Preferred Qualifications

Competencies

Work Environment & Conditions / Physical Demands

Salary Grade : S06

Instructions to Applicants

Please upload all applicable application materials (e.g. resume / cv, cover letter, writing sample, teaching philosophy, etc.) in the Application Materials box on page 2 ("My Experience") of this application. Documents can be uploaded individually or as a combined document (e.g. PDF).

Simmons University is committed to inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individual’s community experience. As a university committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices–at all levels, for all positions–ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.

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