Job Description
The University of Denver Libraries, comprised of the Main Library at the Anderson Academic Commons, the Bonfils Stanton Music Library in the Newman Center, and the off-site Hampden Center storage facility, is a highly collaborative, team-based organization that serves a diverse population, ranging from our students, staff, and faculty to public and other academic patrons from around the country and the surrounding region. The Anderson Academic Commons is the campus centerpiece for collaborative, technology-infused teaching, learning, and engagement. Currently ranked as Princeton Review’s #1 college library, the University of Denver Libraries are central to discovery and creative interaction among students and faculty, and provide collections, services, personnel, and systems that support the teaching and research programs of the University. The institution is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and inclusive faculty and staff committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment. To learn more, visit: https://library.du.edu/about-libraries/diversity-equity-inclusion
At 5,280 feet, Denver is located where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains. Known as the Mile High City, you can expect to enjoy 300 days of sunshine, greenspace and parks, a thriving cultural scene, diverse neighborhoods, beautiful architecture, and spectacular views of the mountain panorama near the city. To learn more, visit: https://www.denver.org/.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Associate Dean for Student and Scholar Services, the Science and Engineering Reference Librarian serves as liaison to the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering programs, with responsibility for provision of research services, instruction, and collection development in those areas. Participating fully as part of the Reference Department, the librarian provides general and specialized consultations for students, faculty, and staff in the Research Center, teaches information literacy workshops in assigned disciplines, and participates in instructional programming for first-year foundational courses.
This position is also responsible for building diverse collections to meet the research and curricular needs of undergraduate and graduate students and faculty in the sciences, and for managing the collections budgets in the areas assigned. This position will also serve as part of an expanding team that supports data management practices at the University of Denver. The librarian actively engages in scholarly activities through research and publication and participates in professional organizations, as well as library and campus committees. Appointment will be made at the rank of Assistant Professor, non-tenure track.
Essential Functions
- Participate as a member of the Reference Department in a team-based organization and attend regular meetings.
- Participate in reference and instructional services delivery, instructing users on a variety of print and electronic sources including occasional evening and weekend classes.
- Provide research consultations with students, faculty, and staff at the Research Center.
- Serve as a liaison to the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (including the Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Geography and the Environment, Mathematics, and Physics and Astronomy departments) and the Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science.
- Build diverse collections to meet the research and curricular needs of undergraduate and graduate students and faculty in assigned areas.
- Intentionally integrate equity and inclusiveness into all aspects of their work.
- Provide support and mentor graduate student workers at the Research Center Desk.
- Serve on library and campus committees.
- Work in accord with the promotion guidelines, and engage in scholarly activities through research and publication, as a library faculty member.
- Participate in national and regional professional organizations.
- Other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Capacity to build strong connections with liaison departments in order to provide effective information literacy instruction and build and maintain relevant collections.
- Strong teaching and presentation skills, with knowledge of information literacy best practices and standards for science and engineering instruction.
- Familiarity with trends in scientific publishing and scholarly communication.
- Flexibility and willingness to answer general reference questions and lead research consultations at a busy Research Center.
- Ability to use knowledge, experience, awareness, and skills to advance DU’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, and to engage effectively with a broad spectrum of culturally diverse groups.
- Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills and ability to communicate effectively with diverse communities.
- Ability to work independently, effectively, and confidentially, using tact and excellent judgment.
- Analytical skills for decision making.
- Ability to commit to the standards of professional behavior and responsibility as stated in the university’s Guidelines for Appointment, Promotion, & Tenure.
- Ability to actively engage in the library organization, including leadership and participation in teams, task forces, and committees, working professionally in support of colleagues, willingly stepping into other roles when needed, and sharing responsibility as a faculty member in the library’s mission, goals, programs, and plans.
Required Qualifications
- ALA accredited Master’s degree in Library and Information Science or equivalent international Master’s degree in Library Science/Information Studies.
- Experience providing research services including library instruction, research consultations, and/or reference services.
- Experience using science and engineering information resources and other tools that support science and engineering research.
- Articulated ability to help foster an inclusive and equitable work environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Academic degree with a concentration in science or engineering.
- Experience working in an academic library.
- Knowledge of research data management best practices or tools.
- Experience with or knowledge of best practices for developing science and engineering library collections.
- Experience with or knowledge of current and emerging trends in science and engineering research (ex. data literacy, evidence synthesis research, artificial intelligence, etc.).
- Evidence of scholarly engagement through publications or presentations.
- Demonstrated experience contributing to the profession through service on national and regional professional organizations.
Working Environment
The work environment is an academic library with cyclical periods of increased workloads. The Libraries are highly automated with attention paid to ergonomics and safety. The division functions collaboratively and cooperatively in a team-based organization.
Physical Activities
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
- Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period.
- Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs.
Work Schedule
While the University’s administrative offices are open Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, faculty schedules vary from term to term and are based on courses taught, service commitments, and research agendas. The University’s academic calendars are posted on the registrar’s website: https://www.du.edu/registrar/calendars-deadlines the law school is on a semester system and has a different academic calendar here: http://www.law.du.edu/academics/registrar).
In accordance with the University’s flexible work policy, this position is eligible to be considered for partial remote work. Further details regarding this plan will be determined with the hiring manager and are dependent on the division and team specific needs.
Application Deadline
For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) August 18, 2023.
Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.
Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is UC.
Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $60,000 - $63,000.
The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.
Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.
Please include the following documents with your application:
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- Diversity Statement
The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age (40 years and over in the employment context), religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, veterans status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the university's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For the university's complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please see non‑discrimination‑statement.
The University of Denver recognizes that its success in being a great university dedicated to the public good depends greatly on how well it engages, supports, and champions the values of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. As part of our intentionality in recruiting and retaining faculty from a wide variety of historically excluded intersecting identities, including those from communities of color, with diverse gender and sexual identities, first-generation college graduates, or with disabilities, new faculty will have the opportunity to choose to participate in a pilot University-wide initiative. This initiative will connect new colleagues in a cohort, building community across units with supportive programming led by the Office of the Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs in collaboration with the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and each faculty participant’s academic unit. To learn more about the University of Denver’s commitments and work in support of DEI and J, please visit: https://www.du.edu/equity. For more information about this program or if you have any questions, please email inclusion@du.edu and/or visit https://duvpfa.du.edu/faculty-resources/prospective-faculty/.
All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.
Benefits & Additional Compensation Info
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.