Job announcement: Prairie Research Institute Librarian — Clinical Assistant or Associate Professor, Funk ACES Library

Application deadline: June 23, 2023
Read the full job announcement and apply

The University Library at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign seeks a dynamic and collaborative individual to serve as the Prairie Research Institute (PRI) Librarian.  The Prairie Research Institute comprises five state scientific surveys and conducts transformative research in numerous scientific disciplines, including geology, ecology and biodiversity, hydrology and water, and weather and climate.  

Reporting to the Head of the Funk ACES Library, the Prairie Research Institute Librarian will be primarily responsible for coordinating library services offered to the Prairie Research Institute. These services include collection development, liaison activities within the Institute and the University Library, reference services, and engagement with the university community and beyond. The successful candidate will also be involved in strategic initiatives to enhance and measure the impact of the Institute’s research output. The Prairie Research Institute Librarian will be based in the Funk ACES Library and work closely with other subject specialists and units across the University Library to provide robust research support for the Prairie Research Institute.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Serves as the primary liaison between the University Library and the Prairie Research Institute.
• Provides research support and instruction for PRI staff.
• Actively participates in PRI’s committees and leadership teams and collaborates with appropriate University Library groups to promote Institute researcher data and information stewardship, scholarly communication and publishing, professional/organizational identity and impact assessment, as well as data and institutional repository services.
• Develops strategies for increasing access, visibility, and impact of PRI’s publications, including those in conference proceedings, journals, reports, and data publication. These strategies may involve print and digital platforms, as well as other relevant and emerging technologies.
• Performs collection development and manages natural history materials funds, working collaboratively with other subject specialists within the University Library on collections related initiatives as needed.
• Participates in reference, outreach, and other user-focused services and initiatives, as well as Graduate Assistant training and mentoring, as part of the Funk ACES Library and the Library’s Life Sciences Division.
• Contributes to Library-wide information, instruction and research support services, with emphasis on services related to research data, scholarly communication, and digital repositories.
• Participates in Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL) initiatives through the University Library’s BHL membership.
• Represents the Library in consortial, national, and international committee work as needed; for example, the opportunity to participate in the Data Curation Network.
• Engages in research and professional service activities at an appropriate level for clinical specialized faculty in the University of Illinois Library.

Qualifications

Required

• Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited institution or advanced degree in a relevant subject area.
• Experience providing research and/or reference service in an academic or research library.
• Experience with applications and resources used in academic library and research environments (e.g., citation managers, LibGuides, research impact and metrics).
• Experience in creating and maintaining web content.
• Demonstrated ability to work collegially and cooperatively with others in a team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree or professional experience in a discipline relevant to PRI’s research.
• Experience in collection development, analysis, and management.
• Experience with database development or management.
• Familiarity with data and/or research repositories.
• Knowledge of curation principles for digital objects, including documents, maps, photographs, and data.
• Experience with instructional design, library instruction, and creating lesson plans and learning objects.
• Record of participation in relevant professional organizations and continuing education.

Minimum starting salary for clinical faculty positions in the Library is $60,000 and is commensurate with credentials and experience. The University of Illinois Library is committed to competitive salaries and attending to equity in compensation within the organization. The successful candidate will join the University Library as a Clinical Assistant or Associate Professor.

This position is available as soon as possible and eligible for a hybrid work schedule; for more information, consult the Library’s Guidelines and Workflows. This is a regular, 100%, twelve-month, specialized faculty appointment, in the University Library. Clinical faculty are primarily engaged in librarianship and do so from the perspective of a practitioner. Includes 24 annual vacation days; 12 annual paid holidays; 12 annual sick-leave days (cumulative), plus an additional 13 sick-leave days (non-cumulative) available, if needed, each year; health insurance requiring a small co-payment is provided to employee (with the option to purchase coverage for spouse and dependents); required participation in State Universities Retirement System (SURS) (8% of annual salary is withheld and is refundable upon termination), with several options for participation in additional retirement plans; newly-hired employees are covered by the Medicare portion of Social Security and are subject to its deduction.

To ensure full consideration, all required application materials must be received by 6:00pm (CST) on June 23, 2023. Please create your candidate profile, upload a cover letter, your curriculum vitae, and the names and email addresses of four professional references by the close date. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Statement: The University Library of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign values diversity of thought, perspective, experience, and people, and is actively committed to a culture of inclusion and respect. We are dedicated to the practices of social justice, diversity, and equality, and we strive to overcome historical and divisive biases in our society and embrace diverse points of view as assets to the fabric of our community. All positions will be called on to contribute to building this environment in the Library and throughout the campus community, and we encourage candidates who share these values to apply. Additional information can be found on the Library’s DEIA webpage: https://www.library.illinois.edu/geninfo/deia/