Research and Instruction Librarian

Opening Details

Williams Libraries seeks an enthusiastic instruction librarian to work as Research and Instruction Librarian in a newly-defined position focusing on data literacy. This person will be library liaison for the sciences and economics, and will contribute to the library’s information literacy program by bringing a focus on data literacy and supporting students as they learn the skills they need to thrive in a data-intensive world. Williams College is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community, and we encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply. This is a full-time, year-round appointment, reporting to the Head of Research Services and Library Outreach.

Williams, a liberal arts college located in western Massachusetts, has built its reputation on outstanding teaching, scholarship, and academic excellence. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive community to support our approximately 2,000 students, and to build an environment where members from all backgrounds can live, learn and thrive. The college is deeply committed to its employees. Salaries are competitive; our benefits are excellent.

The Research Services department supports the academic mission of the college by providing research assistance, teaching information literacy skills, and developing opportunities for academic engagement with students and faculty. We are dedicated to innovation, creativity, and proactive user-driven services. We believe in meeting students where they are in their information-seeking journey and helping them grow and develop into empowered, information-literate citizens.

The successful candidate will:

• Share our passion for working with students and faculty and for teaching information/data literacy.
• Be excited about guiding students through critical analysis of data sources, data research and data communication.
• Embrace our commitment to critical information literacy, data ethics/justice and seek action-oriented ways to further diversity, equity, and inclusion in their work.
• Be eager to engage with students who are broadly diverse with regard to gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, ability, and religion.
• Appreciate the liberal arts approach to teaching and learning.
• Value collegiality and collaboration, and thrive in a small, relationship-driven academic environment.
  

Responsibilities

As liaison librarian for Computer Science, Economics, Geosciences, and Mathematics & Statistics:

• Help students develop as scholars by teaching them research skills and connecting them with relevant information resources.
• Teach course-integrated library instruction sessions aligned with ACRL’s Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education.
• Work with faculty to ensure that library services and collections support their teaching and research activities.
• Partner with Instructional Technologists to provide coordinated support to faculty in these departments.

As librarian supporting data literacy:

• Design library services and programs to support data literacy for undergraduate students.
• Support data-intensive courses across the disciplines by providing guidance on data research, analysis, interpretation, and visualization.
• Serve as point-person in Research Services for data-related research questions.
• Collaborate with campus partners in quantitative skills and digital humanities to provide data support for students and raise awareness about the library’s data resources and services.
• Partner with Instructional Technologists to support the use of quantitative analysis and visualization tools.

As a member of the Research Services department:

• Staff the research help services and participate in all departmental programs and initiatives.
• Help raise awareness of library resources and services.
• Work on library and college teams and committees as relevant.

This librarian expected to maintain awareness of trends in data literacy and in librarianship in the areas of responsibility. They are also expected to contribute to national, regional, and/or local associations and professional groups. Williams Libraries provides generous support for continuing professional development.


Qualifications

Required:

• Masters in library/information science from an ALA-accredited institution, or ability to obtain within one year. Early career librarians encouraged to apply.
• Familiarity with information literacy concepts and interest in being an instruction librarian.
• Enthusiasm for working with data and desire to further develop your data skills.
• Interest in working with students and faculty in the sciences and economics.
• Commitment to information and data ethics/justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented organization.

Preferred:
We want to emphasize that the preferred qualifications are not required, and that we are committed to helping our future colleagues develop these preferred skills. We strongly encourage those who are interested in being an instruction librarian and focus on data literacy to apply.

• Experience with finding, using, and critically interpreting data and using it to tell a story.
• Familiarity with sources of data, data rights and data research methods.
• Familiarity with data science and/or digital humanities tools and principles.
• Familiarity with statistical software packages (e.g. SPSS, Stata, R, SAS, Nvivo).
• Familiarity with data and digital humanities programming languages (e.g. Python, SQL), javascript libraries and frameworks.

For full consideration, please send cover letter that addresses:

• Your interest in data literacy
• How you would integrate principles of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in your work as Research Services Librarian

Application review will begin on July 26, 2022, and will continue until the position is filled. Pay range is from $57,000 to $65,000, commensurate with experience. Job band 2-E. Please visit https://staff-careers.williams.edu/ to apply.


Conditions of Employment

Employment at Williams is contingent on the verification of background information submitted by the applicant, including the completion of a criminal record check, and education when applicable. COVID-19 vaccination with booster or approved exemption and participation in our testing program is required as a condition of employment at Williams.


Equal Employment Opportunity

Beyond meeting fully its legal obligations for non-discrimination, Williams College is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community where members from all backgrounds can live, learn and thrive. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process please feel free to contact us via phone at (413) 597-2681 or email at hr@williams.edu.