Electronic Resources and Discovery Resident Librarian (2022)

Washington and Lee University Library welcomes applications from collaborative, user-focused, and inclusive early career librarians to join the Access and Discovery Team as Electronic Resources and Discovery Resident Librarian.

The library is launching a new residency program within the ACRL Diversity Alliance framework in 2023. This position will be in a cohort with the Research Services Resident Librarian. The residency is a three-year appointment with the option to continue as a traditional Assistant Professor upon completion of the program. Goals of the residency are to develop the residents’ skills and knowledge in a small liberal arts college library setting and to “diversify and thereby enrich the profession” (ACRL Diversity Alliance: https://acrl.libguides.com/da ).

Reporting to the Associate University Librarian for Access and Discovery, and working in coordination with the Electronic Resources and Serials Manager, the Electronic Resources and Discovery Resident Librarian will support the life cycle of our electronic resources. They will participate in service and scholarship activities as a member of the University Library and College faculties. In addition, the two residents will have dedicated time for professional learning, mentoring, and other professional development activities as part of the residency program.

The successful candidate will have a strong and demonstrated understanding of and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, especially as applied to academic library collections. The Electronic Resources and Discovery Resident Librarian will be a non-tenure track faculty member at the Assistant Professor rank. The appointment begins on or after May 1, 2023.

About the University and the Library

Washington and Lee University promotes a dynamic and inclusive environment that allows students and employees of multiple backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to learn, work, and thrive together. Successful candidates will contribute to that environment and exhibit potential for excellence in librarianship and for vigorous scholarship. In keeping with the University Strategic Plan, we welcome applications from underrepresented minority candidates and members of other communities that are traditionally underrepresented in academia.

W&L is a highly selective, independent, co-educational, liberal arts college of approximately 1850 undergraduate and 400 law students and located in Lexington, VA, three hours southwest of Washington, DC. W&L is consistently ranked among the top 12 national liberal arts colleges. Established in 1749, it is the ninth oldest institution of higher learning in the nation.

The University Library serves the undergraduate teaching, learning, and research programs, housing approximately 1.3M physical and digital items in roughly 100,000 square feet of public space. The University Library is the home of W&L's Digital Culture and Information (DCI) minor program. Library faculty serve as initial and minor program advisors for undergraduates, may teach courses in DCI and other disciplines, and participate in faculty governance, service, and scholarship opportunities. 

Essential and Related Functions

• Serves as an administrator of the library’s electronic resources across the lifecycle.
  • Collaborates with colleagues across the library to improve discoverability, usability, and the user experience of electronic resources, including through Primo VE and OpenAthens.
  • Investigates and implements new services/features and contractual services related to user discovery and access, such as the OCLC Knowledge Base.
  • Along with other library faculty and staff, serves as an Alma/Primo administrator. Assists in the coordination of projects, new release features, and updates, with a focus on acquisitions, discovery, and analytics related to our discovery layer.

• Serves as a faculty member of the College.
  • Participates in teaching activities of the library, which may include advising students and/or teaching credit bearing courses, among other opportunities.
  • Engages in pertinent ongoing service, research, scholarship, and/or creative activity as defined by the library’s Departmental Faculty Development Document.
  • Participates in professional development activities as appropriate to meet personal and departmental goals and objectives.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the University Librarian or the Associate University Librarian for Access and Discovery.

Salary and Benefits

Minimum salary: $60,000 per year. Salary is commensurate with experience.

The residency is a three-year, 12-month, non-tenure track, ranked faculty appointment with the option to move to a traditional Assistant Professor position upon completion. The library provides relocation assistance for new hires and professional development funding for all library faculty and staff.

Washington and Lee offers an extensive range of health care and life insurance benefits, retirement options, educational assistance programs, and other programs and services to our staff and faculty. For more information, visit:  https://my.wlu.edu/human-resources/benefits-and-paid-time-off .

• ALA-accredited MLS or equivalent relevant terminal degree, received between May 2020 and August 2023. Holding a terminal degree in a relevant field is a requirement of faculty status.
• Any combination of experience and coursework in the fundamentals of e-resource management and discovery services across the electronic resource lifecycle. The University Library uses the Alma/Primo system and will train the resident as needed.
• Demonstrated commitment to applying principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility to academic libraries.

The university requires employees to become fully vaccinated for COVID-19, with one booster. New employees must provide proof of at least their first shot prior to the first day of employment. Individuals may seek a medical or a religious exemption to the vaccination requirement.

Review of applications will begin December 12, 2022, and continue until position is filled.

Candidates should submit:

• A letter of application describing interest in a residency position and addressing the qualifications.
• A complete professional CV.

Names and contact information for three professional or academic references will be requested from finalists.

All materials should be submitted via Interfolio at http://apply.interfolio.com/117362 .

University Librarian K.T. Vaughan is eager to speak with potential candidates who have questions before applying. Please contact her at kvaughan@wlu.edu .

Washington and Lee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As such, we are interested in candidates who are committed to high standards of scholarship, performance and professionalism and to the development of a campus climate that supports equality and diversity in our faculty, staff and student body. Job description requirements are representative, but not all‐inclusive of the knowledge, skill, and abilities needed to successfully perform this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Statement of Commitment to Diversity

Washington and Lee affirms that diverse perspectives and backgrounds enhance our community. We are committed to the recruitment, enrichment, and retention of students, faculty, and staff who embody many experiences, cultures, points of view, interests, and identities. As engaged citizens in a global and diverse society, we seek to advance a positive learning and working environment for all through open and substantive dialogue.