Data Librarian

Opening Details

Williams Libraries seeks an enthusiastic, user-centered educator to join the Research Services department as Data Librarian. In this newly-defined position, the Data Librarian will enhance the library’s information literacy program by developing data literacy services and support students as they learn the data literacy skills they need to thrive academically and in a data-intensive world. The Data Librarian will be the point-person in Research Services for data-related research questions. They will support data-intensive courses and departments across the curriculum, and participate in strategic discussions about the role of data sciences on campus. The Data Librarian will be liaison to departments in the sciences and provide guidance to students and faculty on research methods and resources, conduct library instruction sessions, and develop library collections to support curricular and research needs. 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.
• Embrace our commitment to critical librarianship, data ethics/justice and seek action-oriented ways to further diversity, equity, and inclusion in their work.
• Be excited about engaging with students who are broadly diverse with regard to gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, ability, and religion.
• Value collegiality and collaboration, and thrive in a small, relationship-driven academic environment.
• Welcome the opportunities offered by this newly-created position: shaping the library’s first data literacy program and participating in strategic discussions about the role of data sciences on campus.

Responsibilities

As Data Librarian:

• Design library services and programs to support data literacy for undergraduate students.
• Support data-intensive courses and assignments across the disciplines by providing guidance on data research, analysis, interpretation, and visualization.
• Guide instruction librarians on ways to integrate data literacy in library instruction.
• Collaborate with campus partners supporting 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 statistical software and GIS data/tools.
• Participate in discussions about the role of data sciences on campus (see College’s strategic priorities ).

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 .
• Raise awareness of discipline-specific library resources.
• 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 a member of the Research Services department, the Data Librarian supports the general research needs of the Williams community by staffing research help service points. They participate in all departmental programs and initiatives, and help raise awareness of library resources and services. They work on library and college teams and committees as relevant.

The Data Librarian is expected to maintain awareness of trends in data literacy, data science and related areas and trends in science librarianship. They are also expected to participate in and contribute to national, regional, and/or local associations and professional groups. Williams Libraries provides generous support for continuing professional development.


Qualifications

Required:

• Master’s Degree required. A degree in library/information science from an ALA-accredited institution is preferred but an equivalent mix of education and experience will be considered.
• Knowledge of data research methods, sources of data (public and proprietary), and data rights.
• Effective teaching skills and demonstrated knowledge of learner-centered pedagogy.
• Experience working with quantitative and/or qualitative data, including identifying suitability and reliability of data sets, considering privacy issues and/or proprietary data, communicating with data.
• Experience learning/adapting new technologies/methodologies, and/or helping others through that process
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, data ethics/justice
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills

Preferred:

• Familiarity with research tools and information resources in the sciences
• Experience with library reference work and/or library instruction
• Familiarity with trends in higher education and/or academic librarianship

For full consideration, please send a cover letter that addresses:

• Your information/data literacy philosophy
• How you would integrate principles of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in your work as Data Librarian and as liaison librarian
  

Pay starts at $60,000, 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.