Librarian/Curator for Latin American and Iberian Studies

Librarian/Curator for Latin American and Iberian Studies

Department: International & Area Studies

Rank and Salary: Assistant Librarian - Associate Librarian ($58,365 - $80,356)

Position Availability: Immediately

Application deadline for first consideration: June 22, 2022

The UCLA Library seeks a highly collaborative, knowledgeable and user-oriented librarian/curator to work with students and faculty to advance research, scholarship, teaching and learning about Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal, and Chicana/o and Central American studies. 

Position Duties

Reporting to the Head of International & Area Studies, the Librarian/Curator for Latin American and Iberian Studies is responsible for collection development and management, reference, outreach and instruction in assigned areas, in order to support and advance research-level scholarship by UCLA students and faculty. The Librarian/Curator collaborates on the creation and/or acquisition of research and teaching tools and develops plans to digitize collections to increase access to resources; delivers specialized orientations, instruction sessions, and consultations; and serves as a resource on issues related to digital scholarship, scholarly communication and emerging research methods. The incumbent collaborates with campus and UC colleagues on a range of issues related to collections and digital projects, participates in professional forums, actively develops and implements outreach and community engagement activities in support of UCLA Library’s strategic priorities, and serves as a member of relevant library teams related to preservation and/or digitization in their areas of responsibility. They will demonstrate commitment to advancing diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion, and articulating a reparative collection development philosophy in these areas.

This position has supervisory responsibilities for a .5 FTE staff member and one or two student assistants. 

Specific duties and responsibilities include:

• Serves as the subject specialist for Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal, and Chicana/o and Central American Studies in the UCLA Library, providing in-depth reference and research assistance to faculty and students in relevant units and programs. They may take on additional subject areas based on expertise and Library needs.
• Serves as the UCLA Library liaison to various campus centers and institutes related to Latin American and Iberian Studies, and the Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies.
• Develops and manages the Library’s collections regardless of format, language, period, or place of publication in the areas of the social sciences and humanities published in or relating to Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal, and diasporic communities related to these areas.
• Utilizes a creative, agile, and selective approach to collection development that incorporates attention to marginalized groups and topics, proactive campus outreach, community outreach, and collaboration with archivists, scholars and other entities.
• Manages Library fund allocations, including those from endowments and other gifts.
• Works closely with Library Development to identify and steward donors, collections, and endowed gift funds.
• Participates in area-specific consortial activities with the UC and with external organizations, such as the Center for Research Libraries. 
• Develops plans for digitization of priority content and collections in the areas of responsibility. Works closely with the UCLA Library Collections Council Digitization Task Force, Imaging Services, Digital Library, and others to increase online access to UCLA content and collections. 
• Actively collaborates with Library Special Collections’ Librarians/Curators for Los Angeles Communities and Cultures on acquisition, processing, digitization, and preservation of primary source collections and rare books. 
• Collaborates whenever possible with relevant faculty, campus colleagues and students on digital projects, research initiatives, events programming, and curricular/teaching activities.
• Contributes to Library preservation and digitization efforts and participates in developing and shepherding related activities in collaboration with international institutional partners.
• Collaborates with the Library’s Resource Acquisitions & Metadata Services to address technical services issues related to the areas of responsibility.
• Recruits, trains, mentors and supervises staff and student assistants, assigning and evaluating work, providing feedback and developing staff specializations as appropriate. 

The successful candidate will be committed to promoting and enhancing diversity through engagement with and promotion of the [UCLA Principles of Community]( http://www.ucla.edu/about/mission-and-values )

Basic Qualifications

• ALA-accredited Master's Degree in Library and/or Information Science OR significant graduate-level coursework toward such a degree OR equivalent education and experience (subject expertise combined with professional library education and/or work experience).
• Graduate-level study, or equivalent experience, in the humanities and/or social sciences. 
• Demonstrated research-level knowledge of Latin American and/or Iberian Studies.
• Demonstrated understanding of the information needs of researchers in area studies fields, including the ways research methods and scholarship are evolving. 
• Fluency in Spanish. 
• Reading knowledge of Portuguese. 
• Experience providing reference and/or instructional services related to humanities, social sciences, and/or area studies in an academic or research library environment.
• Knowledge of collection development or resource selection to serve diverse communities for educational purposes, including familiarity with core print, e-resources and other formats relevant to the regions.
• Knowledge of initiatives and trends related to research in international and area studies fields and to the evolving scholarly communication landscape, including knowledge of the publishing industry in the regions. 
• Demonstrated experience in and/or commitment to advancing diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion, and articulating a reparative collection development philosophy in these areas.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and interpersonal skills. 
• Ability to work with staff, students, and faculty from diverse cultural backgrounds and in a dynamic and complex environment within a large organization. 
• Commitment to professional development and service. 

Applicants with all the above basic qualifications and any of the following preferred qualifications or professional experiences are strongly encouraged to apply: 1) Experience in selecting and managing research collections in one of the areas of responsibility; 2) Knowledge of current trends in information technology as they apply to collection development and management and the provision of reference and research services in the humanities and/or social sciences; 3) Experience with the design, provision, and evaluation of curriculum, pedagogy and capstone/thesis projects for upper division undergraduates and/or graduate students; 4) Familiarity with description and cataloging and access issues for non-English language materials; 5) Demonstrated contributions to collaborative projects at the local, regional, national, and/or international levels; 6) Knowledge of publishing and book distribution practices in the regions, including traditional and open access, as well as key book vendors; 7) Demonstrated supervisory experience that includes training and directing the work of staff and/or student assistants or equivalent workers; 8) Experience in donor relations and stewardship.

General Information

Professional librarians at UCLA are academic appointees. Librarians at UCLA are represented by an exclusive bargaining agent, University Council – American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT). This is a represented position. They are entitled to appropriate professional leave, two days per month of vacation leave, one day per month of sick leave, and all other benefits granted to non-faculty academic personnel. The University has an excellent retirement system and sponsors a variety of group health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans in addition to other benefits. Relocation assistance may be provided.

Appointees to the librarian series at UC shall have professional backgrounds that demonstrate a high degree of creativity, teamwork, and flexibility.  Such background will normally include a professional degree from an ALA-accredited library and information science graduate program.  In addition to professional competence and quality of service within the library in the primary job, advancement in the librarian series requires professional involvement and contributions outside of the library, and/or university and community service, and/or scholarly activities.  Candidates must show evidence or promise of such contributions.

Application Procedures

Anyone wishing to be considered for this position should apply here: https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF07479

Applications must include:

• a cover letter describing qualifications and experience;
• a current resume/vitae detailing education and relevant experience; and
• the names and contact information for three professional references, including a current or previous supervisor.

Candidates applying by June 22, 2022 will be given first consideration for this position.  UCLA welcomes and encourages diversity and seeks applications and nominations from women and minorities.  UCLA seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve the people of California, to maintain the excellence of the university, and to offer our students richly varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing and learning.

Description of Unit

As a partner in the creation and dissemination of knowledge, the International & Area Studies Department (IAS), located in the Charles E. Young Research Library, supports the UCLA community by selecting and providing access to resources and services necessary for world-class research and instruction. The department’s subject specialists in area and international studies serve as liaisons to academic departments and research units in their areas of responsibility, partnering with faculty and students on a wide variety of research projects and teaching initiatives. These subject specialist librarians work closely together and in cooperation with librarians in other UCLA Library units and campus research centers to support interdisciplinary research, teaching, and learning. IAS is committed to furthering the library’s strategic directions and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in its collections and services. IAS liaisons engage in outreach to and work with diasporic communities in Los Angeles and Southern California with ancestral and cultural ties to their geographic areas of responsibility. To this end, they strive to cooperate with and complement the efforts of Library Special Collections and the Ethnic Studies center librarians and archivists as appropriate.

Description of Institution and Library

As one of the world's great public research universities, UCLA integrates education, research, and public service so that each enriches and extends the others. From its beautiful neighborhood campus in a uniquely diverse and vibrant city on the Pacific Rim, teaching and research extend beyond the classroom, office, and lab through active engagement with communities, organizations, projects, and partnerships throughout the region and around the world.

UCLA’s diverse community of scholars encompasses nearly 30,000 undergraduates pursuing 125 majors, 13,000 graduate students in fifty-nine research programs, and 4,000 faculty members including Nobel Laureates; Rhodes Scholars; MacArthur Fellows; winners of the Fields Medal, National Medal of Science, Pritzker Prize, and Pulitzer Prize; and recipients of Oscars, Emmys, Tonys, and Golden Globes. UCLA ranks tenth in the Times of London Higher Education World Reputation Rankings, twelfth in the Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and fifth in the U.S. by Washington Monthly. The National Research Council ranks forty of its graduate and doctoral research programs among its top ten.

To enable these accomplished students, faculty, and staff to create, disseminate, and apply knowledge for the benefit of global society, the UCLA Library is re-envisioning how it is acquired, synthesized, and shared across academic audiences and with the public.  It was among the first academic libraries to develop subject-specialist librarians and to launch a program to enhance students’ research skills. Its Special Collections pioneered the acquisition by public institutions of rare and unique books, children’s literature, pulp and detective fiction, works by or about women and minorities, screenplays, architectural plans, and Los Angeles-related materials and today leads the way in collecting archival resources in digital format such as emails and manuscripts.  It has launched innovative data management services and an affordable course materials initiative that have served as models for other libraries.

The Library serves UCLA students, faculty, and staff whenever and wherever they need its resources and expertise. Reconfigured, high-tech spaces and services in its ten campus libraries enable users and librarians to explore and work with print and digital materials collaboratively or individually, pursue new lines of inquiry, and develop new pedagogical approaches as well as novel forms of scholarship.  More than 3.5 million people visit annually, while an additional 3.4 million visitors enter online through its virtual front doors.

Whether on campus or online, the Library forms the intellectual heart of UCLA, a hub for cutting-edge discovery, scholarship, and instruction.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of the University of California and key components of the University’s commitment to excellence.  The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.  For the complete University of California policy on discrimination, harassment, and affirmative action see:  [University of California – Policy Discrimination, Harassment, and Affirmative Action in the Workplace](https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/DiscHarassAffirmAction)

Under federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally authorized to work in the United States as established by providing documents specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.  Employment is contingent upon completion of satisfactory background investigation.

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