Virtual Reference Services Librarian
Department Shared User Services
Salary Commensurate With Experience
Posting Summary
The Rutgers University Libraries seek a collaborative, creative, and user-focused librarian to develop, coordinate, evaluate, and promote virtual reference services. This is a newly created position within the recently formed Shared User Services (SUS) unit, a dynamic and innovative team of library faculty and staff responsible for coordinating shared user services including virtual reference activities, discovery infrastructure, the Libraries website, and digital projects. Reporting to the director of Shared User Services, and working closely with library directors at Camden, New Brunswick, Newark, and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, this position will be responsible for the provision of chat and email reference, and evolving virtual reference services for all of the Rutgers University Libraries
Qualifications
Minimum Education and Experience
Required: Master’s degree from an ALA accredited program; significant work experience providing face to face or virtual reference services; service management and training experience; experience with virtual reference service tools and an awareness of a variety of such services; experience working with diverse populations, including undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and researchers, and supporting a diverse and inclusive learning and working environment; ability to work collegially in a team-oriented environment; excellent interpersonal, communication, and organization skills; eligibility to work in the United States.
Preferred: Three years professional reference experience in an academic setting; supervisory experience; familiarity with online user interface design. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
The key responsibilities of the Virtual Reference Services Librarian are to:
• Coordinate, promote, and establish appropriate staffing and coverage for virtual reference services, and actively participate in all modes of scheduled reference activities (face to face, chat, and email)
• Identify underserved users, programs, and domains, and institute alternative or supplementary virtual references services to a diverse user community, including users with disabilities
• Provide support and training for staff and librarians who participate in virtual reference services, institute best practices, and develop resources for the effective delivery of virtual reference
• Conduct continuous analysis and evaluation of virtual reference services through usage and transaction data to improve services, identify underserved users, programs, and domains, respond to staffing and coverage patterns, and support local library assessments
• Investigate and initiate new modes of virtual reference services in response to changing user needs, technologies, and delivery channels
This position will collaborate with librarians and staff across multiple locations, disciplines, and functional areas of the library to deliver effective virtual reference services. This position will lead a library-wide virtual reference services committee that will inform all aspects of virtual reference: identify current issues, investigate options, recommend changes, define best practices and standards, specify resource and infrastructure needs, and establish usability and assessment protocols.
This tenure-track position is based in Alexander Library, and is a member of the Libraries Faculty, who are committed to providing effective library services to a diverse academic community. The successful candidate must demonstrate a commitment to continual professional development through scholarly research including publications, presentations, and participation and leadership in the work of relevant professional associations.
Overview
LIBRARY PROFILE: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a leading national research university and the state of New Jersey’s preeminent, comprehensive public institution of higher education. Established in 1766, the university is the eighth oldest higher education institution in the United States. More than 67,000 students and 22,000 faculty and staff learn, work, and serve the public at Rutgers locations across New Jersey and around the world. With more than half of the incoming student class self-identifying as non-Caucasian, Rutgers is committed to advancing, promoting, and advocating for inclusiveness, diversity, and equity. Rutgers University is a member of the Association of American Universities, the Big Ten, and the Big Ten Academic Alliance—the nation’s premier higher education consortium of top tier research institutions. Rutgers University is an ADVANCE institution, one of a limited number of universities in receipt of National Science Foundation funds in support of our commitment to increase diversity and the participation and advancement of women in STEM disciplines.
Rutgers University Libraries are the intellectual center of the university—serving all members of the university community, supporting all disciplines, and playing a key role in advancing student learning and faculty research. The Libraries serve all institutions that make up Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey: Rutgers University–New Brunswick, Rutgers University–Newark, Rutgers University–Camden, and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. The Libraries have a highly valued staff of about 300, who are committed to developing innovations in undergraduate support, information control, and digital initiatives. Rutgers University Libraries operate with a budget of $34 million and have outstanding collections, especially in jazz and New Jerseyana. Collectively, the Libraries holdings include more than 4.8 million volumes. The Libraries hold memberships in ARL, CNI, CRL, Lyrasis, Metro, NERL, VALEnj, SPARC, and the Coalition of Open Access Policy Institutions (COAPI); use Sirsi Dynix and OCLC as primary bibliographic utilities; and utilize a Fedora-based institutional repository.
Shared User Services is a central public services unit of the Libraries located on the College Avenue Campus of Rutgers–New Brunswick. The offices are accessible by public transit.
For more information, please check the Libraries website: http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/
Statement
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, military service or any other category protected by law. As an institution, we value diversity of background and opinion, and prohibit discrimination or harassment on the basis of any legally protected class in the areas of hiring, recruitment, promotion, transfer, demotion, training, compensation, pay, fringe benefits, layoff, termination or any other terms and conditions of employment.
The Libraries are strongly and actively committed to diversity, and seek candidates who will contribute creatively to the University’s multicultural environment.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Quick Link to Posting http://jobs.rutgers.edu/postings/48132
Campus Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Home Location Campus College Ave (RU-New Brunswick)