Spectrum & Diversity Scholars Community

The Libraries at Syracuse University is seeking to hire an Information Literacy Librarian.

Job Description

The Information Literacy (IL) Librarian is responsible for creating, developing, overseeing and coordinating the Syracuse University Libraries information Literacy program. Working with faculty members, librarians, and University staff as appropriate, the IL Librarian will establish a new Libraries program that contributes directly to the University’s competency-based strategies for undergraduate excellence as outlined in the University’s academic strategic plan. This program will directly support the proposed Syracuse University 4+4 (institutional learning outcomes that include creative reasoning, critical reasoning, quantitative reasoning, scientific reasoning, applied and collaborative learning ability, civic and global abilities, communicative ability, and information and technology ability) and/or other programs designed to align with learning outcomes outlined in the Middle States Accreditation Standards. This program will provide an organizational infrastructure for existing Libraries-based information literacy efforts; provide training, quality assurance, and assessment for those efforts; and develop new program content including media and digital literacy components as appropriate. Reporting to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, the Information Literacy Librarian works in close collaboration with all Libraries departments that provide information literacy and instructional services, ensuring the delivery of high quality information literacy instruction.

Qualifications

·         Masters of Library Science or equivalent

·         Undergraduate or graduate degree in higher education, instructional design, or related field; or equivalent

·         Three years’ experience designing and delivering information literacy instruction in a higher education environment

Job Specific Qualifications

·         Ability to collaborate effectively and diplomatically within the Libraries and across the University

·         Ability to encourage, lead and empower other teaching librarians

·         Ability to design instructional materials, and develop learning outcomes, assessment tools and learning objects across diverse learning environments. Learning environments can include face-to-face, hybrid, and online classrooms.

·         Ability to assess the success and impact of learning experiences and makes appropriate adjustments to improve student engagement and learning.

·         Solid understanding of learning theory, pedagogical practices such as backward design, outcomes alignment and assessment methodology, as well as technical skill in creating digital instructional materials.

·         Ability to analyze the instructional environment, and targets instruction delivery toward appropriate audiences.

·         Ability to Identify learning needs of students, and creatively addresses identified needs across multiple contexts drawing on a repertoire of tools, methods, and theories.

·         Ability to define goals and outcomes for learning experiences.

·         Ability to create innovative and appealing lessons with supporting instructional materials aligned with and supporting learning outcomes.

Responsibilities

Leadership and Collaboration

·         Provide vision, strategy and goals to direct the Libraries’ teaching and learning initiatives, including leading the planning, promotion, and assessment of the Libraries’ Information Literacy (IL) Program

·         Create IL program infrastructure including policies, procedures, tools, and resources to support Libraries personnel in their instructional efforts and to ensure that the program meets quality standards

·         Lead the Information Literacy Team, consisting of librarians from throughout the Libraries

·         Contribute directly to the University’s efforts to meet Middle States accreditation standards by working with faculty and librarians to integrate information literacy (including media and digital literacy) into the syllabi and assignments for courses

·         Work to deepen the curricular integration of a broad array of Libraries expertise, such as content, copyright, information retrieval and analysis, instructional design, eLearning, digital scholarship, data management, collaboration, use of primary sources, and scholarly communication

·         Identify and foster partnership opportunities to enhance student learning, inside and outside of the classroom

·         Identify opportunities for partnership between the Libraries and relevant campus departments on issues of learning and inclusion

·         Identify opportunities to increase the Libraries’ involvement in faculty development around teaching practice, curricular and course design, and experiential learning

Instructional Design and Assessment

·         Create and cultivate an environment of assessment and value for the information literacy program

·         Enhance teaching and instructional design skills in the Libraries, drawing on cognitive science and student-centered models of learning; coordinate the provision of workshops and instruction-related training for librarians to ensure continuous development and currency of knowledge and skills

·         Work closely with the Inclusion and Accessibility Librarian to build and lead a Libraries teaching and learning program centered on practices that are inclusive and effective for all students, faculty, and staff

·         Lead the Libraries’ creation and implementation of innovative and effective approaches to designing curriculum, tools, and learning experiences that support the development of critical thinking and information literacy skills.

·         Collaborate with librarians, teaching faculty, and other partners to apply learning theories and technologies in the development, design, implementation, maintenance, and assessment of general and course-specific library instruction, including online learning objects and instructional modules

·         Coordinate the incorporation of pedagogical concepts, such as those outlined in the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education, in the overall teaching and learning program

·         Conduct formal assessment of the Libraries’ Information Literacy Program. Share assessment outcomes and make recommendations regarding changes to the Associate Dean, the Information Literacy Team, and the Dean of Libraries

·         Assess the impact of Libraries-led teaching practices on student learning through metrics and other indicators, attending to multiple populations and issues of equity and diversity

·         Make assessment of student learning a regular and systematic practice of library staff, connecting the Libraries’ learning assessment activities to similar university efforts

·         Stays current with trends and innovations in learning and instructional technologies.

Professional Development and Service

·         Engage in activities that contribute to the advancement of the Libraries, the university, and the library profession.

·         Maintain awareness of professional developments, issues, and practices through research and activities that increase one’s knowledge and abilities, and that positively impact one’s performance and service contributions.