Assistant/Associate Librarian, First-Year Experience

The First Year Experience (FYE) Librarian establishes connections and structures to assist first-year students with successful adjustments to academic life and serves as an ambassador on efforts to create a campus-wide structure to fully support and enable student success. The FYE librarian’s focus will be on student success and supporting first-year,  first-generation, international, and transfer students with additional emphasis on historically under-represented populations.

The work of the Learning and Student Success Unit supports liaisons and functional experts across the libraries in strategically and selectively integrating information, data and digital literacy, and research skills into student learning programs across all levels. These efforts consist of co-curricular outreach and instruction activities, including engagement with campus programming centered on first-year and/or first-generation students, as well as international students and those from underrepresented or marginalized populations.

The FYE Librarian is expected to communicate effectively, work collaboratively and consultatively with colleagues across the Libraries, and engage in structured research and learning opportunities with faculty, program partners, and students, as well as with the Libraries' assessment efforts.

This is a continuing-eligible or continuing status track, academic professional position. Incumbents are members of the general faculty and are entitled to all accompanying rights and privileges granted by the Arizona Board of Regents and the University of Arizona. Retention and promotion are earned through achievement of a record of excellence in position effectiveness, scholarship, and service.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES

Instruction and Outreach

• Collaborates in the design, delivery, and facilitation of instructional programming and student success initiatives/events in support of first-year students as well as other selected undergraduate populations. 
• Coordinates the first-year instruction program for the University Libraries, including integration and engagement with the Writing Program and UNIV 101 courses, with a focus on information and digital literacy.
• In collaboration with other members of the Learning and Student Success Unit, serves as the University Libraries’ liaison to the General Education Office and the Writing Program, in order to improve the first-year student experience at all locations within the university, including first-year undergraduate student programs like the UNIV 101 introductory course all first-year students must take.
• Partners with key campus programs that support the first-year experience, including lower-division undergraduate retention and student success efforts focused on underserved communities.  Identifies and creates opportunities for engagement.
• Serves as an ambassador to additional Student Success and Retention Innovation (SSRI) programs and assists in helping build a university-wide structure to better support and enable student achievement and success across all modalities.
• Develops, delivers, and assesses relevant introductory workshops, instructional guides, orientations, and promotional materials – including tutorials, social media, library programming, and related learning objects.
• Establishes strong student awareness of the library and its services.
• Cultivates and sustains collaborative relationships with students, staff, and faculty in support of student success initiatives.
• Conducts outreach to undergraduate students for the promotion of library services and resources.
• Participates in providing reference & research consultation services to students, faculty, and staff.

Scholarly Research, Publications and Presentations, and Professional Service

• Conducts relevant scholarly research and disseminates findings through writing and other venues.
• Develops and delivers presentations related to academic libraries, higher education, and topics relevant to areas
• of responsibility.
• Demonstrates commitment to continual professional development.
• Contributes to local, state, and regional library initiatives.
• Participates in and contributes cooperatively to department, library, and university activities.
• Serves on library, university, and University System committees related to areas of responsibilities.
• Contributes to the goals and strategic initiatives of the Libraries through leadership of and/or active participation in committees, working groups, and task forces.

Other

• The UA Libraries support the UA’s diversity and inclusiveness strategic initiatives designed to create an inclusive environment for all faculty, staff, and students. The candidate is expected to support diversity and inclusiveness efforts in the Student Learning and Engagement department and the Libraries.
• Other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

• Interest and commitment in seeking out new avenues and collaborations with a diverse community within the library and on campus.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work in a highly collaborative and inclusive environment, one that values and leverages the benefits of diverse perspectives.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work across organizational boundaries.
• Ability to identify opportunities and capitalize upon them.
• Excellent analytical, time management, organizational, and creative problem-solving skills.
• Ability to conceive of, plan, document, and complete projects or complex assignments.
• Ability to seek out new avenues and collaborations with a diverse community within the library and on campus.
• Commitment to continual professional development, improvement, and learning.
• Familiarity with instructional design and the ACRL Information Literacy Frameworks.
• Computer/digital fluency and an ability to stay abreast of emerging technologies.
• Competence with current technologies and best practices in the creative design and delivery of instruction, specifically in a higher education setting.
• Knowledge of instructional design and learning theories.
• Positive attitude and strong demonstration of Our Values: Collaboration, Continuous Learning, Diversity, Innovation, and Integrity.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in library/information science from an ALA-accredited institution or other relevant advanced degree.
• Evidence of the ability to achieve continuing status (equivalent to tenure), including contributing to the information/library profession and to fulfilling the responsibilities of a library faculty member through service and scholarship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience successfully leading projects or initiatives involving multiple stakeholders or groups.
• Experience in design, delivery, and facilitation of instructional programming.