Public Health and Research Support Librarian

Job Description:

The Public Health and Research Support Librarian is the primary librarian supporting the Brown University School of Public Health (SPH), providing and sustaining library services and collections in support of research, teaching, and learning. Reporting to the Director of Academic Engagement for Health, Biomedical, and Physical Sciences, the successful candidate will possess the skill set and interpersonal abilities that will allow them to develop connections and partnerships with program directors, faculty, staff, and students.

The Public Health and Research Support Librarian provides research consultations and partnerships, develops undergraduate and graduate education/instruction, and creates other relevant programming for the SPH community. In addition, the librarian provides literature support services (including systematic reviews) to SPH faculty and students; collaborates with the other health sciences librarians to develop and manage the Libraryâ™s literature review service and to support clinical faculty and residents at the affiliated hospitals of the Alpert Medical School; and works with the Scientific Data Management Librarian to help retain, preserve, and provide access to Brown University research data and scholarly products in public health. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice are critically important to the Library, the School of Public Health, and the University; as such, the Public Health Librarian will be able to incorporate these values in their instruction, engagement, and professional practice.

As a member of the Academic Engagement department, the Librarian collaborates with colleagues from across the Brown University Library to develop programs and services in support of interdisciplinary research; contributes to strategy for developing relevant collections targeted to support disciplinary and interdisciplinary research across the sciences; and maintains a high level of professional engagement both with colleagues in other institutions and with the professional literature. This is a highly collaborative position, representing the interdisciplinary nature of public health; collaborations with librarians for social sciences, GIS/Data, and the Center for Digital Scholarship are common. 

The Brown University Library has developed a robust strategic plan aligning with Brown Universityâ™s own plan, Building on Distinction. The School of Public Health (with more than 400 undergraduate, masterâ™s, and doctoral students; almost 300 faculty; and 13 research centers supported by around $60 million in grants) is prominently featured in Building on Distinction, and was recently ranked 17th out of 177 schools and programs of public health by US News & World Report. The Public Health and Research Support Librarian is a critical position, and will help develop and guide the Libraryâ™s operating goals in support of Brownâ™s mission to support academic and research excellence.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Masterâ™s degree in Library & Information Sciences from an ALA accredited institution or a masterâ™s degree in public health or a related discipline, or equivalent combination of  experience and expertise.
• Two (2) years experience in an academic or medical library. Willing to consider applications from recent library school graduates with appropriate experience and education.
• Demonstrated knowledge of information resources in medicine and/or public health.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Educational background in public health or a related discipline.
• Knowledge of biomedical information resources, expert database and grey literature searching experience.
• Training and demonstrated experience in appraising medical and public health literature.
• Familiarity with systematic review search methodology, guidelines, and standards.
• Experience providing instruction to individuals or groups in an academic setting.
• Awareness of scholarly communication issues within the health sciences, including peer review of scientific publications and technology innovations for dissemination.
• Proficiency using EndNote, Zotero or similar bibliographic management software.

Job Competencies

• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and to advancing these values in instruction, engagement, and professional practice.
• Demonstrated success in delivering effective instruction and research support independently and in a team-based environment.
• Strong public presentation, interpersonal, and communication skills. Excellent skills in collaboration and teamwork within a dynamic, continually, evolving environment. Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem solving skills. 
• Demonstrated knowledge of research data management lifecycle and other current issues in Scholarly Communication.
• Knowledge of scholarly metrics and impact evaluation tools and resources (preferred).
• Commitment to excellent public services, improving the library user experience, and continuous improvement through assessment.
• Demonstrated initiative, flexibility, and ability to work creatively and effectively, both independently and as a team member.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a criminal background check and education verification satisfied to Brown.   

Recruiting Start Date:

Job Posting Title:

Department:

Grade:

Worker Type:

Worker Sub-Type:

Time Type:

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

Submission Guidelines:

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any staff position at Brown University you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

Still Have Questions?

If you have any questions you may contact [email protected].

EEO Statement:

Brown University is an E-Verify Employer.

Brown University is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic global community; as an EEO/AA employer, Brown considers applicants for employment without regard to, and does not discriminate on the basis of, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, race, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.