Reporting to the Head of Teaching and Research Services, the Science and Nursing Librarian provides information literacy instruction, collection development, reference services, scholarly communication support, and outreach programming, primarily for students and faculty in the following programs in the School of Science and forthcoming nursing programs (enrolling students in 2025):
Dual Degree Engineering
Biochemistry
Biology
Biotechnology
Chemistry
Environmental & Earth Science
Health Science
Mathematics & Computer Science
Nursing
Physics & Astronomy
Psychology
1. Information Literacy Instruction (25%): Teaches information literacy sessions for the School of Science and forthcoming nursing programs (and a few sections of Writing 101/201). Develops research guides and tutorials. Actively participates in the work of the Instruction Team.
2. Collection Development (25%): Serves as subject selector for nursing and the sciences. Informed by publishing and disciplinary trends, faculty research and teaching areas, and the Library's collection development policies and procedures, selects digital and print materials, maintaining an appropriate collection of books, journals, databases, media, and related resources. Expends ~$100,000 in annual funds allocated for new materials and continuing funds devoted to ongoing resources in these fields. Provides Library Reviews for proposed new courses and programs and periodic program reviews. Actively participates in the work of the Collection Development Team.
3. Reference (20%): Provides research advice and assistance in person and online to all SMC students, faculty, staff, and non-SMC users (5+ hours per week on the reference desk, ~2-3 hours per week answering direct queries from nursing and science students and faculty). Actively participates in the work of the Reference Team.
4. Scholarly Communication and Scientific Publishing Research (10%): Supports the library's scholarly communication initiatives (such as open access and institutional repository). Researches and creates educational materials on scholarly communication topics related to publishing in the sciences. Actively participates in the work of the Open Access/Open Educational Resources Committee.
5. Outreach (5%): Contributes to co-curricular library programming and collaborations. Actively participates in the work of the Communication Team.
6. Campus and Professional Contributions (10%): Serves on library and college committees as assigned. Maintains membership and involvement with appropriate subject and professional associations. Contributes service to professional and/or college endeavors.
7. Other duties (5%) Requirements QUALIFICATIONS:
Education:REQUIRED: MLS or equivalent from ALA accredited program. PREFERRED: A degree or coursework in one or more of the subjects served by this position.
Experience:
Required:
1. Demonstrated knowledge of library services for an academic environment.
2. Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of emerging and established practices and standards in information literacy instruction and collection development and management.
Preferred:
1. Demonstrated successful experience delivering and assessing quality instruction, collection development, and reference/research service in a student-centered environment.
1. Knowledge of databases and other resources for research in the sciences and nursing, or willingness to engage in self-directed learning about these resources.
2. Ability to support student success by engaging students in the scientific literature, from first-year to graduate students.
3. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
4. Demonstrated successful experience working both independently and in a team environment.
5. Demonstrated success working cooperatively, respectfully, and effectively with faculty and staff in a culturally diverse community.
6. Demonstrate awareness and experience understanding the needs of a diverse student population-in age, ability, cultural background, ethnicity, primary language, economic/financial background, and academic preparation-through inclusive and accessible course materials, teaching strategies, and collection development.
7. Demonstrated effective planning and organizational skills.
Other Requirements: (e.g. travel, weekend/evening work)
1. Requires capacity to work flexible hours, including weekends and evenings. Some instruction occurs on evenings and weekends, and librarians share evening and weekend shifts on the Reference Desk.
Application Instructions:
1. A cover letter that specifically addresses how you meet the qualifications and are prepared to support the mission of the College.
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
The first review of applications will be December 12, 2024
Virtual info session
We recently held an information session about the position on Zoom. View the recording and slides
The foundation for everything we do at Saint Mary's is our mission: To probe deeply the mystery of existence by cultivating the ways of knowing and the arts of thinking. Recognizing that the paths to knowledge are many, Saint Mary's College of California offers a diverse curriculum that includes the humanities, arts, sciences, social sciences, education, business administration and nursing, serving traditional students and adult learners in both undergraduate and graduate programs. As an institution where the liberal arts inform and enrich all areas of learning, it places special importance on fostering the intellectual skills and habits of mind, which liberate persons to probe deeply the mystery of existence and live authentically in response to the truths they discover. This liberation is achieved as faculty and students, led by wonder about the nature of reality, look twice, ask why, seek not merely facts but fundamental principles, strive for an integration of all knowledge and express themselves precisely and eloquently. To affirm and foster the Christian understanding of the human person which animates the educational mission of the Catholic Church. Saint Mary's College holds... that the mystery which inspires wonder about the nature of existence is revealed in the person of Jesus Christ giving a transcendent meaning to creation and human existence. Nourished by its Christian faith, the College understands the intellectual and spiritual journeys of the human person to be inextricably connected. It promotes the dialogue of faith and reason: it builds community among its members through the celebration of the church's sacramental life; it defends the goodness, dignity and freedom of each person, and fosters sensitivity to social and ethical concerns. Recognizing that all those who sincerely quest for truth contribute to and enhance its stature as a Catholic institution of higher learning, Saint Mary's welcomes members from its own and other traditions, inviting them to collaborate in fulfilling the spiritual mission of the College. To create a student-centered educational community whose members support one another with mutual understanding and respect. As a Lasallian college, Saint Mary's holds that students are given to its care by God and that teachers grow spiritually and personally when their work is motivated by faith and zeal. The College seeks students, faculty, administrators and staff from different social, economic and cultural backgrounds who come together to grow in knowledge, wisdom and love. A distinctive mark of a Lasallian school is its awareness of the consequences of economic and social injustice and its commitment to the poor. Its members learn to live "their responsibility to share their goods and their service with those who are in need, a responsibility based on the union of all men and women in the world today and on a clear understanding of the meaning of Christianity." (From: The Brothers of the Christian Schools in the World Today: A Declaration).The foundation for everything we do at Saint Mary's is our mission: To probe deeply the mystery of existence by cultivating the ways of knowing and the arts of thinking. Recognizing that the paths to knowledge are many, Saint Mary's College of California offers a diverse curriculum that includes the humanities, arts, sciences, social sciences, education, business administration and nursing, serving traditional students and adult learners in both undergraduate and graduate programs. As an institution where the liberal arts inform and enrich all areas of learning, it places special importance on fostering the intellectual skills and habits of mind, which liberate persons to probe deeply the mystery of existence and live authentically in response to the truths they discover. This liberation is achieved as faculty and students, led by wonder about the nature of reality, look twice, ask why, seek not merely facts but fundamental principles, strive for an integration of all knowledge and express themselves precisely and eloquently. To affirm and foster the Christian understanding of the human person which animates the educational mission of the Catholic Church. Saint Mary's College holds that the mystery which inspires wonder about the nature of existence is revealed in the person of Jesus Christ giving a transcendent meaning to creation and human existence. Nourished by its Christian faith, the College understands the intellectual and spiritual journeys of the human person to be inextricably connected. It promotes the dialogue of faith and reason: it builds community among its members through the celebration of the church's sacramental life; it defends the goodness, dignity and freedom of each person, and fosters sensitivity to social and ethical concerns. Recognizing that all those who sincerely quest for truth contribute to and enhance its stature as a Catholic institution of higher learning, Saint Mary's welcomes members from its own and other traditions, inviting them to collaborate in fulfilling the spiritual mission of the College. To create a student-centered educational community whose members support one another with mutual understanding and respect. As a Lasallian college, Saint Mary's holds that students are given to its care by God and that teachers grow spiritually and personally when their work is motivated by faith and zeal. The College seeks students, faculty, administrators and staff from different social, economic and cultural backgrounds who come together to grow in knowledge, wisdom and love. A distinctive mark of a Lasallian school is its awareness of the consequences of economic and social injustice and its commitment to the poor. Its members learn to live "their responsibility to share their goods and their service with those who are in need, a responsibility based on the union of all men and women in the world today and on a clear understanding of the meaning of Christianity." (From: The Brothers of the Christian Schools in the World Today: A Declaration).