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Sciences Collections Librarian

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Position description

Department: User Engagement – Sciences Division, Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library and Science and Engineering Library
Rank and Salary: Assistant Librarian to Librarian ($55,014 to $96,266)
Position Availability: Immediately
Application deadline for first consideration: December 4, 2019

The Sciences Collections Librarian will join a department that is using a matrix structure to better meet dynamic and evolving campus teaching and research needs. The incumbent will be part of a team working to support users at multiple Library locations and will have the opportunity to help shape collections and scholarly communication engagement in the Sciences. The incumbent will serve on one of the multi-unit functional teams in the User Engagement division to provide collaborative leadership for that area, while also supporting work across public services functions. Current functional teams are Collections, Outreach, Research, and Teaching and Learning. The incumbent will play a key role in building this collaborative program at the Library and furthering substantive engagements with the campus. The ideal candidate for this multi-faceted role will be team-oriented with the ability to both lead and support colleagues, student-centered, and committed to shaping the future of the library profession.

Position Duties
Reporting to the Director of the Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library and Science and Engineering Library, the Sciences Collections Librarian provides leadership in collections and scholarly communications in the Sciences. In collaboration with colleagues across the Library, the librarian will contribute to investigating and building transformative, sustainable collections to support research, education, service and clinical care. With support from Sciences User Engagement colleagues, this position would set collection priorities for the Biomedical and Science and Engineering libraries. All User Engagement Librarians support instruction and research assistance for scholars at all levels and in multiple disciplines.

The Sciences Collections Librarian:
· Builds and maintains collections to support education, research, service, and clinical care;
· Serves as collections functional-expert in Health and Life Sciences or Applied Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Engineering;
· Collaborates with the Library’s Collections Functional Team to develop and implement evidence-based processes to analyze, assess and evaluate Library content;
· Contributes to decision-making for renewals, new title selections, and cancellations, on local and UC-wide licensed resources.
· Represents the Library on the disciplinary relevant UC Common Knowledge Group related to area of collections functional expertise.
· In partnership with Unified Access Services and other Sciences User Engagement librarians, coordinates the managing of physical collections, including weeding and space-reduction projects for existing collections. Provides input and recommendations in managing physical collections in context of UC Shared Print Initiatives and other regional and national consortia.
· Maintains knowledge of and contributes to the development of library engagement in emerging and transformative collection development and scholarly communications models;
· Works collaboratively to develop new approaches, services, systems, and strategies to actively engage with scholars during all phases of the research process: from research design, through discovery, analysis, and publication;
· Both collaboratively and independently designs, implements, and assesses library instructional services, including face-to-face, hybrid, and online learning opportunities, instruction sessions and workshops, and other approaches to developing student research skills;
· Provides instruction for undergraduate and graduate classes in multiple scientific disciplines;
· Serves as a liaison to one or more departments;
· Develops and maintains relationships with campus partners in collaboration with library colleagues;
· Provides research assistance in-person and online to a diverse patron community;
· Maintains awareness of changes and trends within relevant disciplines and campus programs, including collection development and scholarly communications;
· Participates in outreach events and activities grounded in teaching, research, creative and civic engagement and that demonstrate a commitment to including diverse voices;
· Works closely with Library Development to identify and steward donors, collections, and endowed gift funds.

The successful candidate will be committed to promoting and enhancing diversity through engagement with and promotion of the UCLA Principles of Community; have the capacity to thrive in the exciting, ambiguous, future-oriented environment of a world-class research institution and to respond effectively to changing needs and priorities; ability to work independently and collaboratively, as a leader and team member; and a commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive educational environment and workplace and ability to work with a diverse student and faculty population.

Applicants with any of the following qualifications or professional experiences are strongly encouraged to apply: Two or more years of professional library experience in collection development or similar field; two or more years of professional library experience as a subject librarian in a scientific discipline; experience managing collections budget or negotiating for resources; familiarity with electronic scholarly resources and reference tools in a scientific discipline; experience working with library consortia in collection management; knowledge of the scholarly communications life cycle in the sciences; experience in donor relations and stewardship.

Basic Qualifications
· ALA-accredited Master's Degree in Library or Information Science OR significant graduate-level coursework toward such a degree OR equivalent education and experience (subject expertise combined with professional library education and/or experience).
· Experience with the operation of a research university, and ability to work effectively and collegially in a team-based environment with colleagues, clients, and administrators at all levels.
· Experience providing research assistance or collection services to a diverse population and users of all levels.
· Experience working in an environment requiring initiative and flexibility.
· Experience with the research life cycle and information literacy principles.
· Analytical, organizational, time, and project management skills.
· Experience utilizing and tailoring communication skills—including oral, written and interpersonal skills—to work effectively and collaboratively with various stakeholders (e.g., faculty, staff, students, administrators).

General Information
Professional librarians at UCLA are academic appointees. Librarians at UCLA are represented by an exclusive bargaining agent, University Council – American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT). This is a represented position. They are entitled to appropriate professional leave, two days per month of vacation leave, one day per month of sick leave, and all other benefits granted to non-faculty academic personnel. The University has an excellent retirement system and sponsors a
variety of group health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans in addition to other benefits. Relocation assistance may be provided.

Appointees to the librarian series at UC shall have professional backgrounds that demonstrate a high degree of creativity, teamwork, and flexibility. Such background will normally include a professional degree from an ALA-accredited library and information science graduate program. In addition to professional competence and quality of service within the library in the primary job, advancement in the librarian series requires professional involvement and contributions outside of the library, and/or university and community service, and/or scholarly activities. Candidates must show evidence or promise of such contributions.

Candidates applying by December 4, 2019 will be given first consideration for this position. UCLA welcomes and encourages diversity and seeks applications and nominations from women and minorities. UCLA seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve the people of California, to maintain the excellence of the university, and to offer our students richly varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing and learning.

Description of Unit
User Engagement (UE) brings together public services librarians and staff across three major divisions (Sciences; Arts, Music, and Powell; and Management/Humanities and Social Sciences) and four functional teams (Collections, Outreach, Research, and Teaching and Learning). The UE group is a matrixed organization designed to enhance library services through a cross-disciplinary and cross-functional approach.

The Sciences division (SUE) unites librarians and staff from three library locations (Biomedical Library, SEL/Boelter, and SEL/Geology). The division supports research, education, service, and clinical care in a wide variety of settings and at all levels, including specialized collections and services for health, physical, life, and applied sciences and engineering, as well as undergraduate support for all disciplines. SUE builds and maintains relationships with their academic departments and other campus partners and strive to provide an excellent user experience for all Library visitors. The team consists of 9 FTE librarians and 1 FTE computer resource specialist.

Description of Institution and Library
As one of the world's great public research universities, UCLA integrates education, research, and public service so that each enriches and extends the others. From its beautiful neighborhood campus in a uniquely diverse and vibrant city on the Pacific Rim, teaching and research extend beyond the classroom, office, and lab through active engagement with communities, organizations, projects, and partnerships throughout the region and around the world.

UCLA’s diverse community of scholars encompasses nearly 30,000 undergraduates pursuing 125 majors, 13,000 graduate students in fifty-nine research programs, and 4,000 faculty members including Nobel Laureates; Rhodes Scholars; MacArthur Fellows; winners of the Fields Medal, National Medal of Science, Pritzker Prize, and Pulitzer Prize; and recipients of Oscars, Emmys, Tonys, and Golden Globes. UCLA ranks tenth in the Times of London Higher

Education World Reputation Rankings, twelfth in the Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and fifth in the U.S. by Washington Monthly. The National Research Council ranks forty of its graduate and doctoral research programs among its top ten.

To enable these accomplished students, faculty, and staff to create, disseminate, and apply knowledge for the benefit of global society, the UCLA Library is re-envisioning how it is acquired, synthesized, and shared across academic audiences and with the public. It was among the first academic libraries to develop subject-specialist librarians and to launch a program to enhance students’ research skills. Its Special Collections pioneered the acquisition by public institutions of rare and unique books, children’s literature, pulp and detective fiction, works by or about women and minorities, screenplays, architectural plans, and Los Angeles-related materials and today leads the way in collecting archival resources in digital format such as emails and manuscripts. It has launched innovative data management services and an affordable course materials initiative that have served as models for other libraries.

The Library serves UCLA students, faculty, and staff whenever and wherever they need its resources and expertise. Reconfigured, high-tech spaces and services in its ten campus libraries enable users and librarians to explore and work with print and digital materials collaboratively or individually, pursue new lines of inquiry, and develop new pedagogical approaches as well as novel forms of scholarship. More than 3.5 million people visit annually, while an additional 3.4 million visitors enter online through its virtual front doors.

Whether on campus or online, the Library forms the intellectual heart of UCLA, a hub for cutting-edge discovery, scholarship, and instruction.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of the University of California and key components of the University’s commitment to excellence. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: UC Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action Policy at http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct

Under federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally authorized to work in the United States as established by providing documents specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Employment is contingent upon completion of satisfactory background investigation.

Visit the Jobs @ UCLA Library website at: http://www.library.ucla.edu/about/jobs-ucla-library

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Cover Letter - Describing qualifications and experience.

  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V. detailing education and relevant experience.

  • References - Names and contact information for three professional references, including current or previous supervisor; contact information only.

Job location

Los Angeles, California