Job Summary
Since 1920, Mount St. Joseph University has provided an education that is based on interdisciplinary liberal arts and professional curricula emphasizing mission, values, integrity, and social responsibility. Faculty and staff deliver high-quality academics, hands-on experiential learning, and personalized attention to support student success. Join our award-winning team, recognized for four consecutive years as a ‘Best College to Work for,’ and be part of a vibrant culture that places a premium on inclusion and belonging. Purpose: The Head of Research and Instructional Services oversees the operations of the Research and Instructional Services Department, including: the provision of research and information literacy services to all members of the Mount community, and the development, implementation, delivery, and assessment of the library’s instructional program. This position also assists the library director in working with faculty to implement textbook affordability initiatives. The Head of Research and Instructional Services also partners with the Director of Library Services to provide collection development and collection management services.
Job Responsibilities
Primary Duties:
- Oversees all functions of the Research and Instructional Services Department: initiates, develops, and implements department’s policies and procedures; organizes department’s activities; analyzes and resolves problems; collects, maintains, and reports statistics on department services; and communicates effectively and in a timely manner with library staff, supervisor, and other departments.
- Oversees and manages all aspects of the library’s research and information literacy services: manages in-person and digital (chat, email, video conference, etc.) research consultation services; coordinates the participation of other library staff in research services; provides research services to students, faculty, staff, and guests; promotes research services to the campus community; promotes instructional services to faculty, creates and maintains research help pages on the library’s website.
- Oversees and manages the development, implementation, delivery, maintenance, and assessment of the library’s instructional program for students, faculty, and staff. Coordinates delivery of information literacy and library instruction services; provides instructional services, including: orientations, classroom instruction, online, in-library and off-campus presentations, tutorials, and demonstrations; maintains instructional pages on library website. Coordinates the participation of other library staff in instructional services as needed.
- Collaborates with Director of Library Services to promote affordable textbook initiatives: promotes course reserve services to faculty; provides consultation on open-access textbooks and other OER materials; provides consultation on Inclusive Access textbook and course materials; provides consultation on the use of licensed library materials as course resources; provides consultation on the use of sources licensed by the Annual Copyright License from Copyright Clearance Center.
- Serves as primary point of contact for faculty who request library support for online and traditional course development. Provides assistance with finding resources for use in courses.
- Partners with the Director of Library Services to provide collection development and collection management services; selects and recommends new print and digital materials for the library’s reference collection; selects and recommends materials to be weeded.
- Acts as Librarian-in-charge, supervising library operations as needed in the Director’s absence. Serves as student worker supervisor when the Head of Access Services is unavailable.
- Provides backup support for interlibrary loan services when the Head of Access Services is unavailable.
- Engages in professional development to stay current with the demands of the position; attends professional workshops or conferences.
- Contributes to team effort by welcoming new and different work requirements; exploring new opportunities to enhance the services of the division; helping others accomplish related job results as and where needed.
- Engages in academic citizenship; conducts research and pursues scholarly opportunities; serves on university committees; attends and actively votes at Faculty Assembly meetings.
- Serves as library representative on CCEP (Committee on Curriculum and Educational Policies).
- Actively participates in professional library associations and committees.
- Performs additional related duties as assigned by the Director of Library Services
Primary Contacts: University librarians, faculty, staff, students, student assistants, and members of the general public; vendors and outside partners; professional colleagues in OhioLINK and nationwide.
Supervision Exercised: Acts as Librarian-in-charge, supervising library operations and student assistants as needed.
Supervision Received: Works toward a previously defined objective with little supervision and uses a wide range of procedures; plans and arranges own work referring unusual cases to Director of Library Services.
Educational/Experiential Requirements
Education: MLS or MLIS (or equivalent degree) from an American Library Association accredited institution is required.
Experience: Strong customer service and communication skills and experience in providing research and instructional services are required. A minimum of two-three years of experience overseeing research and instructional services in an academic library is required. Experience in providing research consultation and instruction in health sciences and/or teacher education is helpful.
Specialized Training: Extensive knowledge of research sources, research methods, online searching, search strategies, and library instruction methods is required. Knowledge of current best practices in teaching information literacy to students is required.
Skills, Attributes:
- Customer Service:
- Exhibit a customer first orientation in providing exceptional service in all responsibilities and interactions demonstrating versatility in handling people and situation
- Adapt willingly and quickly to changing priorities and responsibilities, as well as the needs and expectations of students, faculty, and staff; anticipate and identify students, faculty, and staff needs
- Work weekdays is required; occasional evening and weekend hours as required by research consultation service and instructional service schedule
- Teamwork:
- Communicate, cooperate, and collaborate with others to achieve common office, division, or university goals
- Willingly assist in various responsibilities as appropriate within other divisions of the library as required during high service demand times
- Communication:
- Develop and nurture an effective, productive and respectful rapport and working relationship with students, faculty, and co-workers, maintaining appropriate level of professionalism
- Demonstrate highest regard for confidentiality of information
- Communicate information clearly and concisely and listen well to others
- Must possess strong communication skills and strengths in public speaking, with a demonstrated ability to teach research processes to students in one-one-one, small group, and classroom settings
- Accuracy:
- Maintain a high level of accuracy, consistently reviewing work to detect errors, oversights, or omissions
- Ensure accuracy of information that is provided to others
- Initiative:
- Take immediate and independent action when necessary, assuming initiative for creative problem solving
- Accomplish tasks with follow through to completion
- Adapt willingly and quickly to changing priorities, responsibilities, and functions within department
- Technical:
- Must be proficient at learning new technologies, using technologies, and teaching others how to strategically use technologies in research processes. Must be proficient at learning and using a library services platform, catalog, databases, and other technologies in the provision of library services.
- Work Environment, Physical Demands:
- Standing or sitting in one position for long periods; computer data input and analysis; lifting library books and other materials as required; multiple concurrent tasks with constant service interruptions; high level of customer contact; strict confidentiality; detailed work; ability to work weekdays is required; ability to work occasional evening and weekend hours as required.
- Standing or sitting in one position for long periods; computer data input and analysis; lifting library books and other materials as required; multiple concurrent tasks with constant service interruptions; high level of customer contact; strict confidentiality; detailed work; ability to work weekdays is required; ability to work occasional evening and weekend hours as required.
Job Application Instructions
To apply, please upload a cover letter, resume, and contact information with three professional references via Paycom: https://www.paycomonline.net/
- Benefits: Mount St. Joseph University offers a wide array of benefit options, to meet the financial, educational, health, and wellness needs of you and your family. Eligibility varies by position and FTE.
- Tuition Remission for you and your family.
- Retirement contributions up to 7% of your salary.
- Excellent benefits including medical, employer HSA contributions, dental, vision, life, parental leave.
- Generous PTO.
- 16 paid holidays.
- Competitive salaries.
- Opportunity to work in a dynamic and inclusive educational environment.
- Professional development opportunities.