Dear Colleagues,

Please note the following visiting research fellowship opportunity offered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Please feel free to forward this announcement to any appropriate listservs or other media you feel will help "get the word out" to interested LIS practitioners, educators, and researchers.

Sincerely,


Kevin Cherry   MSLS, PhD
Senior Program Officer
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Phone: (202) 653-4662
www.imls.gov

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INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES Washington, DC

	Visiting Fellow Opportunity


DESCRIPTION:  OPPORTUNITY FOR A VISITING FELLOW TO BE IN RESIDENCE AT IMLS FOR A MINIMUM OF 12 MONTHS AND A MAXIMUM OF 24 MONTHS TO CONDUCT RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE.

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE IS CURRENTLY EMPLOYED IN A PROFESSIONAL POSITION, FOR NO LESS THAN 90 DAYS, IN A NON-PROFIT, NON-FEDERAL LIBRARY, ARCHIVE, OR LIBRARY-RELATED AGENCY, ASSOCIATION, OR CONSORTIUM; OR AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.  ASSIGNMENT TO IMLS IS CONTINGENT ON AGREEMENT OF THE CANDIDATE'S EMPLOYING HOME INSTITUTION, SUCH AGREEMENT MUST SPECIFY THAT THE CANDIDATE WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO RETURN TO THE EMPLOYING INSTITUTION AT THE END OF THE ASSIGNMENT PERIOD.  

APPLICATION DEADLINE:¬¬¬¬  August 15, 2011 ASSIGNMENT WILL BEGIN:  No later than January 15, 2012 _____________________________________________________________________________________________

The Opportunity

In furtherance of the mission of IMLS's Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program to develop a diverse workforce of librarians, the IMLS Visiting Fellows program has been created within the Office of Library Services as a continuing education opportunity.  The Visiting Fellow selected as a result of this announcement will have expertise in an area of library and/or information science, which may include but is not limited to focus areas such as networked library services, management of digital library resources, or services relevant to particular types of libraries such as public, academic or school libraries, or archives.  The Visiting Fellows program seeks to provide program and developmental experience that will enhance the Visiting Fellow's performance in his or her regular position at the employing home institution in the following ways: (1) through the conduct of research in an area of library or information science related to IMLS grant programs for libraries and (2) through participation in policies and activities relating to research projects and programs in his or her focus area.  IMLS will benefit from the input and advice of the Visiting Fellow based on research carried out by the Visiting Fellow during the period of assignment.  In consultation with IMLS, the Visiting Fellow will select a project in his or her area of specialization that advances the purposes and activities of the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program during the time in residence at IMLS. 

Eligibility:

This position may be filled, independent of the competitive aspects of this announcement, through the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA), 5 CFR Part 334.  Pursuant to the IPA, eligible candidates must be an employee of an eligible institution for no less than 90 days.  Eligible institutions include state, territorial, county, municipal, and tribal governments, institutions of higher learning, and other eligible organizations as certified by IMLS.  The agency is responsible for identifying IPA-eligibility of the organizations from which candidates apply.

Term of Assignment:

The Visiting Fellow will report to the Associate Deputy Director for Library Services and will serve for a period of 12-24 months.  Any extension beyond this period will require the approval of both the IMLS Director and an authorized official of the Visiting Fellow's home institution.

Employee Status:

As IPA assignees, Visiting Fellows are detailed to the Institute.  Assignees remain on the employing home institution's payroll in an active pay status while on detail to IMLS.  Salary and benefits continue to be administered by the home institution.  IPA assignees are not Federal employees, but are subject to provisions of law governing the ethics and conduct of Federal employees and of IMLS's rules and policies governing its internal operation and management.  It is the Institute's expectation that IPA assignees will not be employed by IMLS in any capacity for at least one (1) year upon completion of their IPA assignment.

Salary:

This fellowship opportunity and its terms are subject to the availability of federal funds. When a Visiting Fellow is selected, IMLS will reimburse the amount of the IPA assignee's salary to the employing home institution for the term of the assignment.  IPA assignee salary is usually annualized to twelve months.  Individual assignment agreements may allow for supplements when there is an increase in salary and/or benefit rates at the assignee's employing home institution. Pay may also be supplemented when the salary at the home institution is below the minimum of an equivalent IMLS position or if the cost of living at the home institution is below that of the Washington, DC metropolitan area.  

Relocation Expenses:

In accordance with Federal regulations, the IPA assignee selected for this fellowship will be reimbursed for allowable relocation expenses (not to exceed $1,500 per move) associated with reporting for duty to this position.

Leave:

Because IPA assignees are not Federal employees, annual and sick leave is not accrued at IMLS.  Applicable leave provisions of the assignee's employing home institution will be followed while on detail to IMLS; however, requests to use leave must be approved by his or her IMLS supervisor.  The home institution is responsible for leave administration.  Summer and other extended vacation periods are work periods at IMLS.

QUALIFICATION STANDARDS: 

Candidates must have at least two years of professional experience in and must currently hold a professional position in a U.S. library or archive; a library-related agency, association, or consortium located in the United States; a faculty position in a U.S. graduate school of library and information science, or another position in a U.S. institution of higher education that is related to or impacts library or information science.    

Professional experience is defined as practical knowledge in library or information science, or in applying the principles and practices of the library or information science fields.

Evaluation criteria:  Qualified candidates will be evaluated in terms of the following factors:  
	
1) 	Intellectual merit of the proposed research and its relevance to IMLS grant programs; 
2) 	Evidence of knowledge in the individual's area of expertise, as demonstrated by publications, presentations, or other activities; 
3) 	Knowledge of research issues in the broader field of library and information science; and 
4) 	Knowledge of current challenges facing libraries and/or archives and their services.   

Candidates must submit a narrative statement addressing these factors in order to receive consideration.  


HOW TO APPLY:

Send a letter of application by the closing date of this announcement detailing your interest in the position, your specific qualifications, your proposed research, and your availability. Include a current résumé with your application, a letter of support from your employer indicating that this type of assignment for your position is supported by your home institution, and your employer's contact information. Candidates will be notified before an employer is contacted.


SUBMIT APPLICATION MATERIALS TO:

Institute of Museum and Library Services Office of Human Resources, Room 9222 1800 M St. NW, 9th Floor Washington, DC 20036


FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Antoine Dotson
Deputy Director, Office of Human Resources Institute of Museum and Library Services 1800 M St. NW, 9th Floor Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-653-4728
Email: [log in to unmask]