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The University of Kansas Libraries Position Announcement Humanities Librarian Position Overview The Humanities Librarian for English Language and Literature works in a team environment to build print and digital collections; to provide specialized reference, instruction, consultation and outreach services to a diverse campus community; and to create new services and programs within an environment of rapidly changing information technologies, scholarly communication models, and interdisciplinary emphasis. The Librarian reports to the Head of Collection Development within the University Libraries and is the liaison to English. S/he may also work with other academic departments within the humanities and serves as an important contributor to the development and promotion of the Kenneth Spencer Research Library's rare book and manuscript collections. Responsibilities Develop collections and strengthen user services to support research and teaching programs in English and the humanities through strong working relationships with faculty and students in the assigned academic unit(s) Select research materials and manage the budget for English and assigned disciplines, with emphasis on materials that will directly support faculty and undergraduate/graduate student research. The English collection includes core scholarly works, current literature, and creative writing: novels, poems, and drama. Work cooperatively with other subject specialists in the development of interdisciplinary collections supporting teaching and research. Identify and recommend humanities resources within KU's permanent collections for digitization, working closely with other subject specialists, digital librarians, and technology staff to establish new local digital collections. Participate in campus initiatives that strengthen support for digital humanities. Foster faculty collaborations in a wide range of Libraries initiatives, including KU ScholarWorks, scholarly publishing opportunities, support of faculty research, and the integration of coursework with library services and information literacy approaches. Provide support for faculty and students in the use of humanities materials through instruction, in-depth reference, web-based communication and the development and maintenance of web-based guides or resources. Teach library instruction sessions for English courses, generally 200-level or above, and participate in campus-wide information literacy instruction programs serving students in first-year-experience programs, general education programs and advanced courses in liaison disciplines. Partner with colleagues in the collections and instruction areas to develop and present a program of instructional initiatives directed at extending staff and user knowledge in areas of specialization. Share responsibilities for providing information and general reference services in person, by telephone and electronically (email & instant messaging). Required Qualifications Master's degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association Excellence in written communication as demonstrated by quality of application materials Minimum of 3 years work experience in an academic or research library with responsibilities for collection development and/or reference and instruction. Knowledge of print and electronic information resources in English language, literature, and contemporary literature, including bibliographic and small press publications and full-text resources as detailed in application materials. Demonstrated experience with current and emerging trends and technologies in academic libraries as evidenced in application materials Preferred Qualifications Advanced degree (Master's or Doctorate) in English. Demonstrated excellence in oral communication skills. Familiarity with contemporary humanities curricula and research methodologies. Ability to work effectively with culturally diverse faculty, students, and staff. Familiarity with collection development methodologies in research libraries, trends in digital library development, and principles of scholarly communication in the context of rapidly developing technologies. Strong commitment to instruction and public service. Recent experience in teaching, library instruction or technology training and knowledge of instructional theory, philosophy, and practice. Experience managing a collections budget. Proficiency in a western European language. Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment. Environment Opened in 1866, the University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. The largest of the Kansas regents' institutions, KU annually awards more than 3,500 bachelor's degrees and 1,000 graduate degrees, including 200 doctoral degrees. The University of Kansas holds membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). Research awards at the University of Kansas soared 13 percent to a record $218 million in the past fiscal year, a nearly 50 percent increase in just the past five years. The University of Kansas Libraries is a founding member of the Association of Research Libraries, the Center for Research Libraries, BioOne, and the Greater Western Library Alliance. KU Libraries own over four million volumes in seven library facilities in Lawrence and one in Kansas City. The Libraries support more than 27,000 students and 2,100 faculty members. Fifty-two librarians and 112 staff members contribute to an energetic work environment where innovation and collaboration across campus are encouraged and valued. A major division within Information Services, the University of Kansas Libraries partners with Information Technology to deliver innovative content and technology services to support research and learning. Additional information about Information Services is available at http://www.informationservices.ku.edu <http://www.informationservices.ku.edu/> Additional information about the University, the Libraries, and its collections can be found at http://www.ku.edu <http://www.ku.edu/> and http://www.lib.ku.edu <http://www.lib.ku.edu/> . Considered one of the most beautiful campuses in the nation, KU's main campus occupies 1,000 acres on and around Mount Oread in Lawrence, a community of 90,000 among the forested hills of eastern Kansas. The campus offers a rich cultural life, including several museums such as the Natural History Museum and the Spencer Museum of Art, long considered one of the top teaching museums in the nation. The Lied Center, a $14.3 million, state-of-the-art performing arts center, hosts a variety of concerts, plays, dance performances and Broadway shows. The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, an $11-million, 28,000-square-foot facility, houses dynamic exhibits and the world's largest congressional archive. Lawrence is conveniently situated between two large cities. Thirty minutes to the east, Metropolitan Kansas City, with a population of nearly 2 million, offers attractive cultural resources including the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Jazz Museum, the Lyric Opera, the Kansas City Ballet and the Linda Hall Library, one of the largest engineering, science and technology libraries in the world. Twenty minutes to the west is Topeka, the capitol city with 122,000 residents. It is home of the Kansas State Historical Society, the State Capitol Complex and the Topeka Shawnee County Public Library. More information about Lawrence is available at: www.visitlawrence.com <http://www.visitlawrence.com/> . Application Procedures Applications and nominations will be accepted until the position is filled. First review of applications will be April 1, 2008. Complete application includes: letter of interest which addresses each of the required and preferred qualifications, curriculum vitae, and the names with contact information of three references. Send to: Humanities Librarian Search Committee, University of Kansas Libraries, 502 Watson, 1425 Jayhawk Boulevard, University of Kansas, Lawrence KS 66045-7535, fax 785-864-5311, [log in to unmask] E-mail submission is encouraged. To view full description, go to https://jobs.ku.edu <https://jobs.ku.edu/> . Search for position 00201798. Excellent benefits include a choice of health plans and the option for TIAA-CREF retirement benefits. Additional information about employment benefits at Kansas University may be found at http://hreo.ku.edu/prospective_faculty_staff <http://www.hreo.ku.edu/prospective_faculty_staff> . The University of Kansas is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. The University encourages applications from underrepresented group members. Federal and state legislation prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, disability, and veteran status. In addition, University policies prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, marital status, and parental status.