Augusta
Baker Endowed Chair in Childhood Literacy
School
of Library & Information Science (SLIS)
The
School of Library and Information Science at the University of South Carolina
seeks an outstanding candidate to fill the Augusta Baker Endowed Chair in
Childhood Literacy, the first academic chair at the University of South Carolina
honoring an African-American woman.
Augusta
Baker was the first African American Coordinator of Children’s Services
at the New York Public Library and former Storyteller-in-Residence at the
University of South Carolina. Nationally known as an outstanding librarian,
storyteller and author she worked to abolish stereotypes in children’s
literature. She helped bring attention to the need for children to have
stories, characters and settings with which they could identify. She
emphasized that hearing stories was a child’s first step to literacy.
The successful candidate will build on the Baker legacy of
excellence in childhood literacy and youth services and provide national and
state leadership in the teaching, research, and service missions of the School
of Library and Information Science (SLIS). The Chair will be actively involved
with the South Carolina Center for Children’s Books and Literacy, a SLIS
initiative dedicated to research, development, and community involvement to
eliminate illiteracy in South Carolina. The Chair will work to bridge the gap
between the University and the needs of communities throughout the state.
The
required qualifications for this tenure track position include:
·
An
earned doctorate;
·
Achievement commensurate with appointment at the rank of professor is
preferred although appointment at the rank of associate professor will be
considered;
·
A
research agenda in childhood literacy and youth services or children’s
literature;
·
A
record of publication and successful grant-funded research;
·
Excellence
in teaching;
·
Demonstrated
successful projects in community collaboration;
·
A
history of professional involvement; and
·
A
commitment to cultural diversity.
The
SLIS-MLIS program is fully accredited by the American Library Association
(ALA), and its school media preparation program is approved by the National
Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). In addition to the
MLIS degree, SLIS offers the Ph.D. and two other post-master’s degrees.
The School also offers an undergraduate degree in information science.
The
University of South Carolina is a Carnegie Research I institution and
recognizes that the strength and reputation of SLIS are integral to the mission
of the University. We are an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer
committed to building a culturally diverse faculty, staff, and student body,
and are responsive to the needs of dual career couples.
The review of applications and nominations for the position will
begin December 10, 2010 and continue until the position is filled. Salary is
fully competitive. Applicants should submit electronically a letter of intent
(including research and teaching and community involvement interests) and
curriculum vitae with the names of three references (in .pdf or .doc format)
to:
Dean
Tom McNally, Chair
Augusta
Baker Endowed Chair in Childhood Literacy Search Committee
School
of Library and Information Science
1501
Greene Street, 113 Davis College
University
of South Carolina
Columbia,
SC 29208
Phone:
(803) 777-3858; FAX: (803) 777-7938
Dr. S. K. Hastings
Director and Professor
School of Library and
Information Science
University of South
Carolina
Davis College
1501 Greene St.
Columbia, SC 29208
803-777-3858
http://www.libsci.sc.edu