The Carl A. Rudisill Library seeks a candidate to serve as Research and Instruction Librarian. This is a full-time, 12-month, non-tenure track faculty position at the Carl A. Rudisill Library on the Hickory, N.C. campus. The Research and Instruction Librarian contributes to information literacy sessions, reference and research services, and collection management with a focus on undergraduate and graduate students and faculty pursuing health sciences at the university including nursing, DNP, public health, exercise science, and occupational therapy.
The Research and Instruction Librarian collaborates and consults with faculty, students, and staff on topics related to digital scholarship, data analytics, and publishing academic work online. This position will support all Lenoir-Rhyne University faculty, students, and staff as well as community members who have library privileges, with appropriate library resources and services. Promotes excellence in library services in coordination with the Lenoir-Rhyne Dean of University Libraries through policy making, student worker staffing, service, and professional development. Works effectively with colleagues, staff, and student employees to advance the mission and vision of the library and the university. Operates within the guidelines of applicable laws, national library protocols, and university and library policies and procedures.
Lenoir-Rhyne University promotes a welcoming campus environment that is integral to the university's commitment to excellence in engagement and education. We are particularly interested in candidates who have demonstrated experience nurturing a welcoming community, working with faculty, staff, and/or students from all walks of life and/or incorporating varied perspectives and traditions in their current or previous positions. This commitment is rooted in our Lutheran tradition of fostering wisdom, nurturing vocation, and preparing students for lives of purpose while serving the common good.
Specific Job Functions
Research Assistance and Instruction
- Serves as liaison to the College of Health Sciences
- Provides research assistance to students, faculty, and staff
- Maintains research guides related to campus programs of study
- Collaborates with faculty to promote the integration of library services and resources into the curriculum, via the learning management system or other mechanisms
- Designs and delivers an information literacy program according to the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education
- Teaches library instruction sessions utilizing high-impact educational practices in various modalities using articulated learning outcomes with appropriate methods of assessment
- Participates in the assessment of information literacy instruction
- Promotes awareness and use of library services and collections, particularly in the health sciences
- Explores new and emerging technologies and advised on tools that may aid in the promotion and delivery of library resources, services, and instruction
Digital Scholarship
- Collaborates and consults with faculty, students, and staff on topics related to digital scholarship, data analytics, and publishing academic work online
- Advocates for the credible and ethical uses of data and digital technology in scholarship on campus
- Promotes and supports faculty, student, and staff student scholarship by increasing awareness of the university's institutional repository, LAIR
- Works campuswide to increase awareness of the importance of open access scholarship and OER
- Assists faculty in identifying appropriate journals and publishers which are a good fit for faculty manuscripts, and to help with author agreements
- Collaborates with faculty to identify make use of available library resources as source of OER/OAR materials in courses
- Actively collaborates with the Center for Teaching and Learning on topics related to digital scholarship.
Service and Professional Development
- Pursues continuing education and professional development activities to strengthen individual competencies, improve library operations, or contribute to the field
- Fulfills university expectations for campus participation and community service
Additional Duties and Tasks
- Participates productively in shared collection development responsibilities, particularly collection management of health sciences resources
- Participates productively in library-wide planning, assessment, and special projects
- Provides circulation, technology troubleshooting, and other general assistance as needed
- Supervises the library in the night and weekend rotation as necessary
- Provides circulation and other general assistance as needed
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Education:
- Required: Master's degree from an ALA-accredited library/information science program
- Preferred: Additional bachelor’s or master’s degree in the health sciences
Experience:
- Three or more years of professional library experience is preferred but not required, preferably in an academic environment
- The position is open to recent MLS/MLIS graduates
Other preferred requirements:
- Considerable knowledge of library collections and operations
- Knowledge of health sciences literature and experience with health and life sciences databases, such as MEDLINE, CINAHL, AccessMedicine
- Knowledge of digital scholarship such as institutional repositories, OER, OER, etc.
- Commitment to the continuing improvement of high-quality services to library users
- Demonstrated experience using effective assessment tools and analyses
- Experience with current reference practices and technologies and proficiency in providing reference assistance, utilizing a wide array of online and traditional library resources
- Familiarity with online catalogs, electronic library collections, chat services, course-management systems, social media, and web-authoring tools
- Knowledge of marketing and outreach and current trends in libraries in higher education
- Knowledge of and use of ACRL's Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education, and of general library instruction theory and practice
- Demonstrated teaching experience and familiarity in variety of pedagogical techniques and with creating instructional and information materials such as online tutorials, surveys, and research guides preferred; interest required.
- Experience with instructional or educational technology
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
- Strong problem-solving and team-building skills
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively
Application Process
While completing the application, candidates will be prompted to submit a:
- Letter of application specifically discussing how one’s professional experiences and perspectives relate to the needs of the position.
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Teaching and Librarianship Philosophy Statement Instructions: A teaching and librarianship philosophy statement is where applicants convey their professional values, beliefs and/or goals. It could include your methods, what you want to achieve with the students you serve, what motivates you as a librarian and a teacher, and the role of the library within education.
- Names and addresses of three references
The university’s mission, vision and values statements may be reviewed on the university's About page. To ensure full review, completed applications must be submitted by April 4, 2025, and the search will continue until the position is filled. Any questions regarding the position or the search process should be submitted electronically to the dean of the Lenoir-Rhyne University Libraries, Dawn Behrend, at dawn.behrend@lr.edu.
About the Lenoir-Rhyne University Libraries
It is the vision of the Lenoir-Rhyne University Libraries are the destination for information for our communities. In support of the mission of the university, the Lenoir-Rhyne University Libraries provide exceptional physical and virtual environments to engage our communities in learning.
About Lenoir-Rhyne University
Lenoir-Rhyne University is a co-educational, private masters comprehensive liberal arts institution founded in 1891, with its traditional campus located in Hickory, North Carolina, a town of more than 40,000. The university has additional graduate centers in Asheville, N.C., and Columbia, S.C. Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lenoir-Rhyne is less than an hour’s drive from Charlotte, and the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of about 365,000. The university now offers more than 45 undergraduate and 20 graduate degree programs to approximately 2,400 students. Lenoir-Rhyne University seeks to liberate mind and spirit, clarify personal faith, foster physical wholeness, build community, and promote responsible leadership for service worldwide. Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Lenoir-Rhyne promotes diverse campuses open to people from all religious and non-religious backgrounds.
Notice of Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment
Lenoir-Rhyne University does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, citizenship, religion, political affiliation, age, marital status, sex/gender, physical or mental disability, genetic information, pregnancy or veteran status in any educational programs and activities, including admissions. Lenoir-Rhyne’s policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity extends to all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, reassignment, demotion, discipline, discharge, performance evaluation, compensation and benefits. Lenoir-Rhyne is committed to providing an environment that promotes nondiscrimination, equal opportunity, and inclusion for faculty, staff, students, contractors, volunteers and visitors.
Department: University Libraries
Reports to: Dean of University Libraries
Wage Class: Exempt