Position Information Update Only x Classification Review Position Title Associate University Librarian, Learning & Research Services Position # 999959 Department Library & Scholarly Resources Classification Level D Reports to Director, Library & Scholarly Resources Effective Date December, 2017 Position Summary Briefly describe the main purpose(s) of the position Reporting to the Director, Library & Scholarly Resources, the Associate University Librarian Learning & Research Services (AUL, L&RS) leads the Learning & Research Services unit of the Library, which includes digital literacy, reference services, the copyright office, the Library information desk and interlibrary loans. The incumbent establishes priorities and plans for the unit to ensure the meeting of departmental objectives and operational requirements; reviews staff training needs, and assesses the efficiency and effectiveness of Learning & Research Services. The AUL, L&RS leads and coordinates AU Library s digital literacy initiatives, including the design and delivery of the Library s instruction activities. The position is responsible for expanding awareness of Library support for learning and teaching at AU. The incumbent has full supervisory responsibilities for the Learning and Research unit and positions reporting to and through to the AUL. Duties and Responsibilities Organize by key responsibility area and include % of time spent where possible Digital Literacy Leadership Leads AU s digital literacy initiatives, promoting awareness of digital literacy to the broader AU community Identifies opportunities for collaboration on digital literacy initiatives and the integration of digital literacy skills and resources into the curriculum Incorporates assessment in developing and expanding digital literacy activities Communicates with deans, faculty and course
developers regarding a variety of digital literacy approaches, identifying, facilitating and encouraging sound pedagogy and assessment Works closely with the Information Literacy & Resource Access Librarian to plan instructional activities Promotes digital literacy within the Library, providing leadership and guidance to librarians and other library staff regarding the provision of reference and library instruction services and support for digital literacy initiatives. Participates in appropriate committee work Learning & Research Services Provides overall leadership for the Learning & Research Services unit of the Library, establishing priorities and plans to ensure that Library objectives and operational requirements are met, with a focus on the provision of exceptional service across the unit Supervises and coaches staff regarding processes to ensure service standards are met and that reference, instruction, and copyright services are of the highest quality Analyzes and assesses efficiency and effectiveness of services Develops and delivers workshops and training for Learning & Research Services staff as necessary Chairs librarian s and unit meetings Liaises with faculty regarding Library support for AU courses and programs Contributes to the development and enhancement of the Library s website and student service initiatives Compiles, maintains and provides statistics and data for the areas reporting to the position; provides data and statistics for benchmarking surveys upon request Provides the Director with reports as required and requested Keeps current in the area of copyright, especially related to issues that affect the university Serves on the AU Library Information Desk as required
Collection Management Works closely with the Director in managing the Library s electronic and print collection, especially related to the renewal of subscription electronic resources and the acquisition of materials to support the curriculum, and research areas of the university Evaluates subscription collections, including usage and uniqueness, and makes recommendations to Director regarding renewals Recommends resources to be added to the collection Reference Services Leads the Reference Services team Provides reference services as required, handling in-depth reference and research questions at all levels, including those of faculty
Classification Factors Communication In all areas of responsibility, the incumbent must demonstrate clear and effective communication skills. In promoting awareness of Library support for teaching and learning, the incumbent provides advice to faculty, course authors, and other stakeholders on appropriate methods for integrating digital literacy into AU courses and programs. The incumbent may also counsel faculty and staff regarding the use of third party materials in courses. In the provision of training and development, the incumbent identifies needs, and presents information clearly, to ensure effective training and continual staff development. The incumbent must have strong reference skills, and be able to express complicated and involved concepts in a clear and concise manner. Supervision Impact of Service or Product The incumbent is required to communicate widely across the university and with external colleagues and organizations. The incumbent must have strong leadership skills. The AUL, L&RS considers departmental and university goals in coaching staff reporting through and directly to this position, motivating and counseling as appropriate, to ensure the provision of effective and efficient services. As some positions reporting to this position also have supervisory responsibility, the incumbent must have a solid understanding of the operations of these areas, to provide appropriate guidance and support. The incumbent is responsible for leading and supervising the Learning and Research unit staff, and the effectiveness of staff will depend in large part on the supervisory skills of the incumbent. The incumbent will also be involved in recruitment and selection of staff in the Learning & Research Services unit. The AUL, L&RS, has a significant impact on AU Library s support for teaching and learning at the University. The incumbent ensures that recommendations for curricular integration and assessment of digital literacy at AU are sound, as these initiatives have an impact on the work of others, on aspects of courses and programs, and on
student success. As the leader of the largest and most student-facing unit in the department, the incumbent is responsible for establishing unit priorities and plans and that services are of high quality. Appropriate and adequate levels of response from this unit, and success in meeting service standards and benchmarks are essential for success in supporting learner needs. Supervisory and training responsibilities contribute to the growth and development of staff working in the Learning & Research Services unit. Contributions to development and enhancement of the Library s information portal result in high visibility of services and resources. Collection management requires a detail oriented approach, and a broad understanding of the curriculum of the University, to ensure that resources retained and acquired by the Library are appropriate. Provision of reference services requires accuracy, creativity, and critical thinking. Strong reference skills are required to support research, particularly at the masters and doctoral levels, as research at these levels is often complex.
Independence of Action Complexity Planning The incumbent works independently, reporting areas of concern and needs (e.g. resources, staffing, etc.) to the Director, Library & Scholarly Resources. The incumbent will also work collaboratively with others internal and external to the Library and AU, and the ability to work in a team is essential. AU s mission, strategic documents, policies, and professional ethics guide actions. The incumbent approaches all duties and responsibilities from a broad perspective that requires in-depth analysis and strong critical and creative thinking skills. The incumbent maintains awareness of new developments in digital and information literacy practice and theory to promote sound pedagogy and assessment, identifying opportunities to enhance services to the AU community. It is the incumbent s responsibility to be knowledgeable about and provide leadership to an area of the Library involving diverse and evolving processes. This requires depth of analysis in establishing priorities and plans for the unit and in assessing the unit s effectiveness. The provision of reference and instructional services can be extremely complex, requiring in-depth knowledge of library systems and creative problem solving techniques. The ability to analyze critically, materials and subject matter is required to facilitate research, including that at the upper and graduate level. The diversity of the position requires the incumbent to have extensive knowledge of, and facility with online research tools, the components of the research process, the AU curriculum, copyright legislation and processes, the needs of different academic disciplines, strategies for evaluating and using information, digital literacy competencies, and different learning and instructional approaches. Extensive planning is required to develop and evaluate the activities undertaken by the Learning & Research Services unit, including digital literacy initiatives, the operations of the Copyright Office, the Library information desk, and reference services. This planning ensures the meeting of University and Library objectives and operational requirements as well
as establish criteria, formulate projects and assess the unit s effectiveness. Signatures for Section I Incumbent's Signature Supervisor's Signature
Section II Qualifications Includes education, experience, skills, abilities and any other special qualifications required. The qualifications relate to the position not the incumbent MLS from an ALA-accredited library school or equivalent is required. Educational background in adult education or a related field is a definite asset Minimum five years experience with digital literacy or information literacy and reference service is required, preferably in an academic library The ability to prepare and deliver effective information literacy training materials to library users is required Two-three years supervisory experience is required, preferably in an academic library Experience supervising across bargaining units is a definite asset Experience in the provision of training and the assessment of employee performance is highly desirable Strong understanding of Canadian copyright legislation is highly desirable Collection development and maintenance experience is highly desired A demonstrated understanding of graduate research requirements and processes and of the provision of library services in the context of a distance education environment is desired Must demonstrate an understanding of searching and researching techniques for both print and electronic materials Excellent organizational skills, coupled with excellent communication skills, are required Attention to accuracy and detail are important, as is the ability to meet deadlines Ability to travel when required Signatures for Sections I and II Department Head Signature Executive Officer Signature Human Resources Review