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Research and Education Librarian

The Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries invites applications and nominations for the position of Research and Education Librarian for the Health Sciences Library. The Research and Education Librarian is responsible for supporting the research and education mission of VCU Libraries by providing interdepartmental support for research and education initiatives for health sciences programs. Located on the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus, the position will be responsible for liaising with one or more health sciences programs. The liaison librarian will have the opportunity to bring new ideas into practice. This position will work collaboratively to provide research and instructional support for faculty, staff, and students. The successful candidate will join an exceptionally talented, culturally and academically diverse community.

Located in culturally diverse, historic, and dynamic Richmond, Virginia, convenient to the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the recreation destinations of the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Commonwealth University is one of Virginia's largest universities and among the nation's leading research institutions. VCU Libraries, one of Virginia’s outstanding research library systems, advances the University’s teaching, research, service, and patient care mission with comprehensive digital and print collections and nationally recognized innovation in its facilities, advanced media and technology resources for its community. In February 2018, the Association of College and Research Libraries recognized VCU Libraries with the ACRL Excellence in Academic Libraries Award. In 2020, the Health Sciences Library received the Medical Library Association’s Research Advancement in Health Sciences Librarianship Award.

Diversity and Inclusion

VCU’s commitment to diversity is one of the institution’s unique strengths. Our student body is one of the most diverse in Virginia in terms of race and ethnicity and socioeconomic status, and one of the four themes of our Quest 2028 Strategic Plan is “Diversity driving excellence.” The United States Department of Education has designated VCU as a minority serving institution effective July 1, 2022. VCU is committed to building an increasingly diverse faculty and leadership team, and is actively engaged in partnerships with diverse communities in the Richmond metro area. VCU Libraries is purposeful in our efforts to advance diversity and inclusion and expects that the Research and Education Librarian will be a leader in fostering a welcoming atmosphere for all members of the VCU community. The successful candidate will receive support for research, service, and professional development and will have ample opportunity to pursue diversity and inclusion related opportunities in those areas.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Assistant Director and Head, Research and Education, the Research and Education Librarian will serve as liaison librarian to one or more of the health professional schools on VCU’s Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus, providing research and instructional support for faculty, staff, and students.

The successful candidate will:

  • Foster relationships with students, staff, faculty, and leadership within assigned areas.
  • Ensure services are relevant to evolving research and teaching demands in assigned subject areas by monitoring faculty interests.
  • Partner with faculty to develop and deliver instruction sessions, materials, learning objects, and workshops using creative, inclusive, and active adult learning strategies.
  • Provide support for the growing clinical and community-based participatory research demands of faculty, staff, and students on the MCV campus.
  • Provide in-depth and on-demand research consultations including providing support for systematic reviews and grant seeking for individuals and small groups.
  • Collaborate across VCU Libraries to shape and promote library outreach, programs, and services beyond liaison assignments.

The Research and Education Librarian is expected to be active professionally and to contribute to developments in the field. Faculty with the VCU Libraries are evaluated, and promoted, on the basis of job performance, scholarship, and service.

Required Qualifications

  • ALA-accredited graduate degree or accredited graduate degree in another appropriate discipline.
  • Ability to effectively search databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, or other biomedical databases.
  • Experience delivering instruction or training effectively.
  • Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

Candidates need not meet preferred qualifications to be fully considered. We value many individual and unique skills that would strengthen the VCU Libraries and our teams.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Undergraduate or graduate degree or previous work experience in a biological or health sciences related discipline.
  • Experience as a liaison librarian or reference librarian to health sciences programs in an academic health sciences or research library.
  • Familiarity with specialized sources and research methods for health sciences.
  • Ability to incorporate emerging technology, active learning theory, and adult learning styles theory into instruction.
  • Experience conducting systematic reviews, supporting grant seeking, and/or knowledge of best practices for community-engaged research.
  • Evidence of creativity, initiative, and flexibility when working independently and in teams.
  • Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with academic and clinical faculty.
  • Experience at urban research institutions, HBCUs, or minority-serving institutions is desired.

Salary

Salary commensurate with experience, not less than $62,000 annually. This is a full-time, non-tenured faculty position. 12-month faculty benefits apply, including 24 vacation days annually and choice of retirement and annuity plans. Relocation assistance is available. Librarians are provided generous professional development funding and tuition remission. For more information about benefits, see the Faculty Benefits page.

Interviews

Initial interviews will be conducted virtually. We anticipate inviting finalists to campus.

Learn about the position in an online information session

We are hosting information sessions for interested applicants in advance of the November 13, 2024 review date. Please consider joining one of these sessions to learn more about the position, meet Teresa L. Knott, Associate Dean, VCU Libraries and Director, VCU Health Sciences Library, and get answers to your questions about the position.

Join one of our info sessions via Zoom:

  • Thursday, October 24, 2024 | 3:30-4:00 pm Eastern
  • Wednesday, November 6, 2024 | 2:00-2:30 pm Eastern

The attendee list for each Zoom session will be hidden and those asking questions may do so anonymously. Live captioning will be provided. To attend a session, please complete the confidential form to receive a Zoom link.

Questions? Please contact Teresa L. Knott at tlknott@vcu.edu.

VCU Libraries and Virginia Commonwealth University

Libraries at Virginia Commonwealth University, including the James Branch Cabell Library on the Monroe Park Campus and the Health Sciences Library on the MCV Campus, employ more than 59 professionals and 68 staff with annual expenditures exceeding $22 million. Located in downtown Richmond, the state capital of Virginia, VCU enrolls more than 28,000 students in more than 200 degree and certificate programs across its urban campuses: the downtown Monroe Park and MCV campuses in Richmond; the Rice Rivers Center in Charles City, Virginia; satellite locations in Fairfax, Virginia, and Abingdon, Virginia; and a campus in Doha, Qatar, for the School of the Arts. The VCU Libraries is a member of the Association of Research Libraries, the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries, Center for Research Libraries, Coalition for Networked Information, National Digital Stewardship Alliance, Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition, and the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA), a statewide networking consortium for shared access to electronic and print resources, as well as a Resource Library in the Network of the National Library of Medicine, among others. The VCU Libraries uses the following packages for its system architecture: Alma, Primo, Digital Commons, ArchivesSpace, ILLiad, and Omeka.

The MCV Campus, located in historic Court End near state and local government and financial centers, is home to the VCU Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Public Health; VCU College of Health Professions; the Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research; and VCU Health. VCU Health includes VCU Medical Center, a Magnet Recognized hospital with 812 inpatient beds, outpatient clinics, a Level 1 trauma center, and over 800 providers in 200 specialty areas, many of national and international renown, as well as the Children’s Hospital at VCU and Massey Cancer Center, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center. In addition to multidisciplinary centers for cancer, cardiology, neurosurgery, and transplantation, VCU Health offers virtually every form of contemporary medical service.

For more information about the VCU Libraries, please visit our home page at https://www.library.vcu.edu/. Review of applications will begin November 13, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled. To apply, go to https://www.vcujobs.com/, complete the application and submit a cover letter, CV/resume, and the names, email addresses, addresses, and telephone numbers of three professional references. Applicants are requested to submit a Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion providing your career aspirations and contributions toward promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.

In a world of the common, we are the uncommon. VCU is a premiere, urban, public research university home to multiple nationally ranked programs. We combine learning, health, research, creativity, service and discovery with a commitment to excellence.

VCU sets itself apart as an employer by providing a supportive environment to tackle modern challenges with innovation and determination. When you work at VCU, you make a difference in our community and our world.

Join us to discover firsthand why a VCU career is right for you.

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, veteran’s status, political affiliation or disability.