Posting Number: 0004669  

Job Title: Assistant Professor, Arts and Letters Librarian  

Grant Funded?: No  

Position Type: Faculty  

Campus: Hattiesburg  

Department: USM Libraries  

Job Summary

The University of Southern Mississippi invites applicants for a full-time, twelve-month, tenure-track faculty position as Assistant Professor/Arts and Letters Librarian in the University Libraries to begin in Spring 2018.

The Arts and Letters Librarian is a member of a team responsible for providing general and specialized research, instruction, outreach, and collection development services and reports to the Head of Public Services. The position has primary emphasis on arts and letters disciplines.

Founded in 1910, The University of Southern Mississippi is a comprehensive doctoral and research-driven university with a proud history and an eye on the future. A dual-campus university, Southern Miss serves students on campuses in Hattiesburg and Long Beach, in addition to five teaching and research sites in Mississippi and through Online at Southern Miss. Since 2006, Southern Miss students have collected seven Goldwater Scholarships, three Truman Scholarships and 16 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships. Our Drapeau Center for Undergraduate Research affords our students meaningful research opportunities, and as a proven leader in innovation, we conduct transformative research that translates into real-world solutions. As one of only 36 institutions in the nation accredited in art, dance, music and theatre, we are a haven for creativity and artistic expression. In the classroom or lab, on the playing field, or in the performance hall, we strive to have a positive impact not only on our students, but also the world around us. Further information is found at www.usm.edu.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Serves as primary contact between the Libraries and the College of Arts and Letters with regard to supporting the College’s research resource and instructional needs.

• Provides reference and directional assistance to library users, in-person, by telephone, and via electronic communication methods.

• Provides research assistance through individual research consultations.

• Provides instruction in the use of research resources through course-integrated instruction and workshops presented in-person and online.

• Engages in outreach initiatives that build awareness of library resources and services and actively cultivates relationships with faculty, staff, and students in assigned academic areas.

• Coordinates collection development for assigned academic areas in the College of Arts and Letters.

• Participates in library programs that support open access, such as the Open Textbook Initiative.

• Provides research data management support in assigned academic areas and within the scope of evolving library services.

• Creates and maintains bibliographies, guides, tutorials, and other research and instructional tools as needed.

• Maintains knowledge and skills related to research resources and their delivery.

• Engages in research and scholarly activity to fulfill the expectations for tenure and promotion.

• Provides service to the Libraries, the University, the profession, and the community to fulfill the expectations for tenure and promotion.

• Works evenings, weekends, and holidays in rotation with other Research Services Unit personnel.

• Performs other duties as assigned.  

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in library or information science from a program accredited by the American Library Association or equivalent education or experience.

• Education (coursework or degree) in an arts or letters discipline.

• Demonstrated experience using online databases and other types of research resources.

• Demonstrated ability to teach the concepts and skills of information literacy in both formal and informal settings.  

Preferred Qualifications

• Additional advanced degree in a relevant academic discipline.

• Knowledge of research resources in arts and/or letters.

• Demonstrated experience providing reference/research assistance and instruction in an academic library.

• Demonstrated experience or interest in developing outreach programs that engage faculty and students with library research resources.

• Knowledge of research data management practices.

Work Hours

Will vary depending on teaching schedule and will include evenings, weekends and holidays in rotation with other Research Services Unit personnel

Salary

The salary range for this position is $40,000 to $46,000 commensurate with qualifications.