Assistant Professor, Dept of Learning and Research

Job Summary

Who We Are: Home to more than 18,000 students, Lamar University is among the fastest growing Texas colleges and universities. LU is a member of The Texas State University System, which is the first higher education system of Texas and maintains the lowest average tuition and fees of any university system in Texas. With more than 120-degree options and a community that cares, Lamar students are always proud to be Cardinals. Lamar University strives to educate leaders, demonstrate excellence in student learning and career readiness, and pursue research with relevance. Lamar University is committed to fostering an environment of teamwork where all students, faculty, and staff can learn, work, and become a part of our community.

About This Role: The Librarian is responsible for providing research services, information literacy instruction, and outreach to support and advocate for the research needs of Lamar University / Lamar Institute of Technology constituents. Additionally, the librarian will emerge in meaningful scholarship and service within and beyond the university.

Essential Job Functions

Research Services:

• Participates in the planning and delivery of team-based research services
• Provides research services in person and virtually (e.g., email, phone, chat)
• Conducts research consultations in person and virtually (e.g., Teams)
• Creates and maintains library guides in SpringShare LibGuides
• Contributes to assessment & reporting initiatives (e.g., RefStats, Departmental Annual Reports)

Instruction Services:

• Participates in the planning and delivery of team-based instruction services
• Conducts one-shot instructional sessions and library orientations for for-credit courses and to support specific partners (e.g., Office of Undergraduate Research, McNair Scholars, Honors College) in person and virtually (e.g., Teams, Blackboard)
• Develops effective instructional materials (e.g., lesson plans, online tutorials, videos)
• Collaborates with faculty to integrate information literacy and emerging technologies across the curriculum
• Teaches sections of library's credit bearing courses, including LIBR 1101 and LIBR 1301, as needed

Outreach:

• Participates in and promotes workshops, events, and other programming relevant to Lamar University individually and collaboratively, particularly regarding emerging technologies and scholarly communication
• Contributes to social and develops exhibits/displays
• Consistently participates in collaborative partnerships and relationships in the library, university, and surrounding community to promote library services, and serve as a liaison to academic departments or programs, particularly regarding emerging technologies and scholarly communication

Scholarship:

• Engage in scholarship and research appropriate for a tenured/tenure-track faculty librarian, including but not limited to scholarly publications, conference presentations, and professional service to the academic community, all in line with updated tenure and promotion guidelines.
• Maintain awareness of the latest trends in librarianship and information science through ongoing professional development and participation in relevant professional organizations.

Service:

• Serve on university and library committees as appointed by the Dean or other officials.
• Lead or participate in outreach efforts to promote and enhance library resources and services within the academic community to faculty and students.
• Engage in professional service, contributing to the library and academic profession.

Minimum and Desired Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree in library or information science from an American Library Association accredited institution.
• Library instruction, reference experience, or other instruction experience in a variety of formats in an academic library
• Working knowledge of areas relevant to librarianship, including but not limited to research strategies & skills and library resources
• Familiarity and skill in the use of Microsoft Office products, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams
• Experience collaborating with faculty, university students, staff, and/or community members to achieve goals
• Passions for supporting student and faculty success with demonstrated experience

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with SpringShare products, including LibGuides, LibChat, and LibWizard, or similar software solutions
• Experience with online learning management systems, such as Blackboard, Moodle, or Canvas
• Knowledge and Experience with innovative, emerging technologies, including but not limited to AI and associated information literacies (e.g., AI literacy, digital literacy)
• Knowledge and Experience with scholarly communication, including but not limited to copyright (e.g., fair use, open access) and navigating the academic publication process (e.g., peer review, evaluating journals, institutional repositories).
• Additional Graduate Degree in a second academic discipline