"Instructor, Renewable Contract: School Library Media - 527438"

Job Details

Department/Organization
207401 - School of Library and Info Studies

Rank
Instructor

Position Summary
The University of Alabama School of Library & Information Studies (SLIS) in the College of Communication and Information Sciences at the University of Alabama invites applications for a nine-month, non-tenure track renewable contract instructor in school library media to begin August 16, 2026.

Detailed Position Information
The University of Alabama School of Library & Information Studies (SLIS) in the College of Communication and Information Sciences at the University of Alabama invites applications for a nine-month, non-tenure track renewable contract instructor in school library media to begin August 16, 2026.

Position Summary & Responsibilities:
This position provides an exciting opportunity for a passionate educator to lead our existing NCATE/CAEP and ALA (American Library Association) accredited School Library Media program and to shape the character and direction of the School of Library and Information Studies. We are at a thrilling juncture with a new facility, growing student body and faculty at all ranks, and supportive administration dedicated to information literacy and access.

As part of a leadership team in SLIS, this enthusiastic individual is expected to:
• Teach graduate courses in the areas of school library media and undergraduate courses in information literacy and/or youth media/literature
• Advise school library media concentrator graduate students in SLIS’s Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) program and education specialist (EdS) program
• Supervise graduate internship experiences at K-12 school placements
• Manage school library media assessment and certification processes for the MLIS and EdS programs
• Direct MLIS and EdS school library media degree programs in conjunction with the College of Education and AL State Department of Education to ensure licensure requirements are met
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with educators in K-12 schools and with other faculty members in the College of Education
• Participate in academic service in SLIS, the College of Communication and Information Sciences, and the College of Education
• Engage in professional LIS organizations at the state, national, and international levels
• Serve as the main SLIS contact with the College of Education for all school library media degree programs
• Recruit potential school library media graduate students for both the MLIS and EdS programs

This teaching focused position is based on a 3-year renewable contract cycle with opportunities for promotion. Successful applicants will display the ability to be an active and involved member of a highly collaborative faculty team. The standard teaching load for renewable contract faculty members is four courses per semester. Administration of the school library media MLIS and EdS programs (including the school library media internship oversight course) will count as one of these four courses. Instructional modes include web-based synchronous distance education and face-to-face.
If the individual in the school library media faculty position has teaching experience that is more than 5 years old, they will be required to spend 10 hours per semester in K-12 schools shadowing a highly effective school librarian.

Minimum Qualifications
• Earned American Library Association (ALA)-accredited MLIS degree or Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)-accredited library media master’s degree
• Exemplify a commitment to work with students, colleagues, and partners with a range of backgrounds, perspectives, and levels of experience
• Commitment to work with students, colleagues, and partners with a range of backgrounds, perspectives, and levels of experience
• Hold or have the ability to obtain an Alabama Class A teaching certificate in the area of school library media. This requires at least two years, full-time teaching experience in K-12 schools as a school librarian.

Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications (considered after all minimum qualifications are met) • Education specialist degree (EdS) in relevant field • Active involvement in the relevant regional and/or national organizations. • Previous experience teaching and supervising graduate students in school library media

Instructions and Required Materials for Application
Application Process Applicants must apply online at https://careers.ua.edu/jobs/search/college-of-communication-information-sciences and submit the following required materials. 1. Cover letter highlighting your overall match for the position 2. Curriculum vitae 3. Names and contact information for three references 4. Teaching philosophy Review of applications begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Questions regarding the search should be directed to the search chair, Dr. Ramona Caponegro at racaponegro@ua.edu.

About the Division/College/School
About the Department/School
The School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) offers an ALA-accredited Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) program, an Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program in the book arts, undergraduate minor in informatics, undergraduate minor in book arts, educational specialist degree (in collaboration with the College of Education) in school library media, and doctoral courses that contribute to a multidisciplinary doctorate in Communication and Information Sciences. Established in 1985, The Book Arts Program at The University of Alabama fosters the development of original scholarship and creative practice. Our students acquire advanced skills in book arts, become cognizant of the historical background in which these various crafts evolved and develop knowledge about the professional environments in which our graduates will work. Courses explore the reconciliation of modern sensibilities with historic craft.
About the College of Communication & Information Sciences
SLIS is one of four academic units in the College of Communication & Information Sciences. The college has ~110 full-time faculty members serving approximately 3,500 students across bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs, including ~100 students in the college-wide Ph.D. program in which SLIS actively participates. The college’s Institute for Communication & Information Research (ICIR) is a premier research institute dedicated to addressing societal and cultural issues related to communication and information research. The ICIR collaborates with businesses, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, foundations, and other entities to produce high-impact research that informs and improves our evolving communication and information landscape. Housed within the Office of Research are the Public Opinion Lab, equipped with the Sprinklr data warehouse and custom data collection and management resources; a biometrics lab outfitted with state-of-the-art iMotions software and associated hardware; and the near-term development of an audience experience lab with interactive VR/AI, theater and additional equipment. The college is also home to the Holle Center for Communication Arts, whose mission is guided by a commitment to advance narrative justice through innovative and arts-informed research, community engagement, and creative co-operation. The college also maintains the 40,000 square-foot Digital Media Center, which is home to Alabama Public Radio and WVUA 23, a full-power commercial television station serving a top-50 television market.