"Liaison Librarian, Humanities and Social Sciences"

Description

Wilfrid Laurier University Library is seeking a librarian to fill a full-time, continuing track appointment as a Liaison Librarian, Humanities and Social Sciences. Primary duties will include collection development and management, reference consultations, instruction, research support and faculty liaison for a selection of program areas. This position will be appointed at the Brantford campus. The incumbent will also serve other Laurier campus locations where required. Please note that travel may be involved.

Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading Canadian university known for academic excellence and a culture that inspires lives of leadership and purpose. Laurier is devoted to excellence in learning, research, scholarship, and creativity, as well as supporting and enhancing high-quality undergraduate, graduate and professional education.

The Library provides collaborative, inclusive, and creative spaces and services for our users. Through exceptional resources, expertise, and technology, the Library supports transformative learning, research, and teaching across campuses, and through engagement with the wider community.

Serving over 20,000 students across multiple campuses, the Laurier Library employs a staff of 59, including 21 librarians. It offers access to over 70,000 full-text online journals, indexes, and e-books, as well as more than 1.2 million print volumes. As part of the Omni Group of Libraries, Laurier students, faculty and staff may use and borrow materials from 19 member libraries across Ontario, including from local partners, the University of Guelph, and the University of Waterloo libraries.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a liaison and provides research assistance and support for students and faculty in Faculties of Human and Social Science and/or Faculty of Liberal Arts
• Manages print and electronic collections for designated programs and subjects
• Provides proactive outreach and liaison services to support faculty, students and staff and to promote library collections and services in designated departments/programs
• Delivers in-person and online library instruction to students, faculty, and staff
• Develops and maintains library user guides, course web pages and learning objects (including video tutorials)
• Provides research assistance and/or referrals to faculty for research metrics and impact, and bibliometrics
• Engages with faculty, students and researchers on emerging forms of scholarship
• Serves on library and university committees
• Participates in shared library projects and activities
• Trains other library staff on important resources and topics for assigned subject areas
• Participates in scholarly research and/or professional activity
• May include some evenings and weekends

Qualifications

Required

• ALA accredited MLIS or equivalent
• Minimum of one year of professional librarian experience
• Demonstrable overall understanding of current library practice, including collection management, reference, and instructional services
• Recent experience providing in-depth research assistance in humanities and social sciences
• Experience developing and delivering in-person and online instruction or training
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and to develop creative ideas
• Demonstrated ability to manage a diverse and varied workload and to work effectively in a fast-paced, changing environment
• Strong computer literacy, including web page creation and editing, online learning object creation, and ability to learn new technologies quickly
• Demonstrated excellent oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to form successful and collaborative relationships with diverse colleagues, faculty, students, and staff
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to equity and inclusion
• Demonstrated understanding of accessibility best practices and AODA standards
• Evidence of professional or scholarly activity

Preferred

• Master’s degree in a related discipline
• Experience with collection management
• Familiarity with the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy and experience providing library instruction
• Experience with criminology or legal resources
• Work experience in an academic library
• Familiarity with scholarly communication practices, for example open access, research metrics or bibliometrics, scholarly publishing lifecycle, or knowledge synthesis

Appointment and Compensation

The Liaison Librarian, Humanities and Social Sciences position is a full-time, continuing track appointment which will be available from January 1, 2026. The appointment will be made at a level commensurate with qualifications and experience. Salary, benefits, and terms of employment are governed by the Collective Agreement between Wilfrid Laurier University and Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association for Full-time Faculty and Professional Librarians, available at: The Agreements - WLUFA. Salary will be commensurate with experience and skills.

Application Procedure

Applicants should send (1) a curriculum vitae; (2) a cover letter; (3) details (name, position title, organization) and contact information (telephone and email address) for three referees. Applications can be addressed to: Scott Gillies, University Librarian. Please send the application package via email to ULAdmin@wlu.ca.