Social Sciences Librarian (UL490)

About the Job

The University of Minnesota Libraries is seeking a collaborative and partnership-oriented Social Sciences Librarian to help shape the future of teaching, learning, and research. We value the diverse insights that come from different educational and professional backgrounds and encourage both seasoned practitioners and emerging librarians to apply. We invite you to envision the way your unique background and perspective bring value to our organization. The Research Service Area, in which this position is situated, prioritizes a culture of mentorship, continuous growth, and professional development. We are eager to see how your distinct perspectives will help us to advance our mission.

Liaison librarians are vital partners in the academic process. By integrating your expertise in disciplinary research, pedagogical strategy, and library and information science, you will assist faculty, students, and staff throughout the entire research lifecycle from the initial stages of discovery and resource navigation through to the final dissemination of new scholarly work. In this role, you are not just managing information; you are actively fueling the university’s research and teaching impact. The Research Service Area is evolving toward a team-based liaison model. You will serve as one of the liaisons to the business, economics, political science, and public affairs disciplines while partnering with colleagues to provide support across the social sciences, through teaching, research, collection development, and outreach across many social science disciplines.

We are committed to your long-term success; you will have dedicated time to contribute to university-wide initiatives, advance your own scholarly research, and engage in professional activities as you work toward a continuous appointment.

We invite you to share how your background and experiences uniquely position you to contribute to our team. We are seeking a professional with a clear commitment to developing their expertise within the social sciences. This role reports to the Social Sciences Department Director, providing you with a strong foundation and mentorship to build your career within the University of Minnesota Libraries. Learn more about the department, the Libraries, and the search process on this information sheet.

Environment

The University of Minnesota Libraries is recognized amongst its peers for the breadth and depth of its contemporary and special collections. The Libraries uses the liaison librarian model to provide deep subject expertise to support individual academic subject areas and also has functional specialists that support campus needs such as copyright, research data management, and scholarly communication.

The University of Minnesota, set in the heart of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, is one of the nation’s top research universities. It has a student population of 52,000 and advances over 200 graduate and professional programs.

The Twin Cities are home to a vibrant community that is reflected in their restaurants, sports teams, museums, parks, live music venues, storefronts, and theaters. Wilson Library, where this position is based, is centrally located on Twin Cities Campus, with access to nearby restaurants, open areas, museums, and an international airport. Downtown Saint Paul and Minneapolis can be easily accessed on the light rail or other public transportation.

Position Responsibilities:

• Strategic Partnerships: Actively engage with faculty, students, and staff in business, economics, political science, and public affairs to align library resources and services with their teaching, learning, and research goals.
• Instruction & Curriculum Integration: Develop and deliver course-integrated instruction that embeds information literacy and advanced research skills directly into departmental curricula.
• Research Support: Provide expert research consultations to students and faculty, supporting them at every stage of the academic and research lifecycle.
• Evidence Synthesis: Collaborate within a team-based model to partner with researchers on evidence synthesis and systematic review projects.
• Collection Development: Curate and manage collections for your assigned disciplines, while contributing to interdisciplinary collection management strategies.
• Institutional & Professional Service: Actively contribute to the Libraries and University through committee leadership and participation. Advance the field of librarianship through professional service and original research/scholarship.

Tips for a Strong Application

We want to get to know the "real you" and how your unique background fits this role. To help your application stand out, we suggest the following:

• Address the "Required" List: Our search committee uses the Required Qualifications as a primary checklist. Ensure your cover letter or resume explicitly mentions your experience or approach to each of these points.
• Tell Your Story: Don't just list your degrees. Use your cover letter to articulate the "why" behind your work—how your lived experience, previous jobs, or education have shaped your approach to supporting scholars and students.
• Don't "Self-Select Out": If you meet the required qualifications but are worried about the "Preferred" list, apply anyway. We value potential, transferable skills from other industries, and a passion for learning just as much as direct experience.
• Highlight Collaboration: Since we are moving toward a team-based model, we love to hear about times you worked across departments, co-taught a class, or contributed to a group project.

VISA SPONSORSHIP: Visa sponsorship is not offered for this position.

Qualifications

Required:

• American Library Association-accredited Master’s degree in Library/Information Science OR equivalent combination of advanced degree and relevant experience.
• Knowledge of current trends in academic libraries, including teaching, learning, and research trends in the social sciences.
• Experience in accomplishing work as part of a collaborative team and developing relationships with external partners.
• Ability to take initiative, develop and carry out projects, and manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Experience delivering information in a variety of verbal, written, and visual formats tailored to diverse audiences, including students, faculty, and colleagues.

Preferred:

We encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all preferred qualifications; these highlight additional experiences that would be beneficial in this role:

• Prior experience providing business research and/or teaching support, in either an academic or corporate setting.
• Prior experience working with quantitative data, especially in an academic setting.
• Demonstrated teaching skills, with an understanding of pedagogical best practices and instructional design principles for online and in-person instruction.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $63,000 - $66,000 for Assistant Librarian; $75,000 - $78,000 for Associate Librarian; depending on education/qualifications/experience/ internal equity. Associate rank requires demonstrated substantial command of area of responsibility.

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment; Continuous-Track

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

How To Apply

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

Please attach the following documents in Word or PDF Format (DO NOT copy and paste.)

• Resume.
• Cover Letter (identify cover letter with UL490).

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.