Asian Studies Librarian
East Asia Division
University Library System
The University Library System is seeking candidates for the position of Asian Studies Librarian, a faculty librarian position in the East Asia Division. This position reports to the Head of the East Asia Division.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting to the Head of the East Asia Division, the Asian Studies Librarian’s responsibilities and duties include but are not limited to:
- Assist the Head of the East Asia Division to set goals and priorities for the East Asian collection, and develops, coordinates and implements plan in furtherance of these goals.
- Assist the Head of the East Asia Division in discovering and acquiring unique Chinese and South Asia materials.
- Cultivate collaborative relationships and promotes the East Asian collection’s presence on campus & externally.
- Serve as a liaison for South Asia studies across campus, and work with ULS Technical Services Department to update the approval plan profile on Western language humanities and social science materials related to South Asia.
- Work with ULS departments on East and South Asian studies related digital scholarship. Initiate, participate and carry out special projects, and develop and maintain user tools such as finding aids and research guides to aid and enhance access.
- Provide in-person and virtual reference assistance to faculty, students, staff, alumni, and the general public to access and use all available Chinese and South Asia collection materials and information resources.
- Provide research consultation and instruction services for the Pitt faculty and students related to Chinese studies and South Asia, and create and maintain Chinese studies and South Asia studies LibGuides.
- Interact with the Technical Services staff on the technical processing of Chinese and South Asia materials.
- Work with the Head of East Asia Division on grant proposal writing and manage funded projects.
- Maintain and report CEAL yearly statistics.
- Supervise, train, schedule and evaluate student workers.
- Coordinate and participate in outreach programs
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Librarians at the University of Pittsburgh are members of the faculty and are expected to demonstrate continuous professional development in addition to performing their specific responsibilities. This expectation includes such activities as participating in and contributing to departmental, library and campus-wide committees or working groups as well as the profession at a regional, national, and/or international level, maintaining a broad awareness of current and emerging issues that affect their particular areas of expertise, participating in relevant publishing and presentation opportunities, and pursuing knowledge of professional trends and developments that can be applied to evolving research, services and collections. Approximately 10% of the librarian’s time should be directed toward such activities and will be included as part of the annual evaluation.
Specifically, the incumbent in this position is expected to:
- Keep abreast of and contribute as appropriate to current developments in the profession, especially as they relate to Chinese and Asian studies related to librarianship.
- Contribute to the profession through publications, presentations, teaching, and other professional activities in order both to publicize the collections and services of the East Asia Division and to better integrate the collections and services into needs of its constituents.
- Seek out appropriate roles in professional associations, research and/or publication on the regional, national and international level.
- Participate actively in ULS and campus-wide working groups and committees, as appropriate.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- Master’s degree in Library or Information Science from an ALA-accredited program, OR other relevant advanced degree in Asian studies.
- Two years professional library experience.
- Fluent command of both written and spoken English and Chinese
- Familiarity with scholarly literature of Asian studies.
- Demonstrated ability to do detail-oriented work, including strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team within a culturally diverse user community of faculty, students, staff, administrators, and the general public.
- Competence with information technologies and demonstrated effectiveness in integrating technology with traditional services and resources.
- Show initiative, flexibility and the ability to adapt to a complex, rapidly changing academic environment.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as strong presentation skills.
Preferred:
- Advanced degree in a related field in the humanities.
- Demonstrated knowledge of China and South Asia studies.
- Sound knowledge of collection management, reference, and instructional practices and standards.
- Experience with in-person and online instruction.
- Experience in the digital humanities.
- Experience providing reference and/or instructional services related to humanities, Asian studies in an academic or research library environment.
- Experience on grant proposal writing
The University of Pittsburgh Library System
The University of Pittsburgh’s University Library System (https://www.library.pitt.edu/) is a member of the Association of Research Libraries and contains over 4.7 million print and electronic volumes, including access to over 300,000 journals and 570 databases. The University Library System (ULS) consists of 14 libraries and employs 75 faculty librarians and 103 staff. In addition to the ULS, the University of Pittsburgh includes libraries for the health sciences and law school.
The ULS stands at the center of intellectual life at the University of Pittsburgh, fostering connections and knowledge creation and dissemination that help faculty, students, and researchers from around the world to excel in research, scholarship and creative expression. It supports and enhances faculty and student productivity through its extensive collections, innovative Open Access publishing, and user-centered focus.
The ULS has recently enacted a major organizational realignment and is currently aggressively hiring in many areas of strategic priority, including research support, digital scholarship and creation, entrepreneurship and innovation, as we are repositioning our services to respond to and anticipate changes in research, teaching, and learning. We are also in the midst of a top-to-bottom renovation of Hillman Library, the central library of the University of Pittsburgh campus which saw 1.9 million visitors in FY17. The reinvented Hillman (http://library.pitt.edu/hillmanreinvention) will be a light-filled home to spaces, from vibrant to serene, for digital making and exploration, showcasing unique collections, advancing academic study, and fostering energetic, collaborative exchange.
This is an exciting time to join the Pitt library system and contribute to envisioning the library of the future.
The University of Pittsburgh
Founded in 1787, the University of Pittsburgh (http://www.pitt.edu/) is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the United States. Today Pitt is an internationally recognized center of learning and research, strong in the arts and sciences and the professions. Pitt serves approximately 32,000 students, including more than 9,000 graduate students, in the 16 schools at the Pittsburgh campus and the four regional campuses. Pitt attracts, on average, more than $700 million in research funding every year. It is also one of the nation’s top producers of Fulbright students and scholars for the 2017-18 academic year (according to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs), and is among only 16 institutions in the country to be named a top producer in both the Fulbright U.S. Student and Scholar programs. In 2018, for the second consecutive year, the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings named Pitt as the best public university in the Northeastern United States.
The City of Pittsburgh
The city of Pittsburgh is located in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in the United States, Pittsburgh is recognized for its natural beauty and unique blend of cultural, education, and technological resources. Additional information on the city of Pittsburgh can be found at: https://www.visitpittsburgh.com/
Salary: Commensurate with experience. Comprehensive benefits package including one month vacation per year; excellent medical plans; TIAA/ Vanguard; and tuition assistance.
Successful candidate will meet the criteria for appointment at the rank of Librarian I or II, and will be hired on an initial 3-year renewable contract. For further information, please see: http://pi.tt/NESLibrarianApptReview
To apply, submit letter of application and CV with the names/addresses/phone numbers of three professional references via email to: Sharon McMasters, Personnel Coordinator (sam989@pitt.edu)
Visa sponsorship is not offered with this position.
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until position is filled; primary consideration will be given to those received by November 30, 2018.
The University of Pittsburgh is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Minorities/Women/Vets/Disabled
