Academic engagement librarian

Academic Engagement Librarian

General nature: The following statements describe general nature and level of work being performed. They are not exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.

The Academic Engagement Librarian leads Musselman Library’s academic engagement efforts by advancing scholarly inquiry and information‑skills instruction across the curriculum and supporting student and faculty research. The librarian collaborates with faculty and campus partners to promote student success through effective instruction, innovative learning resources, and thoughtful integration of emerging technologies that enhance teaching and research.

Librarians at Bluffton University have faculty status and participate in faculty governance through meetings and committee service but do not have teaching department affiliation or tenure.

• Design, deliver, and assess information literacy instruction for general education courses (Bluffton Blueprint, competencies) and for discipline‑specific contexts.
• Partner with faculty to embed information literacy concepts and research skills into assignments, programs, and curricular pathways.
• Adapt instruction for diverse student levels and learning modalities (e.g., face‑to‑face, virtual, hybrid, asynchronous environments).
• Integrate information evaluation, ethical information use, and emerging/disruptive technologies (e.g., AI, recommender systems) into instructional programming.
• Research Support & Learning Resources
  • Serve as the primary point of expertise for research support services through in‑person and virtual consultations.
  • Design and develop learning resources (guides, videos, tutorials) to support information discovery and research.
• Outreach, Engagement & Library Programming
  • Plan, implement, and sustain engagement initiatives that strengthen library connections with students, faculty, staff, and administrators.
  • Collaborate with library colleagues and campus partners to advance events, services, and initiatives that align with library instruction, academic engagement, and information‑literacy goals.

• Support library operations as needed and where expertise aligns (e.g., circulation desk coverage, assistance with collection review, offering input on potential acquisitions).
• Maintain current knowledge of developments in academic librarianship and in information literacy and library instruction.
• Fulfill faculty governance commitments of the position. Publishing and presenting in scholarly environments is encouraged but not required.

Minimum:

• Master’s degree from an American Library Association (ALA) accredited program.
• Knowledge of information literacy concepts and assessment practices, including familiarity with the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy.
• Demonstrated instructional experience with undergraduate and graduate students in course‑integrated sessions, workshops, or other modalities (in‑person, virtual, hybrid).
• Experience providing reference and research support in an academic library setting.

Preferred:

• Three or more years of experience in teaching and research support, or evidence of progressively responsible experience in these areas.
• Experience in a library consortium environment or in cross‑institutional collaboration.

• Experience with integrated library systems. Ex Libris Alma/Primo VE preferred.
• Proficiency with popular library search platforms (e.g., EBSCOhost, Pro Quest).
• Working knowledge of library service platforms, including Springshare (Lib Guides, Lib Analytics), LibraryH3lp, and NICHE Academy.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 suite.
• Familiarity with learning management systems (Moodle preferred).
• Experience with video creation/editing tools (Camtasia, Snag It) and online teaching tools (Zoom, Teams).
• Ability to evaluate and integrate emerging technologies (ChatGPT, Copilot).
• Excellent communication skills.

• Multi‑floor library building with limited elevator access and frequent stairway use.
• Lifting and/or pushing 30+ pounds on a book truck.
• Exposure to dust and other allergens.
• Variable…