Job Description

Iowa, or The Writing University, has long been a place where creativity and the arts are celebrated and is known for its writing programs, including the top-ranked graduate programs in creative writing (the Workshop) and nonfiction writing as well the screenwriting arts degree. Iowa provides a rich environment to explore diverse artistic expressions and its excellence in writing and communication provides students and faculty an advantage regardless their path.

The University of Iowa Libraries is seeking a knowledgeable and enthusiastic Literary and Creative Arts Librarian. This exciting new role will serve as the liaison to the Departments of English, Theatre Arts, and Cinematic Arts. Reporting to the Director, Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS), UI Libraries, the Literary and Creative Arts Librarian also collaborates with other HSS staff to accomplish the unit's initiatives and strategic goals. The librarian will also participate in general reference services offered at the Main Library via the Just Ask desk, IM and email reference.

Key Areas of Responsibilities and Duties:

• Serve as an active subject liaison to the Departments of English, Cinema Arts, and Theatre Arts, inclusive of instruction, consultation, and outreach.
• Manage the funds for English and Cinematic Arts, including purchasing/selection, deselection, format maintenance, assessment, and cancellations.
• Work closely with the Performing Arts selector to determine and fulfill collection needs for Theatre Arts.
• Create and sustain specialized engagement plans for the Iowa Writers' Workshop, the Nonfiction Writing Program, and the Screenwriting Arts major.
• Collaborate with the Libraries' Curator, International Literature and serve as an additional resource for authors participating in the International Writing Program.
• Collaborate with colleagues in Special Collections and Archives to provide instructional sessions tailored to UI Libraries' unique collections.
• Contribute to the Humanities and Social Sciences department by providing virtual and in-person general reference services.
• Create and maintain online research guides for assigned areas.
• Maintains a course of personal professional development through active participation in professional associations or other professional activities external to the Libraries.

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree from an American Libraries Association (ALA) accredited program or foreign equivalent.
• A minimum of four years' experience as a subject liaison in an academic or research library.
• Experience with collection development, including collection assessment and budgeting.
• Ability to work independently and with others in a demanding and rapidly changing environment where flexibility, collaboration, consultation, and cooperation are essential.
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills, evidence of strong written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated interest in professional development that will enhance the candidate's value to the Libraries, the University, and the profession.
• Demonstrated ability to support a welcoming and respectful environment in a job-related experience, an academic setting, and/or the community.

Desired Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in English or other relevant discipline.
• Experience providing instruction and research assistance in an academic or research library or equivalent.
• Experience developing course and subject guides, such as LibGuides.

Application Details:

In order to be eligible for interview, applicants must upload the following and mark them as "relevant files" when you upload the documents:

1. Cover letter that clearly addresses how you meet each of the required and any desired qualifications of this position. To ensure strongest consideration, applicants are encouraged to review all required qualifications and state directly how they meet each of them.
2. Current resume

This job ad will be posted through January 3, 2025 and may be removed from posting and filled any time after that date. Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions about the position.

The hiring salary range for this Expert Librarian position is $65,000 - $90,000, based on qualifications and experience.

Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.

This position is eligible for on-campus and/or hybrid remote work within Iowa, with the majority of work time being on campus, and will require a work arrangement form to be completed upon the start of your employment. Per policy, work arrangements will be reviewed annually and must comply with the remote work program and related policies and employee travel policy when working at a remote location .

The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, gender identity, or associational preferences.

About University of Iowa

With over 31,000 students, the University of Iowa is one of the nation's top public research universities, a member of the Big Ten conference and the Association of American Universities. The University of Iowa is composed of eleven colleges and is known around the world for its balanced commitment to the arts, sciences, and humanities. It is home to one of the nation's largest academic medical centers and the pioneering Iowa Writers' Workshop. The University of Iowa promotes work/life integration and is located in the casual yet cosmopolitan environment of Iowa City, widely recognized as one of the country's most livable communities.

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