Multimedia Literacy Librarian

George Mason University
Multimedia Literacy Librarian

The George Mason University, University Libraries seeks to fill the position of Multimedia Literacy Librarian. George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason's academic and culturally inclusive environment.

Responsibilities:
This position is responsible for providing library services in the areas of reference, research, and instruction in support of faculty and students in the Film and Video Studies and Dance departments; and developing corresponding library collections. The position, part of the Arts and Humanities Team, reports to the Head, Gateway Library on the Fairfax campus and works in an ever-changing public service environment. Duties include:

  • Provides research/reference and outreach services in person and virtually;
  • Develops and maintains online research guides and related materials;
  • Selects print and electronic format resources to support faculty and student research and instruction in assigned departments;
  • Oversees the physical and streaming media collections to ensure they meet best practices and the curricular and cocurricular needs of the university's faculty, staff and students;
  • Provides library instruction and support for face-to-face and online/distance education classes in assigned departments and programs, as well as for English composition and other undergraduate classes;
  • Follows trends in scholarship in assigned departments and programs in order to respond to student and faculty needs;
  • Supports research projects and instruction within assigned departments and programs;
  • Consults with instructors to offer suggestions for crafting multimedia assignments, to talk about the tools and resources the library has, and to teach hands-on sessions to students including issues of copyright and fair use;
  • Works collaboratively with instruction librarians and university faculty to design, implement, and assess multimedia literacy instruction, using the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Framework for Information Literacy in Higher Education as a guide, as part of their academic courses;
  • Integrates multimedia literacy instruction into strategic courses and considering creative solutions for scaling the program to provide the greatest value;
  • Participates on committees, task forces, projects, etc. within the Mason University Libraries, the university, and, as appropriate, the community; and
  • Performs other duties, as requested, which fall within the scope of a member of the University Libraries' faculty.

Required Qualifications:

  • ALA-accredited MLS or ALA-recognized foreign equivalent;
  • An undergraduate degree in communications, film studies, performing art, the like or evidence of significant training and experience providing research support to these disciplines (at least one year of professional-level experience strongly desired);
  • Experience in providing responsive and quality reference, instruction, digital and collaborative library research services; as well as practical understanding of the changing research needs of students and faculty (at least two to three years of professional-level experience is preferred);
  • Experience in developing, building and sustaining working partnerships and relationships with teaching faculty, researchers and students;
  • Experience in supporting teaching, learning and research across a wide range of users;
  • Experience building and maintaining a physical and streaming media collection;
  • Understanding of emerging trends and technologies in digital literacy/information literacy and media librarianship through research, practice and other professional development activities—understands issues related to copyright and licensing of streaming media;
  • Ability to advocate and promote library resources and services to a variety of constituents;
  • Demonstrated ability to use current technologies for delivering and developing library services, including course management systems and social media;
  • Ability to build collaborative and mutually beneficial working relationships with people of varying backgrounds;
  • Demonstrated commitment to professional development and growth; and
  • Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.

Appointment/Benefits:

  • 12-month professional faculty appointment with rank;
  • Health plan options and paid life insurance;
  • Several retirement plans, including TIAA-CREF;
  • 24 vacation days and 12 paid holidays; and
  • Tuition waiver for self.

About University Libraries:
The George Mason University library system, comprised of a large central library and four other distinctive libraries, is located on three campuses in the Northern Virginia-metropolitan Washington D.C. region. One of Virginia's leading academic research libraries, the Mason Libraries continues to gain steadily in national stature as it undergoes extensive transformation in all areas that are key to a 21st century research library—innovative technologies and services, expert library faculty and skilled staff members, growing collections, publishing, modern facilities, and transformational partnerships. Visit us at library.gmu.edu for more information.

For full consideration, applicants must apply for position number FA097z at http://jobs.gmu.edu/; complete and submit the online application; and upload a letter of application, resume, and the a list of three professional references with contact information (addresses, e-mail, and phone numbers). Questions should be directed to Renee Prokop (rprokop@gmu.edu), Human Resources Coordinator, Office of the Dean of Libraries. Review of applications will begin March 21, 2017.

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.