Special Collections Librarian

Position Summary :

Established in 1964 as the first public university in southeast Florida, Florida Atlantic University serves 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students on six campuses along Florida's beautiful southeast coast in Broward, Palm Beach, and St.

Lucie counties. Florida Atlantic has ten distinguished colleges that offer more than 180-degree programs, including the Schmidt College of Medicine, and is home to one of the world's preeminent marine science education and research centers, the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute.

Florida Atlantic University is taking its place among the world's great research centers and has been given the designation of a "High Research Activity" university by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

FAU was ranked 27th by U.S. News & World Report among all American universities for campus diversity, with 49% of its student body classified as minority or international students.

In 2015, it earned the distinction of being a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution.

The Florida Atlantic University Libraries have prioritized working collaboratively with the campus community on a Top 100 / R1 research initiative that includes a highly library engaged campus and community environment.

FAU Libraries house approximately 3.7 million items and provide access to over 80,000 electronic journals, nearly 500 databases, and a growing collection of e-books and streaming videos.

The Libraries house many distinctive collections, including artists’ books, sound recordings, print music, rare books and manuscripts, and University Archives.

The Digital Library creates online collections from unique materials housed in Special Collections and University Archives and serves as the University's repository for the intellectual output produced on campus.

The Florida Atlantic University Libraries seek a student focused, high-energy, collaborative, organized, engaged, positive, innovative, strong written and verbal communicator, and self-starter, who adapts well to change and can manage multiple projects.

We endeavor to be a highly engaged organization that believes in striving for excellence, utilizing assessment and data for decision-making, and maintaining a culture of appreciation / gratitude, as we pursue a national ranking of Top 100 / R1 academic university.

Successful candidates are also expected to demonstrate commitment to professional development and lifelong learning.

Reporting directly to the Assistant Dean for Special Collections, Archives, & Distinctive Collections, the successful candidate will be someone who can help Special Collections to build relationships, learning opportunities and use the collections in new and exciting ways.

The ideal candidate will have the enthusiasm and curiosity necessary to make our collections richer and more widely known and is interested in actively exploring ways to remove the access barriers to Special Collections.

Although FAU courses are our primary focus, the instruction program also supports learning opportunities for various audiences, including local community members, K-12 students and teachers, and participants in summer institutes.

The successful candidate will be highly collaborative and broadly promote and encourage the active use of the collections.

This position will primarily work on the Boca Raton Campus but may at times be asked to work at one of five other FAU campuses.

Essential Functions

• Provide instructional sessions using Special Collections resources for a diverse community and student body, working across various disciplines.
• Assist with creating exhibits and conducting outreach activities that support the use of collections and primary source materials by students, faculty, staff, alumni, researchers, and public members.
• Provide reference and information assistance to external and internal library users for all types and formats of library materials, including but not limited to maps, rare books, photographs, and manuscripts.
• Manage and participate in user education, orientation, and instruction activities for individuals and classes in collaboration with liaisons.
• Maintain an understanding of and commitment to the standards, ethics, guidelines, and best practices in use by special collections professionals and related professional groups including ACRL’s Rare Books and Manuscripts Section and the Society of American Archivists.
• Participate in FAU programs and events that promote student recruitment, academic preparedness, engagement, and graduation.
• Actively engage with University and library colleagues to ensure current collections and services meet the needs of the FAU community and support the University’s and Libraries’ mission and strategic plan.
• Participate in Libraries’ liaison program including development and review of research guides (LibGuides).
• Participate in Libraries’ engagement events.
• Contribute to developing and strengthening a positive view of the FAU Libraries as an active partner in the University’s educational and research mission and assist with promoting the Libraries’ needs and services.
• Develop an annual professional development plan.
• Investigate opportunities to carry out, publish, and present original scholarship, research, and scholarly projects related to the area of expertise or responsibility.
• Serve on appropriate Libraries, University, regional or national committees.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

FAU Benefits and Perks :

Position is a non-tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant University Librarian on a 12-month contract with service and sustained expectation of scholarship, research, and / or creative endeavors (as outlined in the FAU Libraries’ Promotion Guidelines : ) required for promotion.

FAU Libraries offers (as budget permits) :

• Financial support for professional memberships
• Financial support for professional development participation, leadership, and service activities including travel.

FAU offers significant competitive benefits and perks. In addition to helping drive change and having a positive impact by supporting our students, staff, faculty, and local communities, FAU offers :

• Excellent benefit packages including Medical (PPO / HMO $50 per month single & $180 per month family), Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending plans, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and much more.
• State retirement options including tax-deferred annuities and Roth 403(b) plans.
• State employees Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program - ;
• Flexible work arrangement plans -
• Sick Leave Pool Program
• Paid time off (eligible employees) including vacation and sick leave, 9 paid holidays, and paid winter break (at President’s discretion).
• Paid Community Engagement Volunteer Service Day -
• Employee Educational Scholarship Program (EESP) for eligible Staff / Faculty - Tuition assistance after 6 months of full-time employment.

For in-unit faculty, the EESP program may be extended to spouses and dependent children (eligibility rules apply).

For details on FAU's outstanding offers, visit us at .

The University Libraries at Florida Atlantic University seeks scholars who are committed to supporting the learning needs of students from diverse backgrounds and to engaging all communities in higher education.

Florida Atlantic University embodies a culture of strategic and collaborative community engagement that results in mutual benefit to the institution and the various internal and external communities that it serves.

Minimum Qualifications :

• ALA-accredited Master's degree in Library and Information Science or equivalent.
• Minimum of one year of experience in a Special Collections department or equivalent.
• Knowledge of primary source pedagogy and understanding the value of primary materials for learning, teaching, research, and outreach.
• Knowledge and ability to explain finding aids for internal and external users.
• Experience and knowledge using ArchivesSpace or another finding aid platform.
• Demonstrates ability to work independently and collaboratively as a team member and team leader where consultation, flexibility, creativity, collaboration, and cooperation are essential.
• Experience in teaching and facilitating the learning of individuals with diverse levels of readiness.
• Demonstrates strong organization skills and excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to use information technologies for effective communication and work productivity.
• Demonstrates initiative and strong interpersonal skills with a high level of professionalism and exceptional work ethic.
• Ability to analyze and adapt to change in an ever-evolving and rapidly growing institution.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Second Master’s degree and / or doctorate.
• Two or more years of experience in a Special Collections department or equivalent in academic / higher education.
• Experience in completing formal coursework or training in rare book and / or special collections librarianship.
• Demonstrates sustained record of scholarship, research, and / or creative endeavors.
• Demonstrates record of service with leadership roles on committees and projects in libraries and in the library profession.
• Experience working with an integrated library system (ILS) and discovery tool (e.g., Ex Libris Alma / Primo VE).
• Experience using Canvas Learning Management System.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

• Knowledge of rare books, archives, and rare materials.
• Demonstrated ability to read cursive handwriting.
• Knowledge of current trends in Special Collections instruction and outreach relevant to academic libraries.
• Experience providing instruction, especially with special collections or archives.
• Experience working with students in an academic setting.
• Experience using learning management systems.
• Demonstrates service commitments in leadership roles on committees, contributing to the profession through significant professional service.
• Demonstrates sustained scholarship, research, and creative endeavors, contributing to the profession through peer-reviewed publications in librarianship and presentations at regional or national library-related conferences.
• Demonstrates initiative and strong project management skills in leading significant projects.
• Demonstrates commitment to actively participating in library engagement activities.
• Demonstrates commitment to professional development and lifelong learning.
• Experience working in a multi-campus environment or multi-institutional consortia.

Salary : $50,000. - $55,000.

$50,000. - $55,000.

College or Department :

University Libraries

Location : Boca Raton

Boca Raton

Work Days and Hours :

N / A

Application Deadline :

2024-08-05