Computing Librarian

George Mason University Libraries seeks a creative, dynamic, teaching and research-oriented individual to fill the newly created School of Computing Librarian position. 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.

About George Mason University Libraries:

The George Mason University library system, comprised of a large central library and three 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.

About the Science and Technology (SciTech) Team:

The Science and Technology (SciTech) Team is part of the Learning, Research and Engagement (LRE) division of University Libraries and serves the College of Engineering and Computing, the College of Health and Human Services, and the College of Science, as well as several STEM-focused multi-disciplinary university-level institutes.

About the Position:

The Computing Librarian position supports teaching and research by providing library instruction, research assistance, collection development, and academic outreach, including research data support and grant writing assistance. This position will report to the Lead, Science and Technology Team and Mercer Library, and requires a background in computer science (strongly preferred), engineering, or a STEM related field.

The Computing Librarian will work principally with the School of Computing, and also support the Institute for Digital InnovAtion (IDIA), a new and developing center aiming to enhance multi-disciplinary, collaborative research processes that shape the future of our digital society, promoting equality, well-being, security and prosperity. This position will support the interdisciplinary mission of the IDIA and calls on collaborations across university units in a variety of disciplines.

This position will collaborate with the Libraries' Digital Scholarship Center (DiSC) and the Mason Publishing Group, in the Digital Strategies and Systems (DSS) division, as well as with other library departments more broadly and across the university to support research and data efforts, methods, and tools. This position will support the undergraduate, masters and the doctoral programs in the School of Computing (SoC) within the newly-constituted College of Engineering and Computing. This position will coordinate and designate subject responsibilities with the Engineering Librarian.

Responsibilities:

• Reference and Research Consulting;
• Teaching, Learning and Digital Literacies;
• Collections and Content;
• Outreach and Engagement;
• Scholarly Communications and Open Access initiatives;
• Using outreach strategies for developing relationships with faculty and researchers that optimize the impact of library expertise, services and resources;
• Applying knowledge of trends and tools in computer science to service delivery and design of interdisciplinary projects;
• Developing library collections in relevant disciplines and sub-disciplines and supporting initiatives in open access, open science, and open data;
• Teaching in the library program on critical information and research skills, helping students achieve academic success, and understand the social consequences of how data and information are used, created, and shared;
• Helping researchers find and manage information and data, and critically evaluate and use research tools, platforms, and infrastructure;
• Engaging in systematic, ongoing learning activities to build skills for professional impact and cultural competence;
• Participating in or leading project teams and fostering team outcomes by using best practice tools and techniques.

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree from an ALA-accredited library and information science program or a certified foreign equivalent;
• Two-to-three years of experience working as a Computer Science, IT or STEM Librarian;
• Experience providing library instruction and research support in Computer Science or STEM that support the educational goals of a multicultural population;
• Demonstrated experience with electronic resources and information technologies to support reference, research and collection development in computing, statistics, or other STEM disciplines;
• Experience with collaboration with instructional faculty to help students achieve learning outcomes such as information literacy, written communication, problem solving, creative thinking and integrative learning;
• Coursework and/or experience in relevant computer languages (e.g., R, Python, Java) and different operating systems;
• Development of strategies for doing outreach and building relationships with faculty to deliver high impact services, and capacity to adapt outreach skills to the Mason Libraries context;
• Experience with key information resources in a variety of scientific disciplines, including resources for data discovery, data literacy or library services that support data management and analysis;
• Familiarity with research trends and with ethical, legal, and policy issues in computer science and engineering;
• Ability to build collaborative and mutually beneficial working relationships with people of varying backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or (strongly preferred) advanced degree in Computer Science, IT or related field OR significant coursework in those areas;
• Knowledge of data management planning, scholarly communications, and open access concepts and trends;
• Demonstrated ability with one of the following:
  • knowledge of data visualization tools;
  • proficiency with statistical software;
  • facility with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software such as ArcGIS.

Appointments/Benefits/Salary:

• 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;
• Tuition waiver available for self;
• Salary is commensurate with academic qualifications and professional experience, with minima as follows: Librarian I - $60,000; Librarian II - $65,000; Librarian III - $70,000; Librarian IV - $75,000.

All applications for this position (FA77Hz) MUST be submitted online at George Mason University's employment page (https://jobs.gmu.edu/). Applicants must upload a cover letter, resume, and a list of three current professional references (including the names, addresses (including 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 August 30, 2021.

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Great Careers Begin at Mason!

George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in both academics and research. Mason holds a top U.S. News and World Report "Up and Coming" spot for national universities and is recognized for its global appeal and excellence in higher education.

Mason is currently the largest and most diverse university in Virginia with students and faculty from all 50 states and over 135 countries studying in over 200 degree programs at campuses in Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William, as well as at learning locations across the commonwealth. Rooted in Mason's diversity is a campus culture that is both rewarding and exciting, work that is meaningful, and opportunities to both collaborate and create.

If you are interested in joining the Mason family take a look at our current opportunities and catch some Mason spirit at jobs.gmu.edu/!

George Mason University, Where Innovation is Tradition.
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