Outreach & Engagement Librarian, Limited Term Appointment

St. Francis Xavier University•Antigonish, NS

About The Position

The Angus L. Macdonald Library, St. Francis Xavier University (StFX), seeks a collaborative, innovative, and student-centered librarian to lead our outreach and engagement programs and services. This 8-month limited term position will be filled at the rank of Librarian I or II, with a start date by the end of September 2026. The Angus L. Macdonald Library serves one of Canada's top-ranked undergraduate educational institutions and sees its role as a proactive one of service and support for the academic success of its students and faculty. The library is a member of Novanet, a consortium of Nova Scotia academic libraries sharing a common library management system, the Council of Atlantic Academic Libraries (CAAL), and the Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN), among other collaborative initiatives. As members of the Faculty Union, Librarians must demonstrate a record of professional and scholarly activities. Reporting to the University Librarian, the successful candidate will establish partnerships with the Diversity Engagement Centre, academic departments, student organizations, and other campus units to identify opportunities for collaborative programming. The Outreach & Engagement Librarian will create programs and services to engage traditionally underrepresented campus populations. They will promote library spaces and services and create opportunities for academic conversations, research collaborations, and social engagements. With a deep understanding of the challenges of diversity and equity in higher education, this librarian leads the library’s outreach activities to increase connections on campus, with a specific focus on the following communities: Indigenous, Black, first generation, 2SLGBTQIA+, and international students and faculty. The successful candidate will participate in library services, including regularly scheduled reference desk shifts; and will serve as Liaison Librarian to designated departments and/or programs, providing specialized information literacy instruction, research assistance, and support for library resource selection and evaluation to those departments. Other duties include, but are not limited to, participation in library committees, initiatives, and projects, the creation and maintenance of subject research guides, and the creation and delivery of library workshops.

Requirements

A Master’s degree in Library/Information Studies or equivalent from an ALA-accredited program
Demonstrated relevant knowledge or experience in advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and awareness in libraries or educational institutions
Demonstrated relevant knowledge or experience providing online and in-person reference support, information literacy instruction, and collection development, preferably in an academic library environment
Availability for occasional evening and weekend work
Proficiency with Microsoft products (Outlook, Word, Excel, OneDrive, Teams)
An understanding of current and emerging technologies and techniques to achieve the library’s outreach and engagement objectives
Demonstrated ability to work both collaboratively in a team environment and independently on assigned responsibilities
Demonstrated understanding of EDIA principles and their importance in an academic institution and an academic library
Excellent communication, organizational, and time management skills

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of effective program development, including goal setting and outcomes evaluation
Experience discussing and presenting on sensitive topics to varied audiences, assessing training and support needs
Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish positive and productive collaborations working with diverse audiences and colleagues
Familiarity with ExLibris Primo/Alma ILS and SpringShare products
Knowledge of graphic design principles or demonstrated aptitude
Experience using social media for outreach and/or engagement
Experience in community-based work with underrepresented youth, and a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by these populations in a university setting
Understanding of the importance of professional growth, academic service, and scholarly activity in an academic environment

Responsibilities

Develop partnerships and identify opportunities for collaborative programming
Manage and implement the library’s social media and communications strategy
Promote the library’s resources, services and spaces to students and faculty
Assess and work to improve the library’s online presence to ensure its continued currency, effectiveness, and usability, with a specific focus on diversity, inclusion, and accessibility
Develop and manage library outreach initiatives to university and community audiences
Formulate and action goals, plans, and procedures for implementing outreach services
Gather and analyze statistics and prepare evaluative reports for outreach and engagement programs
Assess user experience with resources, services, and space
Organize, promote, and host library programming
Coordinate and schedule library instruction that is not discipline-specific (open workshops), including delivery of some workshops
Promote library resources and services at university open houses, new student orientations, and other public events
Provide library tours and orientation to visiting scholars and students