Social Science Librarian

Vanderbilt University•Nashville, TN

About The Position

The Social Science Librarian is part of a team of subject librarians in Central Library, one of ten libraries in Vanderbilt University’s Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries. The position supports the research and teaching mission of the College of Arts and Science and related academic schools, departments, and programs in the humanities and social sciences. The librarian serves as the primary liaison for the History department and other assigned social science departments, providing subject-specific collection development and research support and participating in instruction for the first-year Arts and Science College Core. The librarian collaborates with faculty, students, staff, and library colleagues in classrooms, offices, and other research settings. The role includes designing, delivering, and assessing curriculum-aligned educational programming; conducting outreach; providing reference and consultation services; and supporting transdisciplinary initiatives. It also contributes to library-wide and university services, collections strategies, and professional and scholarly activities. The position is based in Central Library and is organizationally located in the Libraries’ Teaching and Learning division. It reports to the College Librarian for Arts and Science and the Assistant College Librarian for Arts and Science and has no supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited institution, in hand or completed within six months after the date of hire, or an equivalent advanced degree and experience.
Zero to five years of experience in an academic library.
Breadth of knowledge of scholarly research trends and methodological approaches in historiography and historical research.
Knowledge of current research practices and issues in the humanities and social sciences, especially digital humanities, open research, research impact, and data visualization.
Knowledge of or interest in using emerging technologies to enhance information services.
Outstanding communication skills and the ability to demonstrate effective teaching and presenting.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively on teams.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced and changing environment.
Commitment to diversity, equality, inclusion, access, and belonging in building, maintaining, and delivering library collections and services.
Familiarity with one or more Western European languages.

Nice To Haves

Subject expertise or an undergraduate or graduate degree in History, American Studies, Anthropology, Classical Studies, or another related social science discipline.
Experience working and teaching with primary source and archival collections.
Knowledge of established and cutting-edge tools and methods for scholarship, research, textual analysis, and publication, including open access, open data, and preservation, especially in the social sciences and humanities.
Experience in or willingness to learn collection development and management.
Basic knowledge of Arabic or willingness to learn.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with team members to develop and implement a service model that supports engagement across the social sciences and adjacent disciplines.
Select materials in all formats to build collections that further diversity, equity, inclusion, and access; collaborate with collections librarians on major acquisitions.
Manage collections budgets and funds and steward endowments, approval plans, and gifts as needed.
Participate in library-wide services, including general research assistance, email reference, student engagement programming, orientations, tours, and library instruction.
Collaborate with Central Library colleagues to support and enhance existing programs and services and develop new ones.
Engage with faculty and students in classrooms, offices, and other research environments to provide librarian expertise where users work.
Help build and deliver an information literacy program integrated into the Arts and Science curriculum.
Contribute to sustainable collections strategies responsive to user needs.
Develop and deliver consultation services informed by current social science research methodologies.
Participate in system-wide library and university initiatives and committees.
Participate in scholarly and professional activities, such as publishing journal articles or book reviews and presenting at regional and national professional conferences.