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Political Science & Public Policy Librarian

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Position description

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
Political Science & Public Policy Librarian
Social Sciences Division
University of California, Berkeley Library

Hiring range: Associate Librarian
$68,085 - $86,534 per annum, based on qualifications
This is a full time appointment available starting September 2019

The University of California, Berkeley seeks a collaborative and user-centered librarian to join a team of specialists supporting world-class research and teaching in the social sciences through active engagement with collection development, data and information literacy initiatives, course-based instruction, individual research assistance, and outreach to students, faculty and the broader academic community. This position serves as subject librarian for Political Science and Public Policy, specialist in California state government information, and contributor to data services in the social sciences.

The Environment
The UC Berkeley Library is an internationally renowned research and teaching facility at one of the nation's premier public universities. A highly diverse and intellectually rich environment, Berkeley serves a campus community of 30,000 undergraduate students, over 11,000 graduate students, and 1,500 faculty. With a collection of more than 12 million volumes and a collections budget of over $15 million, the Library offers extensive collections in all formats and robust services to connect users with those collections and build their related research skills. The Library’s mission and strategic plan can be viewed at http://stories.lib.berkeley.edu/strategicplan/.

The Library’s Social Sciences Division consists of four subject libraries – Anthropology, Business, Environmental Design, and Social Research – and the collections and services located in Doe Library/Gardner MAIN Stacks. Collectively, the staff – 12 librarians, 12 library staff, and over 50 student library employees – support the research, teaching, and study needs of students and faculty in twelve social science departments within the College of Letters & Science, six professional schools, three International and Area Studies programs, and an array of Organized Research Units.

Responsibilities
The Political Science & Public Policy Librarian helps researchers analyze the use, abuse and distribution of power, and the development of policies to address social and environmental problems. The librarian establishes strong relationships with faculty and students of the Charles and Louise Travers Department of Political Science, Goldman School of Public Policy, and undergraduate major of Legal Studies; conducts analysis and assessment of user needs, provides virtual and in-person research consultations, offers in-course instruction, creates instructional materials in a variety of formats, and promotes library resources and services.

The Political Science & Policy Librarian will be responsible for creating, managing and assessing collections in all formats (books, journals, databases, statistical and primary sources, and state and local government documents) which support the broad areas of politics and policy. Developing research level collections requires collaboration with other librarians on campus and within the UC System on interdisciplinary and/or system-wide collection decisions, and working with librarians at other institutions nationally and internationally to improve access to legacy collections, including open access initiatives.

The position works closely with other subject librarians in the interdisciplinary social sciences, collaborates with librarians with language and country expertise to support global and international studies, and reports to the head of the Library’s Social Sciences Division. The successful candidate will also work with library-wide functional specialists including those responsible for assessment, research data management, digital scholarship, and scholarly communications; and will assume lead responsibility in one of these areas within the Social Sciences Division.

UC Berkeley librarians and academic staff participate in library-wide planning and governance, and work effectively in a shared decision-making environment. Advancement is partially based upon professional contributions beyond the primary assignment; the successful candidate will show evidence or promise of such contributions to the Library, campus, UC System, and profession.

Qualifications:

Basic (required at the time of application):
● Advanced degree or enrolled in an advanced degree program.

Additional (required by the start date):
● Advanced degree.
● At least one year of experience providing reference and/or instructional services in an academic or research library.

Preferred:
● Master’s degree from an ALA accredited institution or equivalent international degree.
● Undergraduate or graduate coursework in political science, public policy, international relations or a similar field.
● Demonstrated knowledge of research methods relevant to the fields of political science, public policy and/or legal studies.
● Evidence of ability to support quantitative and/or qualitative academic research using analytical software and key data sources in the social sciences, such as the American Community Survey (ACS) and Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR).
● Demonstrated experience searching government and/or legal information sources.
● Experience with, or course work in, collection development.
● Demonstrated written and oral communication skills.

The UC Berkeley Library is committed to supporting and encouraging a multicultural environment and seeks candidates who can make positive and imaginative contributions in a context of ethnic and cultural diversity.

UC professional librarians are academic appointees and are represented by an exclusive bargaining agent, University Council - American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT). This position is in the bargaining unit.

Librarians are entitled to appropriate professional development leave, two days per month of vacation leave, one day per month of sick leave, and all other benefits granted non-faculty academic personnel. The University has an excellent retirement program and sponsors a variety of group health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans in addition to other benefits.

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

This recruitment will remain open until filled.

Submit applications online at https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/apply/JPF02233

Applications must include the names and contact information of three references who are knowledgeable about the applicant's qualifications for this position. References will only be contacted for individuals under serious consideration.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.

For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/DiscriminatioHarassmentAffirmAction

Send inquiries to:
Immaculate Adesida
HR Manager,
Library Human Resources
Email: librec@library.berkeley.edu

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter (Optional)

Reference requirements
  • 3-5 required (contact information only)

Job location

Berkeley, CA