Instructional Technology Librarian

The MSU Library seeks a student-focused and creative individual to fill the position of Instructional Technology Librarian. This position will support teaching and learning in areas focused on instructional technology and pedagogy, classroom technologies, and online and other digital learning objects. The person in this position will serve a key role in fulfilling the library’s goal of utilizing technology and pedagogy to enable sustainability of the library’s instructional services.

We seek an individual who has experience with library and information instruction, including technology-focused learning trends and best practices, in order to develop our instructional offerings, support existing users, and reach new audiences. The person in this role will be responsible for promoting new and innovative teaching and learning and expanding the meaningful integration of technology into teaching, learning, and scholarship within the Library. Reporting to the Head of Learning and Research Services (LRS), the individual in the role will work closely with the Instructional Services Program Leader, library instructional faculty and staff, and students and faculty campus-wide.

The Montana State University Library is committed to providing and promoting information resources to ensure student and faculty success. Our librarians are campus leaders and active within state, regional, and national library communities.

Montana State University welcomes a broad array of experiences and perspectives and is committed to continually supporting, promoting, and building an inclusive and culturally rich campus environment. In support of our campus and library strategic plans, which value diversity in all its dimensions, we enthusiastically encourage members of traditionally underrepresented groups to apply. We seek individuals who work professionally and effectively with diverse individuals, possess effective interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills, and have the ability to contribute positively to the academic success of the students and the mission of Montana State University. MSU recognizes the importance of work-life integration and strives to be responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

• Actively participate in the development, implementation, and assessment of the library’s online education infrastructure.

• Assist in the creation of guidelines for best practice and consistency in learning object creation.

• Participate in the coordination, implementation, and maintenance of the instructional portions of the library website, LibGuides, and other web-based platforms.

• Provide direct instruction to students, staff, and faculty via research consultations, library instruction, workshops, and/or credit-bearing courses.

• Collaborate with colleagues to develop, implement, and apply innovative multimedia and e-learning tools, resources, technologies, and services for integration with library-related instructional needs.

• Maintain an ongoing current awareness of national trends related to emerging and evolving instructional technologies in higher education; evaluate those trends for applicability to instruction at MSU; and lead in their implementation.

• Support the instructional technology needs of the library classrooms and other learning spaces.

• Represent the library on campus committees focused on learning and instruction to further the instructional technology mission and reach of the library.

• Pursue an active and integrated plan for profession development, research, publishing, and service to meet retention, tenure, and promotion requirements.

1. Master’s degree from an ALA (American Library Association) accredited graduate program upon date of hire.

2. Previous experience working in an instruction and public services role in an educational environment.

3. Knowledge of pedagogical best practices, trends, and assessment with a particular focus in educational technologies and information literacy.

4. Demonstrated experience that reflects commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion as well as a focus on user needs and experience.

1. Coursework or professional experience with instructional technology, instructional design, learning theory, and/or the scholarship of teaching and learning.

2. Demonstrated experience fostering collaborative relationships.

LEAD: The Instructional Technology Librarian will

• Provide leadership and support in the development and implementation of library instructional technologies.

• Participate actively in moving forward the library’s strategic goal of empowering users to “achieve meaningful learning outcomes and develop their information literacy abilities.”

• Be patient, persistent, and creative with the mental fortitude to address challenges in multiple ways consistently over time.

TEACH: The Instructional Technology Librarian will

• Be an enthusiastic teacher of students and be willing to mentor other instructors in the library, helping them take their own instructional technologies to the next level.

• Bring a high level of energy, creativity, and flexibility to the library community.

COLLABORATE: The Instructional Technology Librarian will

• Have excellent communication skills across a range of audiences, including students, faculty, library colleagues, and the professional community.

GROW: The Instructional Technology Librarian will

• Engage in research and be an active tenure-track faculty member capable of meeting the university’s promotion and tenure requirements for librarianship, scholarly activity, and service.

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

The MSU Library embraces educational initiatives in many formats and multiple modalities including point of use, course-integrated, web-based, and credit course instruction. Workshops, research consultations, and instruction sessions are designed to develop students’ abilities to become self-sufficient and empowered seekers, users, and creators of information. We are guided by a philosophy of engaging users by modeling the pursuit of knowledge and lifelong learning. We acknowledge that librarianship is inherently multidisciplinary and collaborative; we seek to be adept and flexible in our approaches. As such, we are guided by documents such as the Association for College and Research Libraries Framework for Information Literacy in Higher Education, Roles and Strengths of Teaching Librarians, and by the movement toward a critical information literacy pedagogy. The landscape of instruction at MSU library is evolving. Current initiatives include a move toward robust instruction assessment, scaffolding information literacy concepts through strategic curriculum planning, and embracing 21st century learning tools and technologies.

The Instructional Technology Librarian is a member of the Learning and Research Services (LRS) Department. LRSis the vibrant user-centered public face of the library and is currently comprised of two tenure-track and three non-tenure track librarians, eight classified staff, and the department head. LRS provides instruction and access to information in support of the research and intellectual needs of MSU and the Montana community in an environment that encourages reflective and collaborative inquiry. LRS facilitates critical engagement with information and knowledge creation through education and advocacy and is responsible for the following services: Research and technology assistance, instruction, circulation and access services, and building management.

The MSU Library is a dynamic, adaptive, and responsive research library. We aspire to build innovative digital and physical spaces where our diverse communities can access and apply information to grow intellectually, build meaningful collaborations, communicate ideas, and envision a better future for Montana and beyond. We are proud to serve the university and the people of Montana, and we strive to do so while embodying the core values of the profession of librarianship and MSU. Our values reflect how we carry forward our strategic and operational decisions: we aim to build a more informed, thoughtful, and just world while striving to cultivate an environment that supports the potential for finding joy and meaning in our work. The Library has a full range of resources and services for students and faculty, including books and electronic resources, special collections, public computer workstations, printers, scanners, technology-rich group study rooms, quiet study areas, information instruction, data and publication services, and technology and research consultations. The MSU Library has 55-60 employees, including approximately 18 tenure track faculty and 35 staff.