Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library University Library University of Michigan Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library

University Library Associates (ULA)

Position Description

The associates' positions at the Graduate Library Reference and Instructional Services Department are designed to provide experience and professional growth in the provision of reference and instructional services in the research library context. The potential applicant pool for the ULA position is limited to incoming students of the School of Information. More information abou the School of Information's ULA project can be found here.

Service Setting

The Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library is the primary research collection for the humanities and social sciences at the University of Michigan. With 3.5 million titles in several hundred languages, and covering a broad array of subjects, the collections and teams of subject specialists support scholarship campus wide. The Graduate Library also houses the Faculty Exploratory and the Knowledge Navigation Center, teaching and consultation facilities designed to support faculty, staff and students in the use of digital information and a wide range of information technology applications.

Position Structure

Associates report directly to the Information Studies Librarian, working also with the direction and support of the Coordinator of Instruction and the Instructional Technology Librarian for instruction-related activities. Each associate is affiliated with either the social science or humanities subject teams depending on background and interest.

The first year concentrates on developing core public service skills and an understanding of the theoretical basis for reference and instruction practice in the research environment. The experience is structured to be developmental over the two year tenure, with assignments increasing in responsibility and independence each semester.

Basic Position Responsibilities

Note: Position described at 100% of the 22.5 hour/week assignment

Reference (75%)

  • Provide direct patron assistance at the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library Reference and Information Center 12-15 hours/week. (This includes primarily weekend and evening hours.)
  • Handle inquiries as part of the University Library's virtual reference services, Ask Us.
  • Participate in planning and design of information services including the technological, service, and policy development of the rapidly expanding virtual information service environment.

Instruction (15%)

  • Participate in the design and delivery of instructional programs for the University community. These might typically include collaborating with other professional staff in teaching workshops on discipline related resources, the use and application of a variety of information technologies for research and teaching, and course integrated instruction for undergraduates in the social sciences and humanities.
  • Provide one-on-one technology assistance to patrons as a consultant in the Knowledge Navigation Center 2-4 hours/week.

Special Projects (10%)

  • Assist in developing and executing public service related projects as appropriate. Examples of past associates' projects include an instructional program evaluation for the Shapiro Undergraduate Library, development of geographic information services and programs (GIS), and design and development of the Hatcher Showcase.
Participation in Other Departmental Activities

Associates are required to attend regular meetings of all departmental staff and weekly student meetings. In addition, associates are encouraged, whenever possible, to participate (as work time) in University Library activities and programs that pertain to library services in general and public services related activities in particular.

As half-time employees of the department, Associates are expected to serve as resource persons for, and to participate in the training of, the student reference assistants working at the Information & Reference Center.

Special Projects

Associates may be assigned special projects, based on their background, interests and the needs of the Reference & Instructional Services Department.

Background/Qualifications Desired
  • Strong commitment to public services
  • Enthusiasm and demonstrated ability to work effectively with colleagues and a wide range of people in a demanding, technologically rich, and fast paced environment
  • Public service or teaching experience and/or training
  • Interest and ability in learning and applying new technologies
  • Excellent ability to communicate in speaking and writing
  • Subject background in the social sciences or humanities
Curriculum Requirements

Associates should plan to take SI 647: Information Resources and Services during their first term.

 

If you can read this, your browser isn't honoring our stylesheet requests

Send us your questions and comments.

libwebservices@umich.edu

Your question or comment:

Sending . . .



Loading ...

Your message has been sent

There was a problem sending your message.

Please try again later. Or send it to libwebservices@umich.edu in your favorite email client.
Your message was: