African Studies Librarian, Librarian I or II #754030
Michigan State University Libraries seeks a creative, innovative, and collaborative African Studies Librarian. This position will focus on the collection development needs of the subject area as part of a two-person team that serves the African Studies Center and supports faculty, students, and researchers within African Studies at Michigan State University. Michigan State University has one of the top ranked African Studies programs in the country with nearly one hundred faculty across forty-six departments engaged with African studies. Special strengths include the social sciences and applied sciences, particularly with relation to development. The librarian will work to advance the initiatives in the newly developed MSU Strategic Plan and in the MSU Libraries Strategic Plan. In support of these initiatives, the Libraries serve as a center of activity and engagement on campus, with librarians empowered to support both student development and transformative research activities.
Duties include but are not limited to:
- Sets goals for collection development, management, and promotion, including travel to Africa to ensure diversity and depth of collection
- Collaborates with the Cataloging and Metadata Services unit
- Provides reference and research assistance to students, faculty, and scholars as well as external visitors for both onsite and remote users, including materials housed in Special Collections
- Collaborates with the Special Collections unit to set goals and priorities for access to unique Africana materials
- Effectively manages collection development budget for Africana Studies
While reporting to the Humanities Coordinator, the successful candidate will be broadly focused and collaborative across disciplines, and have a quarter-time secondary assignment based on the needs of the library and candidate interests. Some evening and weekend hours may be required.
Librarians are appointed as regular faculty in the continuing appointment system. They are engaged in professional development and scholarly activities related to their position and serve on library and university committees as elected or assigned.
The MSU Libraries Strategic Plan guides our current and future work. The candidate will enthusiastically partner with our diverse campus to grow our welcoming multicultural environment. More information on MSU and the MSU Libraries' dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion is available at: http://www.inclusion.msu.edu/about/index.html.
Michigan State University Libraries serve more than 4,900 faculty, 36,000 undergraduates, and 11,000 graduate and professional students on a park-like campus of over 5,000 acres.
Closing Date
5 pm on February 1, 2022.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Minimum $62,000. Salary is negotiable. MSU provides generous fringe benefits.
For questions, please contact Jacquelyn Hansen, aholajac@msu.edu, at MSU Libraries' Human Resources Department.
Minimum Qualifications
Master's degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association or from a master's level program in library and information studies accredited or recognized by the appropriate national body of another country. Demonstrated interest in the field of African Studies. Proficiency in French or a major African language, sufficient to support collection development and acquisitions work.
Excellent oral and written communication skills; outstanding interpersonal communication skills including the ability to be flexible in a dynamic and changing environment; exceptional commitment to patron and community engagement; ability to work enthusiastically and effectively with diverse faculty, students, and staff; ability to work collaboratively and independently; ability to prioritize and balance various unit needs; attention to detail; preparation and commitment to conducting independent scholarship consistent with a library faculty appointment; capacity and commitment to engage independently in continuing professional development.
Desired Qualifications
Graduate degree in African Studies; familiarity with archival processing and methodology; professional experience or travel in Africa; familiarity with digitization projects; experience with grant proposals.