Community Engagement and Outreach Specialist jobs in Bloomington, IL

Category: Faculty
Department: Libraries
Locations: Macomb, IL
Posted: Feb 24, 2023
Closes: Open Until Filled
Type: FT - Continuous

About Western Illinois University:

Recognized as a "Best Midwestern College" by the Princeton Review. Western Illinois University, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, serves nearly 7,600 students at its traditional, residential four-year campus in Macomb, IL and its metropolitan, non-residential branch campus in Moline, IL.

Job Description:

As part of the WIU Libraries strategic cluster initiative, we seek an innovative, motivated, dynamic, and goal-oriented Outreach and Engagement Librarian who engages in inclusive, collaborative, critical, and creative pedagogies to foster information literacy and inspire intellectual curiosity. The Outreach and Engagement Librarian will join a cohort with two additional positions in this cluster hire: a Research and Graduate Studies Librarian and a C.T. Vivian Scholar.

The Outreach and Engagement Librarian designs and develops meaningful, face-to-face, and online interactive events promoting library services to students, faculty, staff, and the wider community in line with the WIU Libraries strategic mission and vision. Collaborates with library colleagues to amplify engagement, outreach, and collaborative initiatives across campus. Also collaborates with scholars and other campus partners to develop and support library services to internal and external stakeholders.

The Outreach and Engagement Librarian will collaborate with other library faculty in academic work. They will cooperate with library faculty in developing the Learning and Research Commons, a partnership with other academic units promoting student success and improving retention.

This position requires travel to promote WIU Libraries services and collections locally, regionally, and nationally.

APPOINTMENT: Outreach and Engagement Librarian. 12-month tenure-track position. Start date: August 1, 2023.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Reports directly to the Dean of University Libraries.

• Provides vision and leadership in mapping and coordinating outreach efforts to the university communities and beyond.
• Leads library efforts to publicize and promote services, programs, and resources, including the Learning and Research Commons, the Digital Scholarship Center, and area studies collections.
• Assist with the library's social media outlets and develops content and campaigns for online communication.
• Provides reference and research consultations in person and using various online methods, teaching users to identify, evaluate, and use information resources.
• Develops and maintains research guides and other information tools to assist users and facilitate library engagement.
• Designs and develops meaningful face-to-face and online interactive events promoting library services to students, faculty, staff, and the wider community.
• Communicates with faculty to increase their awareness of library resources and services and to better inform library collection development.
• Fulfill tenure requirements, serve on library and university committees, and contribute to the profession through scholarly activity.

RANK & SALARY: Assistant Professor, 12-month tenure-track position. Minimum salary $6426/month. Negotiable, commensurate with experience. Western Illinois University offers a competitive benefits package including domestic partner benefits. For full benefit information visit: http://www.wiu.edu/vpas/human_resources/benefits/.

Requirements:

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• ALA-accredited Master's degree
• additional accredited advanced or professional degree
• demonstrated strong public service orientation
• superior oral and written communication skills

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• experience in collaborative projects and activities with varied stakeholders
• interest in learning about the development of born-digital publications
• demonstrated understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in library practice
• academic library experience
• experience providing reference service
• outreach experience

For a degree to be considered, it must be conferred from a regionally accredited degree-granting institution of higher education (or equivalent from an international accrediting body). Unless otherwise stated, the degree must be "in hand" at the time of appointment.

Additional Information:

THE DEPARTMENT:

WIU Libraries is transforming its services and facilities. The department is working to establish the Learning and Research Center. WIU Libraries recently hired a Digital Scholarship Librarian that is developing a Digital Scholarship Center (DSC) to incorporate digital scholarship as part of the university's teaching, research, and community engagement. In collaboration with the Office of the Provost and others on campus, the Libraries will host the new Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Technology. As part of the strategic planning process, WIU Libraries is proposing the establishment of 6 area studies collections (Hispanic, Latinx, Caribbean Studies; Afro-American, African and African Diaspora Studies; Women, Gender, and LGBTQIA Studies; Asian and European Studies; and Anti-Racism, Intolerance, Genocide, and Holocaust Studies). These collections reflect the commitment of WIU Libraries to promote diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility in services and collections. In 2022 WIU Libraries developed its first ever Diversity Plan, and recently designated its first Diversity Officer to oversee implementation of the plan.

The WIU Libraries received a 2022 federal Title VI Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Languages grant entitled "WIU Global Citizen: Illinois International Scholars Initiative." Planning and development are underway now, and in August we will begin writing the continuing grant proposal for the implementation phase. This second proposal will be as a consortium with other American and overseas universities as well as civil society organizations. Another important initiative during 2023-24 will be the transformation of our university archives and special collections into the new Center for Illinois Regional Heritage Studies, which will promote the study of communities and organizations in the western region of Illinois. WIU Libraries is unique among academic libraries by administering a degree program, a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies. As part of our strategic planning process, we want to broaden the number of programs to include certificates and micro-credentials.

WIU Libraries employs ten faculty and 24 staff in the Leslie F. Malpass Library, two branch libraries in Macomb (Music and Curriculum), one branch at the WIU-Quad Cities Campus, and the General Studies program. The WIU Libraries' collections include over 1,000,000 cataloged volumes, approximately 2,000 periodical print subscriptions, access to over 22,500 full-text journals, 300,000 maps and important government documents, microforms, and non-book materials. The annual budget is $3.75 million.

THE UNIVERSITY:

About WIU

Since 1899, Western Illinois University has provided outstanding educational opportunities to individuals in west central Illinois and well beyond our region and state. WIU's traditional residential campus in Macomb, Illinois, is the educational, cultural and athletic center of the region, while the WIU-Quad Cities non-residential branch campus in Moline, Illinois, is the only public university in the immediate Quad Cities region.

WIU-Macomb, IL:

Western's traditional, residential main campus offers a comprehensive slate of undergraduate and graduate programs, including a doctorate in education, and post-baccalaureate certificates. A diverse community in west central Illinois, Macomb features a unique blend of agriculture, industry, service, retail, education, and culture. Macomb serves as the county seat, with connections across the state with Amtrak providing twice-daily service from Macomb to Chicago (and point in-between). Macomb is located approximately 75 miles from the Quad Cities International Airport (Moline, IL) and 70 miles from the Greater Peoria Regional Airport (Peoria, IL).

WIU-Quad Cities:

Located on the banks of the Mississippi River in Moline, Illinois, the WIU-Quad Cities campus is the only public four-year regional university that serves the Quad Cities region. Designed as a metropolitan commuter campus, WIU-Quad Cities offers select undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. Moline is located just 80 miles north of the Macomb campus and is centered within a diverse, bi-state community of 383,000 that offers a broad range of cultural, social, and entertainment amenities and experiences, as well as varied businesses and industries.

WIU Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism

Western Illinois University fosters respect, equity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. WIU is committed to anti-racism, anti-oppression, equity, social justice, and diversity. We value inclusion as a core value and as an essential element of Western's public service mission. WIU embraces individual uniqueness and a culture of inclusion that supports broad and specific diversity initiatives. Western believes in the educational and institutional benefits of diversity in society as integral to the success of all individuals.

At WIU, we will:

• Maintain a safe and secure environment for all members of our University communities. Educate and empower students, staff, and faculty to be social justice advocates.
• Provide curricula, programs, training, resources, and environments that reflect and strengthen the diversity of our communities, and to elevate cultural awareness and understanding.
• Ensure fair, equitable, and inclusive access to University facilities, programs, resources, and services.
• Create inclusive and equitable policies and practices.
• Diversify the University's workforce by assessing hiring practices to attract, retain, and develop talented staff and faculty from diverse backgrounds.
• Address intergroup disparities through areas as representation, retention, learning outcomes, and graduation rates.
• Create a University wide diversity plan to ensure a continued commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppression, equity, social justice, and diversity.

Academics

More than 61 undergraduate degree programs, 41 graduate programs, two doctoral programs and 16 post-baccalaureate certificate programs prepare students for a successful career after graduation.

Student Resources

More than 200 student organizations at Western provide social, academic, recreation, athletics, service, academic, and many other opportunities for students to grow and learn, develop leadership skills, and much more. Numerous concerts, lectures, films, dance performances, cultural events and more are presented and performed each year, along with numerous major theatrical and dance productions and studio shows, and a variety of service-oriented projects and activities, all in a diverse and inclusive campus environment. The Multicultural Center is home to four cultural and resource centers: The Gwendolyn Brooks, Casa Latina, the Women's Center, and the LGBT*QA Resource Center. These cultural and resource centers promote WIU's goal of enhancing justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion through educational programming and advocacy.

WIU Intercollegiate Athletics
The University's athletics program, based on the Macomb campus, sponsors 17 NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's and women's varsity sports. Football competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision through the Missouri Valley Football Conference; all other varsity sports compete at the Division I level through The Summit League

Application Instructions:

Application Instructions

APPLICATION:

Complete applications include:

1) a letter of application

2) current curriculum vita or resume

3) the names, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of three current professional references

4) a separate statement regarding your commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion

Please upload the requested documents by clicking APPLY NOW or by navigating to the WIU Employment page at the following URL http://www.wiu.edu/employment/

**Note** In order to upload Individual documents must be under 2 MB in size.

Screening will begin on April 1, 2023 and continue until position is filled.

Western Illinois University endeavors to provide a safe environment for its employees and students and requires candidates to submit to a background investigation upon offer of employment. Employment is contingent upon compliance with University policies and procedures relating to the receipt and evaluation of information contained in the background investigation.

Questions regarding the search may be directed to: Dr. Hector Maymi-Sugranes, Dean of Libraries, at HJ-Maymi-Sugranes@wiu.edu.

For assistance with the online application system contact the Office of Human Resources at (309)298-1971 or via email at hr-recruitment@wiu.edu.

Western Illinois University is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity employer with a strong commitment to diversity. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of people, including, but not limited to, minorities, veterans, women and individuals with disabilities. WIU has a non-discrimination policy that includes discrimination based on an individual's membership in the following classes: sex, race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, marital status, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and any other classes protected by state or federal law.

To apply, visit https://wiu.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=159455&CNTRNO=0&TSTMP=0

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