Department/Organization
219101 - University Libraries
Rank
Assistant/Associate Professor
Position Summary
The University of Alabama Libraries is seeking a creative, innovative, and experienced librarian to fill the position of Head of Information Services and Creative Media. The Head of Information Services and Creative Media will report to the Associate Dean for Research and User Services and will actively contribute to the management of Information Services and the Digital Scholarship Zone, which includes the Sanford Media Center.
Detailed Position Information
This faculty position will oversee and advance instructional and information services, reference services, creative media production, and instructional technologies programs in the University Libraries. The candidate will possess the vision and leadership skills necessary to develop user-focused liaison and instructional programs based on in-depth experiences with pedagogical methods, teaching practices, curriculum development, and assessment of student learning outcomes, as well as assist in setting standards for a positive, service-oriented atmosphere. Evaluation and assessment of current programs, as well as the development of new programs, will be expected. The candidate must possess the ability to develop benchmarks to provide assessment for the instructional program and research services. This position actively participates in planning, assessing, and determining the strategic directions for Information Services and the Sanford Media Center. The candidate must possess a broad understanding of teaching and learning methods across multiple disciplines and be committed to developing and leading training to deliver instruction and research services, both in-person and virtually.
The position provides leadership for teaching, academic engagement, research support, and student success.
Reporting to the Associate Dean for Research and User Services, the Head of Information Services and Creative Media will maintain an active scholarship agenda and pursue grant writing opportunities relevant to the mission of the University Libraries and The University of Alabama. The Head of Information Services and Creative Media will promote a culture of innovation, continual learning, and professional development for faculty and staff with a commitment to continuous quality improvement. The candidate must be able to foster collaboration, as well as mentor and evaluate librarians and staff. The successful candidate must possess the ability to approach change, ambiguity, and complex problems that are typical of a research university setting. Responsibilities of the position may change as University Libraries continues to evolve.
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
• Leading, mentoring, and evaluating a unit of faculty librarians, staff, and students in Information Services and the Digital Scholarship Zone, which includes the Sanford Media Center.
• Creating a multi-media research and instruction environment by incorporating the skills, expertise, and services of the Sanford Media Center.
• Collaborating with others in the development of instructional technologies and creative media programs and services within the new Digital Scholarship Zone.
• Providing leadership and oversight in the continual development, promotion, assessment and reporting on comprehensive instruction and media production programs that foster excellence in teaching and learning, enhancing user experience, and deepening academic engagement.
• Working with the Associate Dean for Research and User Services to develop and facilitate a program of innovative services and programs that are aligned with the University Libraries Strategic Plan.
• Developing a robust and rigorous assessment and monthly reporting program for Information Services, the Sanford Media Center, and the Digital Scholarship Zone.
• Understanding and responding to the methodological differences in subject area research and developing strategies to best target the needs of users within these areas.
• Collaborating with other units on instructional programs and services.
• Collaborating with leaders of forward-facing units to maintain cohesion across libraries.
• Contributing to the marketing and outreach efforts of University Libraries.
• Developing relationships with faculty and staff to strengthen instruction and media production programs and to foster collaboration on campus.
• Overseeing the projects undertaken by librarians and staff in the area and coordinating annual goal setting and achievement across Information Services and the Sanford Media Center.
• Providing oversight on the continual development of reference practices and research services within Information Services and the Sanford Media Center.
• Maintaining an active agenda of research and published scholarship.
• Preparing and submitting grant applications, as well as managing sponsored funding projects for Information Services.
• Overseeing the creation of digital learning objects and audio/visual production toward enhanced learning outcomes.
• Overseeing liaison engagement in distance learning programs.
• Implementing programs and services toward increased student success.
• Coordinating student-focused initiatives to enrich the university learning experience.
Minimum Qualifications
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Master's in Library & Information Sciences from an ALA-accredited institution.
• Demonstrated management experience with innovative use of resources and emerging technologies.
• Advanced knowledge of issues and trends in reference and instruction services.
• Deep understanding of instruction and teaching design.
• Advanced understanding of pedagogical approaches and teaching practices.
• Experience with assessment of student learning outcomes and program objectives.
• Demonstrated success in engaging in outreach to faculty and students.
• Ability to facilitate continuous quality improvement through needs assessments and environmental scans, using data driven decision making.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a complex and changing environment; proven ability to work both independently and collaboratively and complete tasks according to an established timeframe, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, along with expert skills associated with listening, negotiating, compromising, and adapting.
• Record of peer reviewed publications, scholarly presentations, and professional service.
• Ability to meet the requirements for tenure and promotion. Commitment to conduct research and scholarship independently and consistent with a tenure track faculty appointment.
• Commitment to engage in continuing professional development.
• Experience with assessment and survey tools such as Qualtrics.
• Experience with project management applications such as Jira and/or Trello.
• Experience with creative media applications to support digital object content creation (e.g. Articulate, Adobe products, video and audio editing).
• Proven abilities, utilizing software for data organization and analysis (e.g. Excel, NVivo, etc.).
• Knowledge of emerging technologies and their applications to online education.
• Research experience, including experience with Institutional Review Board processes.
Preferred Qualifications
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: • Record of mentoring and leading librarians and staff. • Managerial experience as a program lead in instruction and/or reference in an academic library. • Demonstrated knowledge of current and emerging trends in academic research libraries. • Experience managing and collecting statistics in LibInsight. • Experience managing calendars in LibCal. • Knowledge and experience with FOLIO. • Demonstrated experience designing and assessing instruction using qualitative and quantitative methods. • Knowledge of funding sources and organizations for grant revenues. • Experience submitting grant proposals. • Evidence of an active published research portfolio.
Instructions and Required Materials for Application
SALARY/BENEFITS: 12-month tenure track faculty appointment at the Assistant or Associate Professor rank. Salary is $80,000.00 - $100,000.00, commensurate with qualifications, experience, and advanced degrees. Strong benefits, including professional development support, tuition fee waiver, and matching retirement contributions. TO APPLY: Applications are accepted online only at https://careers.ua.edu. Click Faculty Jobs, then University Libraries. Please include your application, curriculum vitae with evidence of an active published research portfolio, cover letter, and names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of three references, including one current supervisor. Consideration of applications will begin immediately and will continue until position is filled. Applications received by January 16, 2026, are assured of receiving full consideration. For questions regarding the search, contact Michael Arthur, Senior Associate Dean, at maarthur@ua.edu.
About the Division/College/School
The University of Alabama Libraries, a system of seven separate discipline-related libraries, is proud to support the research enterprise at the University of Alabama via a comprehensive and integrated network of resources, services, and technologies designed to meet the academic and research needs of students, faculty, and staff. We take pride in serving as a hub for innovation, knowledge creation and dissemination, research assistance, and collaborative learning. As a U.S. Government Documents Regional Depository since 1860, University Libraries also serves the public and our local community.
The University of Alabama Libraries maintains memberships in the Association of Research Libraries, the Center for Research Libraries, the Greater Western Library Alliance (GWLA), the Coalition of Networked Information, centerNET, LYRASIS, HathiTrust, the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries, LOCKSS, the Network of Alabama Academic Libraries, and the Alabama Digital Preservation Network.
University Libraries provides strong mentorship for faculty and staff, with ongoing collaborative opportunities, and administrative support for innovative services and ideas. We promote and administer a robust professional development environment that supports faculty research and conference travel, and we are invested in academic freedom with teaching and research. We are heavily invested in performing the same high value research that our stakeholders produce, and that assists in our data-driven strategic planning for the future. Our staff routinely update and maintain cutting edge programs of service in support of our stakeholders. Our faculty librarians have developed a record-breaking instruction program, including a series of research data services and workshops, that consistently perform at the top of the SEC.
About the University
The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, named one of Travel + Leisure’s 25 Best College Towns and Cities in the U.S. As one of the nation’s premier universities, UA offers bachelor’s, master's and doctoral degrees in nearly 200 fields of study. With more than 1,400 acres of tree-lined academic core campus and over 300 state-of-the art facilities, UA has been ranked among the most beautiful and most impressive college campuses in the South, in the state of Alabama and in the nation.
In Fall 2023, the Capstone set a new enrollment record with more than 39,000 students, including more than 8,200 in the freshman class. The current enrollment includes students from every county in Alabama, every state in the nation and 92 countries around the world. More than 1,100 National Merit Scholars are currently enrolled, making UA one of the largest enrolling institutions of the scholars in the country.
UA was recently recognized as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. students for the seventh time in nine years, as well as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. Scholars for the first time. UA is one of only 12 universities in the nation to receive both honors.
For reasons like this, the University made Forbes list of America’s Top Colleges for 2023 and Time magazine’s list of Top 50 Best Colleges for Future Leaders. It also made Princeton Review’s list of Top Value Colleges.
UA is also designated among the top doctoral research universities in the United States in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. One of the fastest growing major research institutions in the nation, UA saw a 21% increase in sponsored awards in the 2023 fiscal year.
Since 2015, UA has invested over $1.1 billion in the physical campus, adding more than 2.55 million gross square feet of space, over 150 new research-intensive faculty, signature research areas (e.g., “The Alabama Research Institutes”), and a growing number of partnerships with industry and with state and federal agencies.
The University employs nearly 2,100 faculty and over 4,500 staff, with 52 UA researchers included in the National Academy of Inventors. An additional 40 current faculty have received the NSF CAREER Award, the nation’s most prestigious recognition of top performing young scientists in disciplines ranging from nanoscience and engineering to biological sciences.
Background Investigation and EEO Statement
Background Investigation Statement: Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.
Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to any legally protected basis and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. More information is available in the EEOC’s Know Your Rights: Workplace (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf) discrimination is illegal poster.
The University of Alabama affirms its longstanding commitment to institutional neutrality, free speech, and academic freedom.
