Department/Organization
219101 - University Libraries
Rank
Assistant/Associate Professor
Position Summary
The University of Alabama Libraries seeks a forward-thinking librarian with innovative ideas for learning-centered approaches to research and instructional services in disciplines across campus. This is a twelve-month, tenure-track position that reports to the Head of Information Services and Creative Media. The Coordinator of Library Instruction will lead the instructional program for undergraduate and graduate courses. The position will train and work with University Libraries liaisons and campus faculty to develop a robust program that identifies needs and opportunities for instruction across academic departments and programs. The ideal candidate possesses a strong desire to teach and seeks out further knowledge in teaching and learning practices for different disciplines. The coordinator will work with staff in the Digital Scholarship Zone, which includes the Sanford Media Center (SMC), in creating a multi-media research and instruction environment for the liaisons. The candidate will teach course-related instruction sessions and will organize and participate in other venues to promote information literacy across campus. The candidate will continuously improve instruction across the University Libraries by guiding instruction librarians, sharing expertise in library instruction theory and practice, staying abreast of innovations in library instruction and the use of technology in instruction, and participating in assessment initiatives to advance student learning through the library instruction program.
Detailed Position Information
The University of Alabama Libraries seeks a forward-thinking librarian with innovative ideas for learning-centered approaches to research and instructional services in disciplines across campus. This is a twelve-month, tenure-track position that reports to the Head of Information Services and Creative Media. The Coordinator of Library Instruction will lead the instructional program for undergraduate and graduate courses. The position will train and work with University Libraries liaisons and campus faculty to develop a robust program that identifies needs and opportunities for instruction across academic departments and programs. The ideal candidate possesses a strong desire to teach and seeks out further knowledge in teaching and learning practices for different disciplines. The coordinator will work with staff in the Digital Scholarship Zone, which includes the Sanford Media Center (SMC), in creating a multi-media research and instruction environment for the liaisons. The candidate will teach course-related instruction sessions and will organize and participate in other venues to promote information literacy across campus. The candidate will continuously improve instruction across the University Libraries by guiding instruction librarians, sharing expertise in library instruction theory and practice, staying abreast of innovations in library instruction and the use of technology in instruction, and participating in assessment initiatives to advance student learning through the library instruction program.
This position will serve as a University Libraries liaison to different departments with assignments based on departmental needs. The librarian will be responsible for instruction, proactive communication and outreach, and other support mechanisms for those departments’ teaching and research-related information needs. The Coordinator will assess librarian teaching performance through annual classroom observation and will ensure Student Evaluation of Teaching (SET) of liaisons take place on an annual basis. The Coordinator will also partner with Research Data Services and Research Computing to ensure liaison engagement with related workshops and assessment activities. This position also plans and coordinates activities for individuals who are involved in creative programs and communities in the humanities and social sciences, such as the Honors College, the Sanford Media Center, and the Alabama Digital Humanities Center. The candidate also coordinates instruction efforts and provides instruction in support of the First Year Writing program. The Coordinator of Library Instruction will guide instruction librarians in their efforts and work closely with the Head of Information Services and Creative Media, the Director of Branch Library & Research Data Services, and the Director of Research Computing Services to set instruction goals, balance workload and scheduling equitably, and identify opportunities for professional development for liaison librarians.
This position promotes collaboration and shared information experiences among students, assists with development and implementation of assessment initiatives aimed at improving services and collections, and creates and utilizes a variety of technologies, media, and digital learning objects for the advancement of library goals and objectives. The coordinator is responsible for collecting and analyzing data, creating instruction reports, assessing student learning outcomes, evaluating effectiveness of the instruction program, and reporting analyses. The candidate will be active in curriculum development by collaborating with campus faculty and librarians. An existing example of this is the University Libraries involvement with the STEM-MBA program.
The candidate will work in a team environment in the University Libraries and must have a willingness for continual learning, development, and application of additional expertise through work related experiences and professional development opportunities. This position may also provide outreach to non-academic units such as student housing to develop events and services that promote the University Libraries and perform other duties/functions as requested.
This position collaborates with a broad range of stakeholders internally and externally. The candidate is expected to maintain and build relationships in the University Libraries and with colleges and universities in the region, state, and nationally. The person in this position will be encouraged to pursue grant writing opportunities and submission of projects relevant to the mission of University Libraries and The University of Alabama. The candidate must be able to foster collaboration and professional development among 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.
Minimum Qualifications
• Master’s degree in library & information sciences from an ALA-accredited institution.
• 3 years of experience providing reference services and instruction in a research library setting.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with information literacy concepts and trends (ex: ACRL Framework for Information Literacy and curriculum mapping).
• Experience with online instructional technologies (e.g., e-learning software and authoring tools, content management systems, and learning management systems).
• Knowledge of emerging technologies and their applications to library instruction, such as AI.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt emerging technologies to enhance user services and student learning.
• Advanced understanding of pedagogical approaches and teaching practices and the ability to apply them appropriately.
• Experience with assessment of teaching.
• Experience creating assessment of student learning outcomes.
• Evidence of commitment to students at the undergraduate and graduate level.
• Demonstrated understanding of the research lifecycle.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills across various mediums.
• Ability to learn and apply new technical skills and tools through self-directed learning.
• Demonstrated initiative, flexibility, and ability to work creatively and effectively both independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Demonstrated record of excellence in public service.
• Adaptability, flexibility, and willingness to engage in continuous learning to meet the changing needs of library users.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong and effective written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and evidence of the ability to initiate and carry projects through to completion.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute collegially and productively in a team environment.
• Ability to support and enhance a robust learning and working environment.
• Proven communication and interpersonal skills evidenced by the ability to work cooperatively and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, faculty, students, and staff.
• Friendly, approachable, demeanor with strong commitment to customer service excellence.
• 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.
• Record of peer reviewed publications, scholarly presentations, and professional service.
• Evidence of ability to engage in research, publication, and service consistent with the University’s and Libraries’ guidelines for faculty promotion and tenure.
• Responsibilities change as the University Libraries continue to evolve.
Preferred Qualifications
• A record of curriculum development collaboration with faculty. • Supervisory experience. • Additional graduate or doctoral degree. • Research experience, including experience with Institutional Review Board processes. • Experience developing programmatic assessment. • Demonstrated experience of advanced research methodologies such as systematic and scoping reviews. • Experience submitting grant proposals. • Evidence of an active published research portfolio.
Instructions and Required Materials for Application
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 March 23, 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.
