Jay Kay and Doris Klein Science Fiction Librarian

Description

Position Overview: The University of California, Riverside (UCR) Library seeks applications and nominations for an innovative, dynamic, and engaged professional to fill the new position of Jay Kay and Doris Klein Science Fiction Librarian in Special Collections & University Archives (SCUA).

Located an hour’s drive to the east of Los Angeles, an hour west of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley, an hour east of ocean beaches, ninety minutes north of San Diego, and an hour south of mountain ski resorts, UCR is located in an area of dramatic landscapes and rich cultural traditions. The University is a dynamic, aggressively-developing land grant research institution dedicated to preparing its diverse student body to be successful competitors in the world marketplace of ideas. UCR boasts the first new School of Medicine to open on the West Coast in forty-three years; a new School of Public Policy; and the Bourns College of Engineering, ranked 10th in the world according to an international ranking organization.

The UCR Library is a critical partner in preparing UCR’s students to be globally competitive while simultaneously preparing them for careers in the Inland Empire and beyond. The mission of the UCR Library is no less than to bring the world’s information resources to the UCR community and to ensure that UCR students, faculty, and staff have the skills to fully exploit those resources to change the world for the better.

The UCR Library is building a team of intensely collaborative, forward-thinking colleagues dedicated to providing excellent services to our students, faculty, and community members in a rapidly evolving information environment. The successful candidate will be technologically sophisticated; committed to problem-solving in local, regional, national, and international arenas; and able to develop innovative solutions to complex problems.

The UCR Library is comprised of four facilities housing more than 3,000,000 volumes, 97,000 print and electronic journals, and 2,300,000 microforms. The Library provides services to more than 21,000 students and 1,830 faculty and other academics in an institutional environment planning for and experiencing extensive growth. The successful candidate will join an enthusiastic staff of 118 librarians and support personnel (including student FTE) in the work of building a research library of excellence within a dynamic and diverse university ranked among the top 50 in the nation. The UCR Library is a member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL). Among the unique collections of the UCR Library are the Water Resources Collections and Archives, the Rupert Costo Library of the American Indian, the Paul Chou Collection of Chinese history and culture, the George Brown Papers, the newly established Inland Empire Memories Initiative, and the Eaton Collection of Science Fiction & Fantasy, the largest publicly-accessible collection of science fiction, fantasy, horror and utopian literature in the world. Information about the UCR Library is available at http://library.ucr.edu.

The UCR Library is an integral part of the University of California library system. With collections totaling 30 million volumes, UC’s more than 100 libraries are surpassed in size on the American continent only by the Library of Congress collection. In addition, UC’s California Digital Library provides the core of the University’s digital collections. CDL also assists UC to share resources and holdings more effectively, and provides leadership in applying technology to the development of library collections and services. Organizationally situated within the UC Office of the President, the CDL operates in close collaboration with all UC campuses and their libraries.
Primary Responsibilities: The Jay Kay and Doris Klein Librarian for Science Fiction is responsible for all aspects of the development, stewardship and promotion of the Eaton Collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy, housed in the University of California, Riverside Library’s Special Collections & Archives.

As a member of the Special Collections & University Archives team, the Klein Librarian interprets and sets priorities for the Eaton Collection within the Library’s collection development policy, and represents the Eaton Collection within the broader community of faculty, students, other scholars, librarians, dealers, collectors, and the public The Klein Librarian participates in library planning, preservation, and access initiatives. S/he provides specialized reference and research support for Eaton Collection users and interprets the collection for diverse audiences through exhibitions, public presentations, and original scholarship. Collection development and management, reference service and access, scholarly collaboration and support, instruction using primary sources, and public outreach are essential activities in this collaborative environment.

Under the general direction of the Head of Special Collections & University Archives, the Klein Librarian:

• Oversees all operations of the Eaton Collection, and fosters the use of the Eaton Collection in teaching and research.
• Ensures that the Eaton Collection is well described and curated, maintains collection development and related policies in coordination with Special Collections managers, collaborating with other Library units, including Metadata and Technical Services, to ensure appropriate discovery.
• Provides specialized reference assistance to students, faculty, visiting scholars, and the public.
• Serves as subject specialist/selector for speculative fiction and science fiction and technoculture studies, and acquires general and special collection resources for the UCR Library in accordance with collection development policies.
• Actively participates in a program of public outreach.
• Forges strong ties with relevant faculty members so that use of the Eaton Collection remains an active part of the curriculum.
• Initiates collection management reviews, stacks maintenance tasks, inventory projects, and preservation assessment.
• Collaborates with colleagues on grant and internally sponsored projects for processing, cataloging, preserving, and digitizing Eaton Collection materials.
• Participates in library-wide and campus activities, committees, special projects and programs, and represents the UCR Library on University of California standing committees and ad hoc groups as appropriate.
• Actively engages with faculty and specialists on campus to align collection development and collection access with the University’s academic mission.
• Works with the Associate University Librarian for Collections, the Head of Special Collections & University Archives, the Head of Collection Development, subject specialists, faculty, and other stakeholders to identify collecting priorities and new areas for collection development.
• Works closely with the Library Development team to build a robust program to engage, cultivate, and steward donors and other supporters and solicit and encourage gifts from prospective donors.
• Promotes the collection to the community at large to enhance the visibility on an international level. Works with the Libraries’ promotional departments and Special Collections & University Archives staff to deliver effective outreach programming around the Eaton Collection for campus, community, and national initiatives.
• Leads development of physical and online exhibitions featuring the Eaton Collection.
• Works with the University Librarian, University development officers, and campus partners to develop grant proposals and participate in other funding opportunities. Cultivates productive relationships with donors and program officers.
• As required, establishes professional working relationships with antiquarian booksellers.
• Collaborates with colleagues on preservation, digitization, and digital projects involving Eaton Collection materials.
• Identifies opportunities (e.g. lectures, exhibits, publications) to showcase and highlight the Eaton Collection.
• Takes leadership role in the Eaton Science Fiction Conference.

UCR librarians are members of the Librarians Association of the University of California (LAUC). Research, publication, and/or service to the University and profession are expected for continuing advancement.

Required Qualifications:

• ALA-accredited MLIS or equivalent degree, with strong academic background in relevant subject area.
• Minimum of five years’ experience in acquiring and managing rare books and/or special collections in an academic or research environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with professional standards and practices for accessioning, processing, cataloging, digitizing, curating and preserving special collections materials.
• Demonstrated success in identifying, cultivating and stewarding donor relationships, and expertise in gift-in-kind donations. Familiarity with current scholarship and research methods involving the use of rare books, manuscripts and other special collections materials (including photographs, media and realia).
• Demonstrated success in developing and managing outreach and exhibition programs.
• Experience teaching and interpreting special collections in an academic setting, integrating collections into formal curriculum and informal learning opportunities.
• Working knowledge of software and systems that support services to patrons, including integrated library systems (ILS) and other systems used in academic or research library settings.
• Highly effective oral and written communication.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work successfully in an intensely collaborative environment with a broad range of people from culturally diverse backgrounds, including colleagues, administrators, students, faculty, donors and alumni.

Preferred Qualifications:
Advanced degree in literature, comparative literature, history, cultural studies, or other area of specialization appropriate to the Eaton Collection and speculative fiction studies, with a demonstrable commitment to ongoing scholarly growth.
Leadership and organizational skills required to contribute to an extensive program of acquisitions, collection management, and public engagement activities.

Salary and Benefits: Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience within a range of $57,536-$83,674. Appointment at rank of Associate Librarian to Librarian depending upon qualifications and experience. Excellent retirement system, health, and vacation benefits.

Application Information: Please complete and submit the information requested in APRecruit (cover letter addressing qualifications and experience related to the primary duties of the position, resume/curriculum vitae, and three to five professional references as directed at https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/apply/JPF00284). The final date to apply is January 19, 2015.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

REQUIREMENTS

DOCUMENTS
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter
Statement of Research (Optional)
Statement of Teaching (Optional)
Statement of Contributions to Diversity - Statement addressing past and/or potential contributions to diversity through teaching, research, professional activity, and/or service. (Optional)
Misc / Additional (Optional)

REFERENCES
3-5 references required (contact information only)