Social Sciences Data/Geospatial Information Librarian

Description

Cornell University’s John M. Olin and Uris Libraries’ Research and Learning Services Department (RLS) seeks an energetic, creative, and forward-thinking librarian to provide support for faculty and students in the discovery, analysis, and visualization of social sciences data, including spatial data. Reporting to the RLS Department Head, the librarian will be a partner and resource person for subject librarians and curators, and will collaborate closely with the RLS Digital Humanities Librarian, with colleagues in other unit libraries, and with the Cornell Institute for Social and Economic Research (CISER). This is a newly-redefined position, starting at the rank of assistant librarian, and the successful candidate will shape the position, providing leadership in expanding RLS’s social science data services and programs.

Working with social sciences scholars, faculty, and students, the Social Science Data and Geospatial Information (SSD/GI) Librarian will assist in the discovery, analysis, and manipulation of data in research, teaching, and learning.

The SSD/GI Librarian will teach in the course-integrated library instruction program and RLS workshops program, preparing customized online guides as appropriate, and maintaining current knowledge of pedagogical methods and practices. The librarian will partner with liaisons to integrate quantitative social science methodologies and data reference into liaison services. The librarian will provide in-depth research assistance to Cornell and non-Cornell patrons in person and via telephone, online chat, and e-mail. The librarian will provide research consultations on a scheduled basis and may assist in covering public service desks as needed.

Depending upon academic background, the librarian may take on a role as an academic department liaison, which may involve taking responsibility for collection development in an appropriate subject area. The librarian may also provide assistance for users requiring print maps from CUL’s maps collection.

The librarian is expected to update and deepen knowledge of appropriate information resources on an ongoing basis. The librarian participates in departmental and CUL-wide committees or working groups and contributes to the profession at a regional, national, and/or international level, maintaining a broad awareness of issues in the fields of social science data and geographic information librarianship, pursuing knowledge of professional trends and developments that can be applied to evolving research programs, services and collections.

Required Qualifications:

·         A graduate degree in a social sciences discipline and demonstrated knowledge of social science data discovery and analysis, including geospatial analysis.

·         An MLIS/MLS/MIS from an ALA-accredited program OR relevant professional experience or appropriate educational achievements.

·         Knowledge of one or more quantitative research/statistical software tools, such as STATA, SPSS, SAS, R, ArcGIS, QGIS, or PostgreSQL/PostGIS.

·         Ability to identify, obtain, and prepare datasets for quantitative research in the social sciences, and knowledge of statistical-quantitative methods of analysis.

·         Experience in the use or support of published data repositories such as ICPSR.

·         A deep understanding of the academic research process and knowledge of the ways that new technologies are affecting the production of scholarship in the social sciences.

·         Experience working with U.S. Census Data.

·         A strong commitment to public service in the research library environment.

·         Demonstrated experience in teaching effectively.

·         Experience in working with cartographic materials.

·         Demonstrated organizational, analytical, and problem solving skills.

·         Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively.

·         Excellent communication skills, both written and oral; good problem solving skills.

·         A commitment to continuous professional development through participation in local, regional, and national forums.

·         Ability to work effectively in a fast paced and rapidly-changing environment.

·         Experience working with a diverse, multicultural community.

Preferred qualifications:

·         A Ph.D. in a social sciences discipline, with a significant data component.

·         Familiarity with a scripting language such as Python or Perl.

·         Experience working within an academic library setting.

·         Successful experience in grant-writing.

·         Experience in developing a multifaceted program for a multidisciplinary constituency.

·         Experience representing the library’s mission to external stakeholders and engaging in consortial projects or programs.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Cornell University is an Ivy League comprehensive research university located in Ithaca in the scenic Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. The town and university offer a unique cosmopolitan and international atmosphere in a beautiful natural setting of waterfalls, gorges, and lakes. The university comprises 14 schools with over 2,700 faculty members and nearly 21,600 students enrolled in undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. The Cornell University Library is a vigorous professional organization with a strong track record in innovation and service quality. It contains nearly 8 million printed volumes, 99,000 current serials in print or online, over 650,000 additional networked electronic resources, and rich materials in other formats. The Library was a recipient of the Association of College and Research Libraries’ Excellence in Academic Libraries Award in 2002.

Benefits:  Comprehensive benefits package including 22 vacation days, 12 paid holidays, health insurance, life insurance, and university retirement contributions (TIAA-CREF and other options). Professional travel funding available.  More information regarding Cornell’s generous benefits can be found here.

Application Procedure: Please include a cover letter, resume, and the names, phone numbers, and addresses for three references (preferred as one PDF document) at this link.    The deadline for applications is June 21, 2017.  Salary for this entry-level position will be competitive and commensurate with experience.

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery and engagement. Located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell's far-flung global presence includes the medical college's campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, as well as the new Cornell Tech campus to be built on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage.  We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.