Engineering and Media Lab Librarian

Description

The MIT Libraries seek an enthusiastic and collaborative professional to serve as an Engineering Librarian and to coordinate a team of colleagues supporting the renowned MIT Media Lab.
The Engineering and Media Lab (EML) Librarian serves as the Libraries’ expert on the research, teaching and learning practices related to Mechanical Engineering, the MIT Media Lab, and selected other engineering departments and interdisciplinary centers. As a liaison, the EML Librarian will:
• Provide innovative instruction and design learning experiences that address research practice, information and data management, and key issues of the global, digitally-networked information ecosystem.
• Offer expert research support throughout the entire research cycle from discovery to management of information and data to the development and dissemination of research products.
• Develop a program of outreach, drawing upon the full range of library services, to facilitate the success of varied research endeavors including local and global collaborations, interdisciplinary teams, industry or grand challenges competitions, online learning projects, and original undergraduate and graduate student research.
• Use institutional knowledge to facilitate collaborative learning communities and foster scholarly communities of practice with both service design and technologies.
• Engage in resource selection in relevant disciplines, and contribute to library collection development initiatives that both expand access to research through open access and inside-out collection practices, as well as help to shape the functionality of platforms through which information is made available.

Leveraging knowledge of their constituents’ goals and needs, and using systematic business intelligence practices, the EML Librarian gathers and analyzes information that is vital to the success of MIT Libraries’ strategic initiatives and innovative service design. The successful candidate will bring essential expertise, experience, and leadership skills for advancing the partnerships and collaborations needed in the MIT Libraries’ fulfillment of the Future of Libraries Task Force Report recommendations.
The EML Librarian reports to the Department Head for Liaison, Instruction & Reference Services. They work collaboratively with science and engineering colleagues to provide strong and evolving services, and with humanities, management and social science colleagues to support interdisciplinary research. The EML librarian supports the quality and impact of library services by leading or participating in department and system-wide initiatives, serving on teams and task forces, and through leadership or service coordination roles. Professionals who enthusiastically embrace the empathy, courage, self-reflection, and respect essential in a multi-cultural, diverse and inclusive workplace, and who strive to incorporate those values in public service work, research and program development are encouraged to apply.

QUALIFICATIONS include MLS/MLIS or an advanced degree in engineering or related fields, substantial and relevant experience in engineering research support, teaching, and working with communities of practice in science or engineering, and some combination of:
• Familiarity with or capacity to learn about and support interdisciplinary needs of scientists and engineers.
Engineering and Media Lab Librarian
Liaison, Instruction and Reference Services
Librarian II/III
• Ability to successfully engage with MIT’s teaching and learning environment, developing and maintaining outreach practices and relationships that support initiatives, student research, and innovative teaching practices.
• Evidence of potential to lead change, contribute to the development of new organizational structures or models, and design and implement new services.
• Demonstrated familiarity with a range of current trends in teaching such as experiential or problem-based learning.
• Familiarity with trends in science and engineering such as interdisciplinary and global collaborations, translating research into practice, open science, reproducible science, and open access to data and research.
• Experience with practices and tools that support effective collaboration such as project management, communicating with stakeholders, leading or launching teams.
• Skills in working independently, taking initiative, and managing competing priorities.
• Excellent skills for sharing information effectively in multiple contexts and employing appropriate communication technologies.
Preferred:
• MSLIS and an advanced degree in engineering or related field.
• A deep understanding of the literature and information sources used in multiple engineering fields.
• Experience in collection development both to support scholarship and teaching and to enhance global access to research data and results.
• Familiarity and experience working with data.
• Knowledge of scholarly communication practices in engineering and science.

SALARY AND BENEFITS: $68,000 is minimum entry-level salary. Actual appointment level and salary will depend on qualifications and experience. MIT offers excellent benefits including a choice of health and retirement plans, a dental plan, tuition assistance, and fully subsidized MBTA passes for local bus and subway service. Flexible work arrangements, including flex-time and telecommuting, are considered for positions that meet established criteria. The MIT Libraries is a collegial and supportive working environment and fosters professional growth of staff with management training and travel funding for professional meetings.

The MIT Libraries are dedicated to advancing research, teaching, and learning at MIT and beyond. In addition to supporting every part of the Institute with distinctive collections, world-class service and expertise, and welcoming spaces, the Libraries seek to define the global research library of the future. We aim to play a leading role in advancing knowledge to solve global challenges by enhancing the discovery, use, collection, creation, management, dissemination, and preservation of information across disciplines. Library staff at all levels contribute to this mission and to a culture that values openness, inclusion, innovation, and community.