Diversity Resident for Student Services

Library of the University of California, Davis

Overview of Position

The Library at the University of California, Davis, seeks a dynamic, student-oriented, early-career librarian or recent MLS graduate to participate in a two-year Diversity Residency.

Reporting to the Head of Student Services, the resident will work in a supportive environment to gain the requisite knowledge, skills, and competencies to thrive in an academic library setting, focusing on undergraduate student success, including research, learning, outreach, and assessment.

The overarching goals of the residency program are to

• Advance diversity and equal opportunity in the profession by recruiting individuals with the potential for leadership in addressing the barriers that have prevented individuals from traditionally underrepresented ethnic or racial minority groups, gender or gender identities, or physical or cognitive abilities from full participation in careers in academic librarianship
• Recruit to the Library of the University of California, Davis, for the duration of the residency, individuals relatively new to working in a research library by providing opportunities to:
  • contribute meaningfully to defining the changing role of research libraries and the workforce skills of the future
  • acquire meaningful, practical experience in a research library in a top-rated research institution

The residency will provide the incumbents with a supportive environment to gain the requisite knowledge, skills, and competencies to thrive in an academic library setting, focusing on promoting undergraduate student academic success and life-long learning.

Early-career librarians and recent MLS graduates who are interested in pursuing academic librarianship and achieving the goals outlined above are encouraged to apply.

THIS IS NOT AN H1-B OPPORTUNITY

UC Davis and UC Davis Library

The University of California, Davis, is a global community of individuals united to better humanity and our natural world while seeking solutions to some of our most pressing challenges. Located near Sacramento, California’s capital, UC Davis has more than 39,000 students, the full-time equivalent of 4,100 faculty and other academics and researchers, and 17,400 other personnel. The university has an annual sponsored research budget of over $960 million, includes a major academic health system, and over two dozen specialized research centers. Recognized as one of the top 10 public universities in the US and the number one university in the world for agricultural research and veterinary medicine, UC Davis offers interdisciplinary graduate study and more than 100 undergraduate majors in four colleges - Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Biological Sciences, Engineering, and Letters and Science. It also houses six professional schools - Education, Law, Management, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, and Nursing. The university is ranked among the top institutions in the country in contributing to the public good (e.g., recruiting and graduating low-income students), LGBTQ-inclusivity, and serving first-generation and Hispanic students. In addition to the main campus in Davis and the medical center in Sacramento, UC Davis has research facilities in Bodega Bay and Tahoe and faculty in every county of the state through its agricultural extension program.

UC Davis is a top-tier public university, ranked 5th nationally by the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education, 9th in the QS USA University rankings, and 10th nationally by US News and World Report among U.S. public universities overall and for research funding. It is also ranked #1 in the diversity and internationalization category in the QS USA University rankings. The US News and World Report rankings also highlight UC Davis as 16th among “top performers on social mobility,” which is determined by the outcomes of Pell Grant recipients and other stats. Check out more ranking information on our “About Us” webpage.

The UC Davis Library is ranked among the top academic research libraries in North America and belongs to the Association of Research Libraries and other organizations that position it to collaborate with other top organizations. The Library is building a team of intensely collaborative, forward-thinking colleagues dedicated to providing excellent services to our students, researchers, faculty, and community members in a rapidly evolving information environment.

The successful candidate will be well-grounded in information literacy concepts, pedagogy, and teaching best practices in both face-to-face and online learning environments and have demonstrated commitment to the inclusion, well-being, and sense of belonging for a diverse undergraduate student population.

Our Commitment to Inclusive Excellence

As one of the country’s leading R1 institutions, UC Davis seeks candidates with an exceptional record of research and/or teaching and inclusive excellence. In addition, the successful candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the barriers preventing full participation of members from historically underrepresented and marginalized student communities in higher education, such as (but not limited to) women, underrepresented minorities, individuals self-identifying as LGBTQIA+, veterans, individuals with disabilities, economically disadvantaged groups, first-generation, undocumented students, or students with any intersections in between.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values of the University of California, Davis, that are embedded within our Principles of Community and are tied with how to best serve our student population. Please review the full Job Posting to learn about the initiatives that keep UC Davis an inclusive and safe campus for our incredibly diverse students, staff, academic appointees, and faculty.

Position Responsibilities

Under the general supervision of the Head of Student Services, the resident will:

• Participate in providing services that support the information and research needs of undergraduate and professional students and effectively deliver services, resources, and outreach activities that advance the Library’s mission.
• Be able to demonstrate the requisite experience and skills to be a strong candidate for a position in an academic library.
• Have had the opportunity to explore various roles in an academic library, shape their professional aspirations, and see how different functional units interact and contribute to the library as a whole.
• Have cultivated collaboration and communication skills necessary to work effectively in a contemporary library organization through practical work experience and professional development opportunities.
• Under the mentoring of colleagues, have gained demonstrable knowledge related to ongoing relationships with users, particularly students, and have gained the ability to articulate appropriate strategies to support education and research.
• Be able to speak to and model aspects of modern librarianship in an academic setting.
• Be able to demonstrate the project and time management skills necessary to complete projects successfully.
• Be able to apply other interpersonal capabilities such as conflict management, emotional intelligence, self-reflection, etc.
• Be able to contribute to shaping the field of librarianship through research and scholarship and possess the communication skills and perspective to contribute to discussions about professional practice.
• Have received specific professional development and training focused on beginning their professional career (such as carrying out a job search, negotiating an offer for a professional position, and seeking a professional mentor).

During the first year, the resident will gain knowledge and work experience in the UC Davis Library, primarily in the Student Services department. The resident will also be introduced to other facets of librarianship in areas such as research consultation and support, archives and special collections, health sciences, scholarly communications, collection strategies, content support services, online services, and data science and management.

By the second year, the resident will be focused on appropriate project work, with specifics defined during the first year in consultation with their supervisor and other library stakeholders as appropriate. The project(s) will be tailored to the resident’s expertise, interests, and skills and ideally will address Library strategic or programmatic needs. The second year will culminate with a presentation, poster session, paper, or some similar effort about the project(s).

Over both years of the residency, the resident will be actively mentored by their supervisor and other relevant colleagues. They will also gain experience with general skills, such as planning and project management, assessment and evaluation, meeting planning, and conflict resolution.

Salary and Benefits

Rank and salary: Assistant Librarian, Salary Point 1, $61,920 to Salary Point 9, $76,631. (Appointment rank and salary based on qualifications and experience.)

The incumbent will be a LX Collective Bargaining Unit member represented by the University Council - American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT).

Benefits: The University of California is one of the largest employers in California and offers outstanding health and retirement benefits to its employees and their families. Librarians are academic appointees and earn 24 days of vacation and 12 days of sick leave per year. In addition, there are 14 university holidays.
http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

Application Information

Interested in learning more? We invite you to attend an informational session scheduled for 12:00-1:00 pm (Pacific Standard Time) on Tuesday, December 12, 2023. In this session, we will share the vision for this position, the application and interview process details, and answer any questions you may have. Register for the event here: https://ucdavis.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nFHhJ3huTUKTN8sQEHVbOA

Candidates applying by Sunday, January 7, 2024, will receive first consideration. The position will remain open until filled. See https://www.library.ucdavis.edu/careers/ for this posting and information about working at the UC Davis Library.

Please include a letter of interest addressing qualifications and experience related to the position, a Curriculum Vitae, and names and contact information for at least four references. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are significant components of this position and one of the Library’s strategic goals. Please make sure you discuss your commitment to addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion issues throughout library activities in your letter.

This position is a critical position and subject to a background check. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of background investigation, including criminal history and identity checks.

The University of California is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.
UC Davis is a smoke- and tobacco-free campus, effective January 1, 2014.

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus (http://breathefree.ucdavis.edu/).

We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals’ with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available at: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is committed to inclusive excellence by advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do. UC Davis celebrates the multi-cultural diversity of its community by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment demonstrated through a variety of resources and programs available to academics, staff, and students. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are core values of UC Davis that are embedded within our Principles of Community and are tied with how to best serve our student population. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service can best be fully realized by members of our academic community who share our commitment to these values, which are included in our Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Vision, our strategic plan: “To Boldly Go,” our Principles of Community, the Office of Academic Affairs’ Mission Statement, and the UC Board of Regents Policy 4400: Policy on University of California Diversity Statement. UC Davis is making important progress towards our goal of achieving federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offers a plethora of resources on their website, and the Office of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (HEDI) has outlined similar goals in their Anti-Racism and DEI Action Plan.” There are a plethora of links available on the About Us webpage where you can learn more about our Administration, Diversity and Inclusion, Rankings, Locations, Native American Land Acknowledgement, Sustainability, Visiting UC Davis, UC Davis Health, and Campus Safety.

The university is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world for campus sustainability practices by the UI Green Metric World University Rankings. UC Davis is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and repeatedly shown its commitment to preserving a healthy and sustainable environment for generations to come.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.