POSITION SUMMARY

The Upper School Librarian is responsible for the vision, leadership and operation of the Upper School Library as a vital intellectual and community center of the school. The Upper School Librarian provides reference and research service for students, faculty, staff and administration, and is responsible for supervising the library, and selecting, ordering, and ensuring the accurate cataloging of the collection. The Upper School Librarian is a full-time faculty member.

The purpose of the Upper School Librarian is to provide strong academic research assistance and guidance to support students and faculty in achieving the mission of the school. To that end and with the goal of ensuring that students and faculty are effective users of ideas and information, the Upper School Librarian has four main roles: Librarian, Teacher/Instructional partner, Information Specialist, and Faculty member.

Pay Range:

• Based on Faculty Scale according to education and teaching experience
• $56,440-$101,930/ year

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

As Librarian

• Maintain and supervise all aspects of the library to ensure an inclusive, welcoming, and effective learning environment.
• Serve as the primary academic research support person to students and faculty in the Upper School.
• Promote the principles of intellectual freedom by creating and sustaining an environment promoting free inquiry and exposing students to a broad range of ideas.
• Develop and maintain a robust collection of Library Guides to ensure effective starting points for research, and ready access to databases and other relevant resources.
• Select and purchase materials in all formats to maintain a current and balanced collection representing diverse points of view in support of the Upper School curriculum.
• Create and oversee an annual budget for annual purchases, and recommend long-term capital needs to the Upper School Head.
• Ensure that all new acquisitions are classified, cataloged, and processed efficiently.
• Hold primary responsibility for selecting and managing the School’s collection of research databases in collaboration with the other divisional Librarians.
• Collaborate with the other Catlin Gabel Librarians for ordering materials and coordinating overlapping services, and to ensure the library program is cohesive and coordinated across divisions.
• Supervise a .75 FTE Associate Librarian colleague to ensure smooth communication and coordination of work and coverage in a busy academic library setting.
• Provide skilled stewardship of an endowed library fund.
• Manage all levels of the daily operation of the Upper School Library program to ensure efficient service to the Catlin Gabel academic community.
• Serve as a member of the Department Chairs group to provide the librarian’s unique perspective.
• Update instructional and library-related professional skills by attending conferences, participating in continuing education opportunities, and networking with other professionals.
• Remain current in professional practices and developments, information technologies, and educational research applicable to school library programs.

As Teacher/Instructional Partner

• Develop and implement curricula to ensure effective instruction in information and media literacy skills in the Upper School, with particular emphasis on 9th grade and students new to the school.
• Provide group and individual instruction in information and media literacy skills and research skills and strategies, including classroom visits for full-lesson teaching in partnership with teachers from every department.
• Collaborate with classroom teachers and specialists to design effective instruction to support the research needs of students in a range of academic disciplines, including creation of project-specific research guides.
• Work with faculty to build and strengthen connections between student information and research needs, curricular content, learning outcomes, and information resources.
• Establish methods of gauging instructional effectiveness through assessment tools.
• Provide expertise of the school librarian to colleagues and students in a range of settings as needed.
• Actively promote reading and library use through providing enticing book displays, readers’ advisory, and special displays around holidays and school breaks.
• Assist students in selecting books for exposure to diversity of viewpoints and genres as well as for pleasure.
• Continue to develop and promote an active Summer Borrowing program to encourage students to read for pleasure during Summer break.
• Empower students to become critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers and ethical users of information.
• Create an environment that is conducive to active and participatory learning.
• Help students develop attitudes, habits, and skills that will enable them to become lifelong readers and learners.
• Share expertise by presenting at faculty and parent/guardian meetings as needed.

As Information Specialist

• Provide insight and expertise in the selection, acquisition, evaluation, and organization of information resources and technologies to enhance learning in all formats, including but not limited to: databases, websites, digital video and podcasts, digital images, and more.
• Cooperate and network with other libraries, librarians, and agencies to provide access to resources outside the school.
• Evaluate, promote, and use existing and emerging technologies to support teaching and learning, supplement school resources, and connect the school with the global learning community.
• Understand copyright, fair use, and licensing of intellectual property, and assist users with their understanding and observance of the same.

As Faculty Member

●        Serve as academic co-advisor to a group of students.

●        Participate in Upper School responsibilities such as class advising, committees, and student clubs.

●        Co-teach a two week long Immersive class, which is an experiential learning opportunity for students each Spring.

●        Attend all Upper School and All School faculty meetings.

●        Participate in class trips and other schoolwide events.

●        Other duties as assigned by the Upper School Head.

SCOPE OF WORK

Work is performed largely independently, in consultation with the Upper School Head.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Directly supervises the Associate Librarian’s work, in collaboration with the Middle School Librarian.  The Associate Librarian’s role is .75 FTE in the Upper School Library, and .25 FTE in the Middle School Library.

COMPETENCIES

• Broad knowledge of library skills, including cataloguing.
• Ability to be flexible, tolerant, supportive of teenagers’ developmental needs, and hold a deep belief that all students are capable learners.
• Strong research and media literacy skills, and the ability to teach these skills effectively.
• Possess strong organizational and leadership skills, and show attention to detail in preparing text and numerical material.
• Demonstrate ability to establish priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Understand and embrace culturally responsive teaching.
• Ability to communicate clearly with a diverse group of students, teachers, parents, and administrators.
• Ability to balance the interests of individual students and the overall mission of the school.
• Ability to tactfully and discreetly handle sensitive and difficult conversations and situations.
• Ability to gather, track, and utilize usage data to make decisions about the library.
• Flexibility, curiosity, enthusiasm, and an extensive knowledge of young adult literature.
• An understanding of the scope and the sequence of library and information literacy curriculum.
• Advanced level of technological proficiency, including expertise in academic research using databases and digital tools, spreadsheets, email, and a range of computer applications to support teaching and learning.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

●     MLIS or MLS degree, or Bachelor’s degree with a Library/Media endorsement.

●     Demonstrated teaching or co-teaching experience in a library setting, at least two years strongly preferred.

●     Minimum two years of experience running a library or a branch/section of a library, preferably in a school library setting.

●     Experience in evaluating and selecting print and digital resources with a commitment to equity and inclusion.

●     Strong knowledge of content areas, teaching methods, learning styles and educational research related to Upper School learners and readers.

●     Demonstrated experience with teenagers.

INTERPERSONAL CONTACTS

• Daily interaction with a great number of students and faculty, primarily in aiding patrons to find information, support curriculum, and help resolve tech issues.
• Considerable contact with other librarians on campus. Communicate effectively and work cooperatively with students, staff, peers, and supervisors.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The requirements listed below are representative of physical requirements and may not be all-encompassing.  Candidates must be able to perform job duties with or without accommodations.  Work is primarily performed in a school library setting with moderate heat, sound and light.

●        Ability to remain in a stationary position (primarily at a desk) for prolonged periods of time.

●        The ability to move safely over uneven terrain or in confined spaces.

●        Frequent and consistent operation of a computer and other office machinery (e.g. copier, printer, fax) requiring manual dexterity.

●        Frequent bending, squatting, stooping and kneeling.

●        Occasional lifting of up to 20 pounds in materials related to position.

●        Frequent interactions in person, by phone or in writing with different constituencies of the community, including prospective applicants and families.

SCHEDULE

This is a position with an academic year schedule, plus additional days before and after the school year for planning and prepping. The Upper School Librarian is expected to be on campus at least between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily and to attend other functions as designated, including weekly Wednesday meetings until 5:00 p.m. Full-time faculty are expected to travel to retreats, conferences and workshops as well as accompany students on various experiential activities throughout the year. There are some mandatory evening and weekend commitments.