Science Librarian, Grant MacEwan University

Grant MacEwan University Library is seeking a dynamic and innovative librarian at City Centre Campus to provide reference, collection development, faculty liaison and instructional services in support of the new Bachelor of Science degree. Reporting to the Chair, Reference and Research Services, this is a full-time probationary position leading to a full-time continuing faculty position and commences August, 2011.

• Applicants require a Master of Library and Information Science or equivalent from an ALA accredited program and an undergraduate degree or significant post-secondary education in the sciences. 
• At least one year of academic library experience, including reference, collection development, and information literacy instruction in the sciences is required. 
• Proficiency in using current information resources in the sciences and an understanding of practices and trends in scientific scholarly communication and research are essential. 
• Candidates will be conversant with information literacy instruction pedagogy, have experience integrating information literacy into an undergraduate curriculum and a demonstrated ability to teach in a variety of settings and formats.   
• Competency and interest in emerging and Web 2.0 technologies, web authoring software are definite assets.

The librarian must demonstrate initiative and possess outstanding communication, presentation, teaching and interpersonal skills; exhibit resourcefulness, innovation and flexibility; be able to function effectively independently and as a team member; be able to manage multiple tasks and competing priorities; and have the ability to work collaboratively and collegially with faculty members, librarian colleagues and other staff within the MacEwan Library and the wider science community at MacEwan. The successful candidate will join the library’s science team in cultivating partnerships through liaison work with departments, faculty and students. Candidates will contribute to library and university committees and show evidence of professional initiative.

Grant MacEwan University, located in Edmonton, is a rapidly growing institution with over 11,000 FTE students. It offers a wide array of educational opportunities and credentials on its four campuses, including baccalaureate and applied degrees, diplomas and certificates.

City Centre Campus, located in downtown Edmonton has a full-time student enrollment of approximately 6,600. The Bachelor of Science degree was launched in 2010 and offers six majors including Biological Sciences, Psychology, Physical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Computer Science and Mathematics as well as eight minors. MacEwan has four libraries with 57 FTE staff, including 15 librarians. Growing collections include 297,000 print volumes, 27,000 audiovisual items, more than 100,000 e books, and over 28,000 journal titles in digital or print format.

Librarians are members of the Grant MacEwan University Faculty Association.The University has a generous benefits package including 44 vacation days per year for faculty members.

Applicants should submit a letter of application and curriculum vitae.

This position is included under the Faculty Association Collective Agreement.

 

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

Grant MacEwan University thanks all applicants for their interest in employment, however; only those selected for interviews will be contacted.

Apply online at www.macewan.ca . Select "Careers"  on  the homepage for job posting links.

Business Beat for May 2011

Basic Sciences and Bioinformatics Librarian, New York

This job posting came through my Twitter alert for librarian and job. It would be suitable for an entry-level applicant provided that they had some teaching experience and knowledge of the sciences.

Basic Sciences and Bioinformatics Librarian, New York

Description:
The Mount Sinai School of Medicine's Levy Library is seeking candidates for a Basic Sciences and Bioinformatics Librarian. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated librarian to further the development of our innovative services supporting a growing, dynamic research institution.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and provide outreach and instruction to support the biomedical information needs of the Mount Sinai research community and the curriculum of the Graduate School of Biological Sciences.
• Teach information retrieval, current awareness and information management classes using bibliographic and bioinformatics resources for research and clinical faculty, post-doctoral fellows, students, alumni, and other library users, and conduct other classes and presentations as needed.
• Provide individual and group reference services involving instruction in databases and bioinformatics tools, search strategy formulation, and effective use of information resources.
• Collaborate with faculty and colleagues in developing and maintaining print and online instructional tools and guides.
• Collaborate with faculty to support the institution’s translational and basic research initiatives.
• Assist in evaluating bioscience information resources for library licensing.
• Serve on institution-wide and library committees as appropriate.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• MLS from an ALA-accredited program and/or advanced degree in biological sciences;
• Demonstrated knowledge of biomedical sciences research;
• Demonstrated aptitude for teaching;
• Knowledge of the information needs of biomedical researchers;
• Familiarity with the scholarly communication and research processes in the biomedical sciences;
• Experience in the use of molecular biology/genetics databases such as those from the NCBI;
• Proficient written and spoken communication skills;
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills;
• Strong public service orientation;
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively.

PREFERRED:

• Experience using biomedical resources such as MEDLINE, Current Protocols, Web of Science and Scopus;
• Experience with bibliographic management software such as EndNote and RefWorks;
• Experience in outreach and/or marketing;
• Experience in Web page creation and design and the design, integration, and assessment of Web 2.0 technologies such as wikis, blogs and social networking platforms.

The Levy Library is a progressive, technology-intensive academic health sciences library that includes the Medical Center Archives, computer-based education design and support, and a computing help desk. For a description of Levy Library’s programs and services, see: http://library.mssm.edu

Mount Sinai School of Medicine (MSSM), located in New York City, is internationally recognized for ground-breaking clinical and basic-science research. In 2009, MSSM was selected for a National Institutes of Health Clinical and Translational Science (CSTA) Award, thus joining nationwide federally supported efforts in translational research and education. It confers degrees of MD, PhD, MD/PhD, MSc and MPH. The School and the Mount Sinai Hospital, a tertiary-care teaching facility, comprise the Mount Sinai Medical Center. For a description of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, see: http://www.mssm.edu/

TO APPLY:
Email cover letter and detailed resume to information on original posting

Salary Tutor by Jim Hopkinson

This book is forthcoming and will be available for purchase in August 2011. I would like to give a thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for making this galley available.

Learning how to negotiate—for anything, not just salary—is a vital skill, and you will have to use your persuasion and negotiation skills many times in your career.* Negotiating a salary, even your very first salary, is possible and the Salary Tutor explains how to do it in simple, clear, encouraging language. Heck, the author even throws in a flowchart.

I thought the real strength of this book was the preparation of the Industry Research of Salaries (IRS) document, which includes the lowest salary you would accept, the industry standard and the top of the range for the position. The author also includes sources for research (PayScale.com, Glassdoor, Salary.com), though I would also include some of the salary tools from vertical search engines and industry specific salary surveys, if you have access to them, to your research. The author recommends including this document in your portfolio, so it is prepared for interviewers should the issue come up, and to make several different versions of this document. There is nothing like research and preparation for defending your position in a negotiation, so this is not a step to be skipped. Even if you are never allowed to negotiate your salary—which can happen in a union, non-profit or government work environment—it cannot hurt to know if you are making what the position deserves, especially if additional duties are added to your position at a later date.

The author also has some solid advice for freelancers and creative professionals who need to negotiate each and every contract or service for a client, which is not found in many salary negotiation books. So the structure of the book follows: author’s salary memoir, how to negotiate for the first time, negotiating a raise or promotion and negotiating for freelancers. Considering how short the book was, meaning it could be read in an evening, I was impressed with how comprehensive the book was overall.

Since negotiation is important part of career management, I would strongly recommend this book as a simple primer on negotiation. There will be other resources that can supplement the information in this book, but I think it is one of the best introductions to this process that I have ever encountered.

*For librarians, the first time you have to negotiate a discount or a license, you will wish you had spent some time learning how to persuade salespeople to take less from your budget.

Job Posting Tracking Form

I mess around with Google Forms a lot (A LOT) and so I decided to update the Job Diary for a Library Job Posting Tracking Form.

I think it is really important to keep track of your own personal job search so you know

• Where the good or relevant jobs are so you don't waste time
• So you can use methods that are effective
• So you can give presents to the people who helped you
• It helps with hyperbole. I do believe that you are working hard to find a job. Do I believe that you have sent out a thousand resumes? No, I do not. And you shouldn't overstate your efforts either, especially if you are not applying as much as you think you are.

This form is public, so if you want to use the form, as is, I recommend copying and saving it in your own private Google docs account. This means that all of your spreadsheet data is kept private. And it also means that you can make changes to the logic of the form.

In this form, I have made two different "logic" choices:

1. To keep track of the friends or professors that are good sources of job postings. You can turn off the logic for this question or you can add more options for your tracking.
2. I am trying to keep track of which vertical search engines are relevant. However, you may never use vertical search engines, or you only use one or two. You can make those into separate options in this question and keep track of which Twitter feeds or which state library boards have the best jobs. It really depends on your job search.

You can also turn off some of the required questions if you don't feel they are necessary to your record keeping.

This form only keeps track of your research habits, not the success of your applications. I would suggest making a different form for that process.

I love forms because I hate making spreadsheets. I like how Google forms fills in all of the spreadsheet data for me, so I don't introduce spelling errors or what-not, and then I can look at the results later, or share the information with others.

Tracking your own job posting spotting will help you save time when you are really concentrated on your job search or when a position or contract is about to end and you need to go full speed ahead.

Librarian (ESL) City of Largo Florida

When I first got out of library school, this would have been my dream job. The cherry on the top: Florida.

Job: Librarian (ESL)
Apply Online

• Pay: $17.07/hour
• Posted: 05/23/2011
• Job Status: Full Time
• Job Type: Government

Description

The salary for this position will be $17.07 per hour.
The hours for this position will include some nights and weekends.

This is a professional position which requires considerable knowledge of library service and how it relates to the community. This position oversees English as a Second Language services and programs. The Librarian is a lead position with supervisory responsibilities and is called upon to exercise initiative and independent judgment in performing professional duties. Supervision is received from a Library Services Manager, Assistant Library Director, or Library Director, and work is reviewed through observations, reports, conferences and obtained results.


ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Skills to independently develop and maintain library point of service to Non-English language speakers to help them integrate into the community.
• Provides advanced reference and reader's advisory service to the public; assists patrons in selection and location of materials and in general library service.
• Directs patrons to specific facilities, subject areas, and titles. Instructs patrons in the use of the computer catalog.
• Accepts responsibility for maintaining service in the absence of a supervisor.
• Supervises department staff.
• Provides administrative and supervisory support to a Library Services Manager, and assists in personnel interviews and decision making.
• Promotes and develops good public relations, ensuring that staff meet service standards in assisting patrons; investigates public complaints and takes responsibility for appropriate action, handling any problems that cannot be handled by subordinates.
• Provides computer literacy instruction, including catalog and database instruction. Provides computer assistance and troubleshooting. Assists patrons with: using the Internet, using e-mail accounts, downloading, saving, and printing documents and files, using office productivity software, and helping with wireless access and Smart Access Manager troubleshooting.
• Evaluates the collection by determining replacements, substitutions, repairs, and discards.
• Accepts assigned professional responsibilities within departmental programs which may include reference assistance, cataloging, programming, collection development, and special collections management.
• Selects print and non-print materials for purchase.
• Assists supervisor in scheduling, supervising, assigning of duties and training of personnel.
• Assists supervisor in planning, determining budget and supply needs, and policy and procedure revisions.
• Translates statistics into reports for use by Management Team.
• Oversees projects assigned by supervisor; manages staff to accomplish project goals.
• May act as staff liaison with advisory/support groups.
• Addresses local organizations to promote library services.
• Represents the Largo Public Library at Pinellas Public Library Cooperative and Tampa Bay Library Consortium meetings to discuss and assist in the development and review of various library issues.
• Keeps abreast of developments in the library profession by reading professional journals and attending workshops, conventions and continuing education classes.
• Assists with book selections as directed by supervisor.
• Assists with programming by planning and presenting special programs in assigned departmental programs.
• Inputs, updates, accesses and retrieves data from a computer.
• Uses audio-visual and multi-media equipment and assists patrons in their use.
• Creates promotional materials.
• Competent in the use of the Integrated Library System public and support services functions.
• Performs related work as required.

JOB PROFILE:
Work Environment: 95% inside a climate controlled building; 5% outside which may include driving.

Physical Requirements: The essential functions of the job require: standing and walking up to approximately eight (8) hours per day. The work requires frequent: bending/stooping, climbing, crawling, fine manipulations, grasping, kneeling, pulling, pushing, reaching, repetitive motion, lifting/carrying objects weighing up to 50 pounds.

Sensory Requirements: Hearing: Enough to listen to patron questions and answer telephones; enough to listen to the directions of supervisors. Speaking: Enough to talk to patrons on the telephone and in person. Seeing: Enough to see and read computer monitor screens, identify book titles and read fine print.

Driving Requirements: The work requires occasional driving and possession of a valid Florida Driver's License.

Office Machines: The work requires the ability to operate the following office machines: copier, print release station, fax machine, microform printer, self-checkout terminals, audio-visual equipment, cash registers, Datasave signs, and computers.
Skills / Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Training and Experience: Master's Degree in Library Science from an American Library Association accredited institution required; previous library experience is preferred. Spanish speaking preferred. Previous English Language Learning or English as a Second language program oversight, volunteer management experience and community partnership building background strongly preferred. Possession of a valid Florida Driver's License.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Working knowledge of general library operations and practices, including the use of specialized professional tools and materials for reference, material selection, and classification. Considerable knowledge of titles and authors in the area of responsibility. Strong oral and written communication skills. Ability to exercise initiative and good judgment in problem solving and decision making. Ability to interact with other staff members, library patrons, community organizations, City officials, and the general public. Ability to make decisions in areas of responsibility. Ability to supervise others. Ability to be creative and artistic. Working knowledge of computers.

Application Instructions

Applications for employment with the City of Largo must be completed online through our website.

Job-Hunter's Survival Guide by Richard N Bolles

Richard N. Bolles has produced a Coles Notes version of his famous What Color is Your Parachute? which could be read in an evening and provide the pertinent points from his more well-known work. This booklet includes the well-known "Flower Petal" exercise, as well as some of his basic charts for self-assessment and a discussion of the most effective methods for job search. Not included in this book is his explanation of information interviewing and how to do it.

Though I firmly agree with Bolles that a job search is more effective if the search is targeted and that multiple job search methods are essential to successfully finding a job, I have to disagree with his #4 most successful method for finding a job: going door to door. Now, this will work if you are looking for the kind of employment that does not include a heavily guarded HR office (and any library or academic institution I can think of has at least one HR person), this method will work. It will probably land you a survival job--and if you need one, try this method. However, using his most effective job search method--complete an inventory and know what you are looking for--will lead to a professional job, so it seems petty to quibble with one method. 

Bolles wrote this book to be a short version of What Color is Your Parachute, suited for the recession, for people who need to find a job NOW, and who don't have a lot of time, or money, to spend reading career books for advice. On those grounds, this book is successful and would be useful for a job seeker who needs to make a plan and get job hunting.

Careers in Federal Libraries Google Group

There is a very active Google Group for Careers in Federal Libraries. The group includes offers for resume reviews, job postings, links to public presentations, scholarship and award information, as well as notices of upcoming information sessions in this area of libraries.If you are looking for employment in this area, or are just interested in investigating the opportunities, I strongly recommend that you join their group.

Librarian (Media Libraries and Archives) / Bibliothécaire (Médiathèque et Archives) CBC

Spotted on TalentOyster via TweetDeck.


CBC/Radio-Canada has a diverse, talented workforce thriving in an environment that encourages sharing and learning. Many different people in a variety of roles come together to make CBC/Radio-Canada a stronger, more relevant and more dynamic public broadcaster. You too could be part of our team. Our programming is distinctive, intelligent, innovative and entertaining, much like the people we're looking to hire.


Design, select, analyze, index, find and distribute information resources tailored to the needs of department clients in accordance with the rules and principles of library and information sciences and with corporate standards and policies.


We are looking for a candidate with the following:

• Master's degree in library and information sciences
• One (1) year relevant experience
• Fluent in the working language
• Very good understanding of the other official language
• Extensive general knowledge
• Very good knowledge of current events
• Able to analyze, synthesize and think critically
• Quick to act
• Tactful and courteous
• Leadership

Candidates may be subject to skills testing.

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. CBC/Radio-Canada brings diverse regional and cultural perspectives into the daily lives of Canadians in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages.

CBC/Radio-Canada is committed to reflecting the country's diversity within its workforce and encourages applications from people of any wealth of cultures, linguistic and ethnocultural communities, gender, sexual orientations, ages, religions and those with different abilities.

For more information, visit the Talent and Diversity section of our corporate website: www.cbc.ca/jobs

If this sounds interesting, we want to hear from you! We thank all applicants for their interest, but only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Legal Experts Stress That Social Media Background Checks Create Risks from Workforce Management

Legal Experts Stress That Social Media Background Checks Create Risks from Workforce Management argues that conducting a Google search on a candidate, not to mention looking at their Facebook profile, is akin to interviewing a candidate. I don't know if I would go that far for public results available from Google, though I do contend, stay out of Facebook for screening.

This argument may be enough to curb the practice:

Employers also should review their liability insurance programs, including employment practices coverage, to make sure they are covered if they are sued by employees or job prospects in connection with the use of social media"

This is also another article that attempts to hammer home the point about mistaken identity when conducting online background checks on candidates.

Career Opportunities in Library and Information Science by Allan Taylor and James Robert Parish

Career Opportunities in Library and Information Science is part of a series of Career Opportunities in...books from Checkmark Books. Like all of the books in the series, the main portion of the book is devoted to occupational profiles which includes a list of duties, salary expectations, a position description and education requirements. The relevant associations and unions are also listed for each of the profiles, and the websites for these organizations are a good source for job postings as well as professional development opportunities. The book is divided into four sections: Librarians and information professionals, then the technicians and assistants found in each field.

Each of the profiles also include a "career ladder" which shows the entry-level positions associated with the career profile and then the career progression, such as the Public Services librarian, who may enter the profession as a library technician or a library assistant, then progress to Public Service Librarian and possibly achieve a senior level position in this area as a Chief Information Officer, a Library Department Head or Library Director.


This book would, of course, be useful to a person who is research library science as a career and who is thinking about applying to a library science program, but it would also be useful to a graduate who is deciding what types of positions to apply for, how to prepare for an interview, or for a mid-career professional who is thinking about a transition from their current sector to another position, though they may wish to stay in libraries or information management.

Web Applications Developer, NYPL Labs

Full-time, in Manhattan (original posting)

Position Description:

External Overview:

The New York Public Library seeks a talented web applications developer to join the Library's new research and development unit, NYPL Labs. We are looking for someone who is willing to experiment, able to build, test and debug in rapid iterations, and excited to join the intellectual life of NYPL and the wider digital humanities and creative tech community.

Work will be situated in midtown Manhattan within NYPL's larger web group, but will be focused on projects that break new ground in digital humanities research and/or facilitate new forms of networked participation in library activity. Projects may range from building crowdsourcing tools for enhancing library collections, rethinking established genres such as archival finding aids, or developing multi-modal (potentially cross-institutional) digital archives of special collections material.Some projects will be proof-of-concept prototypes aimed at hatching ideas that might eventually be applied more broadly across the Library. Others will be fully realized applications that become staple resources in the NYPL web environment. All will place you at the intersection of scholarly, library and technological innovation taking place at one of the worlds great public research institutions. Tapped into one of the worlds largest and most creatively dynamic urban populations.
External Responsibilities:

We are seeking a developer who can:

• Design and implement scalable, optimized, database-driven web applications using server and client-side techniques.
• Work with our User Experience Designers to adapt existing and create new software-based solutions to support the needs of our patrons.
• Specify and build APIs, data feeds and other ways of interacting with NYPL content beyond web-based interfaces.
• Explore new platforms and architectures for NYPL services and content.
• Keep up to date with the latest trends in both web technology and digital libraries/digital humanities, and participate in a community of fellow practitioners.
• Perform other related duties as required

External Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Excellent knowledge of databased-driven web development using PHP and Javascript.
• Demonstrated experience working with web-based content management systems, including familiarity with database programming (MySQL preferred), user accounts and session management.
• Preferred or desired experience in Ruby on Rails or other MVC framework.
• Preferred or desired experience with Drupal or equivalent CMS.
• Experience with front-end development (CSS, XHTML, JQuery, etc.) preferred.
• Knowledge of source code/version control software, test-driven development, and Agile processes are a major plus.
• Strong interpersonal, oral and written communication skills, including demonstrated ability to work collaboratively or independently.
• Ability to take initiative and meet deadlines.
• Position will report to web development team of the NYPL Strategy Office, under the Senior Manager for Web Initiatives, and will work closely day to day with Manager of NYPL Labs.