The California State University is hiring: Senior Assistant Librarian - Special

Apply now Job no: 545198
Work type: Instructional Faculty – Tenured/Tenure-Track
Location: San José
Categories: Unit 3 - CFA - California Faculty Association, Tenured/Tenure-Track, Full Time, Librarian (Non-instructional Faculty), Telecommute eligible (work onsite as scheduled and/or as requested and telecommute as scheduled)

Compensation: This is a probationary, 12-month, tenure-track position at the Senior Assistant Librarian rank; salary commensurate with qualifications and experience (anticipated range: $90,000-$95,000 annually). Librarians in the CSU system enjoy full faculty status and as such are eligible for campus service opportunities, sabbatical and other leaves, and additional benefits. Librarians are represented under Unit 3 of the California Faculty Association (CFA).

Excellent benefits, including medical, dental, and vision plans; generous paid leave (24 vacation days and one personal holiday per year and one day of sick leave per month); and membership in CALPERS, the largest retirement system in the country. See Benefits Summary for additional details.

Target Start Date: August 2025. (Applications accepted until filled or closed)

Application Deadline: April 4, 2025 (Applications accepted until filled or closed)

Position Description

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library at SJSU welcomes applicants for a full-time, tenure-track position as Special Collections Librarian. Joining a team of three full-time staff in Special Collections & Archives (SC&A), the Special Collections Librarian is responsible for overseeing SC&A public services and processing (i.e., arrangement and description) of Special Collections. In collaboration with the Director, the Special Collections Librarian will also develop and maintain new acquisitions of personal and organizational papers, and rare and unique books that comprise the vast and multitudinous Special Collections of the unit. These include Political Papers, LGBTQ+ Collections, Women’s Collections, Chicana/Chicano Collections, Oral History Collections, Artist and Fine Press Books, and other materials that fulfill the teaching and research missions of San José State University. Additionally, the Special Collections Librarian will contribute to SC&A digital initiatives, outreach, exhibitions, and event programming.

As a member of the Library Faculty, the candidate participates in the library liaison program and is expected to engage in service activities pertaining to library and university governance and research, scholarship, and creative activities, all of which are required for tenure and promotion. This is a hybrid position requiring a minimum on-campus presence of three days a week.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association or an equivalent international degree by the time of hire.
• Demonstrated experience with facilitating special collections and archives researchers, arrangement and description of physical collections, engaging in outreach activities, and curating exhibitions.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current national archival descriptive standards and best practices such as EAD and DACS, and tools such as ArchivesSpace.
• Demonstrated awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a socially and economically diverse student population as might have been gained in cross-cultural study, training, teaching, and other comparable experience.
• Priority will be given to candidates who possess one or more of the following:
• Experience in academic libraries.
• Experience with supervising and training student assistants.
• Experience with contributing to grant proposals.
• Experience with donor relations.
• Experience as a liaison librarian.
• Familiarity with archival appraisal and accessioning of collections.
• Ability to stay current on topics that intersect with special collections and archives, including privacy, confidentiality, and copyright.
  
  

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee public services for SC&A, which averages over 200 in-person and virtual research requests per year.
• Oversee the arrangement and description of SC&A collections in physical and digital formats, including supervising student work.
• Contribute to the acquisition of SC&A collections of enduring historical value and which support the teaching and research missions of San José State University.
• Contribute to grant proposals to support the development of physical and digital Special Collections.
• Promote visibility and usage of SC&A collections through instruction, outreach, public presentations, tours, and exhibitions.
• Assist with supervising and training Student Assistants (SAs) in facilitating researchers, processing collections, and curating exhibitions.
• Participate in shared governance, usually in department, college, and university committees and other service assignments.
• Build a record of progressive scholarly and professional achievement to fulfill the University requirement of retention, tenure, and promotion.
• Demonstrate awareness and experience understanding the needs of a student population of great diversity – in age, abilities, cultural background, ethnicity, religion, economic background, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, and academic preparation – through inclusive course materials, teaching strategies, and advisement.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

• A letter of interest that addresses the required qualifications for the position, including the applicant’s approach to supporting the educational goals of a socially and economically diverse student population
• Three references with contact information (only finalists’ references will be contacted)

Further inquiries may be directed to the Search Committee Chair: Ann Agee, ann.agee@sjsu.edu

Conditional Offer

The work for this faculty position may only be performed in the State of California and requires establishing an on-campus presence. Employment is contingent upon US residence and proof of eligibility to work in the United States. Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current employee who was conditionally offered the position.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of Age, Ancestry, Caste, Color, Disability, Ethnicity, Gender, Gender Expression, Gender Identity, Genetic Information, Marital Status, Medical Condition, Military Status, Nationality, Race, Religion, Religious Creed, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Sex Stereotype, and Veteran Status. This policy applies to all San José State University students, faculty, and staff as well as University programs and activities. Reasonable accommodations are made for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.