There’s no other experience I’d leave my job at Norwich for than that of being a stay-at-home parent. Now being a distance learning librarian takes on a new meaning: I’m staying connected to libraries and online learning from a distance.
I look forward to what the next few years bring, personally and professionally. I see myself returning to a role where I support online learners unless some other opportunity presents itself; who knows by what door I’ll reenter the world of librarianship.
(post updated 1/19/09)
I am leaving my job in a few months.
I’m a little sad about it because I love my job, so I want to leave it in good hands. Come apply for it if you think the job description is as perfect for you as it is for me:
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Distance Learning Librarian, Norwich University, Northfield, VT
The Kreitzberg Library at Norwich University seeks an energetic, tech-savvy and service-oriented librarian to join the library team in developing and providing services to our distance learning population. Norwich University enrolls 1300 online students in 10 master’s degree programs.
Position Description: The Distance Learning Librarian develops procedures and implements programs for library distance education services. Develops and maintains library web presence, web technologies and instructional materials for distance education. Serves as a liaison to campus units involved with distance education. Provides support to distance learners and faculty teaching distance education courses. Coordinates activities of library staff in their work associated with distance education. Collaborates with faculty, library staff and departments to develop collections and services to support distance education programs. Participates as a member of team providing reference and instruction in a broad range of subject areas. Some evening/weekend hours required. Reports to the Head of Instructional Initiatives.
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications
• ALA-accredited master’s degree in library and/or information science
• Knowledge of current and emerging trends in instructional technologies
• Demonstrated ability to design web pages using HTML and CSS
• Ability to speak and write knowledgeably and effectively
• Strong customer service orientation
• Ability to work with various stakeholders and in team environments
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
Preferred Qualifications
• Demonstrated experience in learning and applying new technologies
• Experience with online course management systems
• Experience developing online tutorials
• Experience providing reference assistance and instruction
• Knowledge of scripting languages and database design
Salary: Minimum salary of $40,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience. This is a faculty rank, non-tenure track appointment commensurate with academic achievements. Compensation includes a benefits package of medical, dental, group life and long term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care, a retirement annuity plan, tuition scholarships for eligible employees and their family members, and generous professional development support.
Deadline: Review of applications will begin on Feb 2, 2009 and will continue until the position is filled.
To Apply: Send a cover letter (including the URLs of any websites you’ve designed), resume, the contact information for three references, and a completed Norwich University Employment Application to: jobs@norwich.edu
Environment: Norwich University enrolls a civilian and military student body of 3,300 FTEs in undergraduate, professional and graduate programs. Most of the graduate programs are offered exclusively in an online environment. The library is a beautifully designed, sixteen year old facility with six floors. It contains more than 175,000 volumes and receives nearly 33,000 periodical titles in print or electronic formats. The library is part of a statewide library network and participates in several consortia.
Northfield, a New England village with population of 5,800, was founded in 1781 and is ten miles south of Montpelier, the Vermont state capital. It is 150 miles north of Boston and 100 miles south of Montreal.
More Information on Norwich University:
Institutional Profile
http://www.norwich.edu/
Kreitzberg Library
http://www.norwich.edu/academics/library/
School of Graduate Studies
http://www.graduate.norwich.edu/
Official Vermont Tourism Site
http://www.1-800-vermont.com/
I typed Northfield too quickly in my registration form.
The internet connection here at IL2008 has been bolstered by a bunch of additional wireless routers, and I can safely write this AND post it without getting kicked off the connection (I think).
It’s near the end of the day, and I’m in the E-Copyright: Online Tools session that I thought would help me understand what my colleagues in the graduate school have to deal with when obtaining copyright permission for readings that aren’t part of the library’s collection. And I am learning a bit, things I didn’t know before, but I don’t expect to have to recall much of this because my colleagues use an external company to handle copyright clearance. And I’m a little more grateful for that because this stuff is daunting.
Great sessions so far. I learned a lot of tips and tools for improving websites, and I look forward to launching into a couple of new projects this year.
More later. For now, check this out (it makes me smile): http://www.reasonableagreement.org
I’m coming up on my one-month anniversary as a Distance Learning Librarian. Much of what happens in the first month of any new job is getting used to the new surroundings, remembering names, and keeping all the departments (and their responsibilities) straight.
Yesterday, I was very excited to have my first reference shift. It was the first day of classes for our undergraduates, so the majority of questions weren’t assignment-related. I’ve already worked with a few graduate students (by phone) and helped with access and research questions, but it was really fun to help the undergrads with more directional questions.
As I mentioned to the freshman during library orientation tours, I’m a freshman, too: I’m new, and I’m learning about Norwich right along with them. During my reference shift, a lot of my responses were, “I don’t know: let’s find out.” That’s why I like being a librarian: I get to learn all day. And any of my friends will tell you that I retain a lot of little bits of information, so I enjoy knowing which departments on campus to send students, the hours of the campus center, and what time a certain University event begins.
Yesterday I learned:
So, why am I so excited about working with the undergraduates when the bulk of my responsibilities are to online graduate students? I like knowing what’s going on around me. Because some of the undergrad questions are more Norwich-related than library-related, it helps me learn more about my new environment.
Of course I’m going to need to know where printers and hole-punches are. I really enjoy getting up from the desk and discovering, with the students, where things are. It helps me remember for future reference, but I also get to know my community: the Rooks who are getting used to holding their hats a certain way, the freshmen fumbling to understand their schedules, a staff member who works for a department I hadn’t learned about, and students learning (like me) where things are in the library.
It’s the same way I work with the distance learning students. We may not be standing next to one another, and I may not be leading them to a specific area of the library, but I’m doing similar things to connect with them: asking questions, clarifying, trying and failing, trying and succeeding, and learning from their questions in order to become a better resource for them and their classmates.
