Organization Name: University of Toronto Libraries
Job Title: Outreach & Engagement Librarian for Black Studies (Librarian I/II/III; Permanent Status Stream)
Job Type: Full Time (Permanent / Tenure Track)
Location: Toronto, ON
Posting Date: 10/25/2023
Application Deadline: 11/24/2023
Compensation
Minimum salary: LIB I: $76,403; LIB II: $79,720; LIB III: $102,023; (Salary is dependent on rank at hire and qualifications)
Target Audience: Recent Graduates, 0–5 Years of Experience, 5–10 Years of Experience, 10+ Years of Experience
Job Category: Library – Academic

Job Description

POSITION: Outreach & Engagement Librarian for Black Studies (Librarian I/II/III; Permanent Status Stream)
DEPARTMENT: User Services
DATE REQUIRED: As soon as possible

Are you looking for challenging, meaningful work in a supportive and diverse environment? Are you looking for a career at one of Canada’s top employers? Work where the world comes to think, discover, and learn. Consider a career at the University of Toronto.

About the University of Toronto Libraries
The University of Toronto Libraries (UTL) system is the largest academic library in Canada and is consistently ranked in the top ten among academic research libraries in North America. The system consists of 40 libraries located on three university campuses: St. George, Mississauga, and Scarborough. This array of college libraries, special collections, and specialized libraries and information centres supports the teaching and research requirements of over 300 graduate programs, more than 70 professional programs, and about 700 undergraduate degree programs. In addition to more than 12 million volumes in 341 languages, the library system currently provides access to millions of electronic resources in various forms and over 31,000 linear metres of archival material. More than 150,000 new print volumes are acquired each year. The Libraries’ data centre houses more than 600 servers with a storage capacity of 1.5 petabytes.

About Black Studies at the University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is currently home to several historic areas studies and newly established academic programs such as African Studies, Caribbean Studies, Black Public Health, and the Certificate in Black Canadian Studies. Courses in the broad fields of Black and African diaspora studies are also offered by numerous other departments and faculties across the University of Toronto such as Diaspora & Transnational Studies, Women & Gender Studies, History, English, and Sociology. The Black Research Network and The Centre for Black Excellence in Education play an important role in fostering and strengthening the strong cross-divisional, interdisciplinary network of Black scholars at the University.

As a signatory of the Scarborough Charter, the University of Toronto is committed to actively combatting anti-Black racism and promoting Black inclusion. The principles, actions and commitments outlined in the Scarborough Charter reflect our collective recognition of the realities of anti-Black racism, encapsulate our shared aspirations to address them, and provide a concrete framework for delivering on our promise.

About the User Services Department
Based at the John P. Robarts Library, the User Services Department includes approximately 35 appointed staff (librarians, professional managers, and unionized staff), and approximately 60 student casual employees. The Department’s teams (Accessibility Services, Access & Information, and Research & Education) provide a wide variety of user-centered library services designed to support students, staff, faculty and researchers as they pursue their paths to becoming creative and thoughtful scholars, learners and citizens. The User Services Research & Education team engages with faculty, students, staff, and other community partners to teach information skills, develop collections, and engage in and support research, primarily in the social sciences and humanities.

The Opportunity
The University of Toronto Libraries seeks a user-centered, innovative, creative, and highly collaborative librarian to support Black Studies scholarship across the University. As a member of the User Services Department’s Research & Education team, and in partnership with colleagues at the New College Library, Fisher Library, and liaison librarians across the University of Toronto, you will have the opportunity to:
• Build relationships and community with the interdisciplinary, cross-divisional network of students, faculty, staff, health professionals, and researchers across the University who situate their work in the intellectual, cultural, political, educational, historical, public health, wellbeing, and lived experiences of Black Canadians and the broader African diaspora,
• Design and facilitate critically informed teaching and engagement programs,
• Provide research services that draw on and support the growth of new knowledge,
• Collaboratively develop and manage inclusive and accessible collections in support of the African Studies and Caribbean Studies Centres,
• Participate in the development of anti-racist and culturally sensitive descriptive metadata to enhance the discovery and use of University of Toronto Libraries collections,
• Support and participate in digital scholarship initiatives and other new and culturally relevant modes of scholarly communication,
• Help to increase the visibility of University of Toronto Black scholars’ research,
• Engage in professional development, committees, and other scholarly activities.

This search aligns with the University’s commitment to strategically and proactively promote diversity among our community members (Statement on Equity, Diversity & Excellence). Recognizing that Black, Indigenous, and other Racialized communities have experienced inequities that have developed historically and are ongoing, we strongly welcome and encourage candidates from those communities to apply.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• A degree from an accredited Masters level program in library and information studies,
• Demonstrated commitment to the values of inclusivity, diversity, equity, anti-Black racism, and accessibility,
• Advanced knowledge / lived experience of Black Studies, anti-racist pedagogies, global histories and cultures, with an awareness of the Canadian context,
• Proven ability to promote respect and inclusion by working successfully with a wide variety of people across various disciplines and encouraging their participation and involvement,
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills,
• Commitment to user-centered services and to ongoing service improvement,
• Demonstrated flexibility, creativity, and ability to adapt to a changing environment,
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills,
• Strong initiative and ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively,
• Demonstrated commitment to innovation and continuous learning.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Undergraduate / graduate degree or course work in Black Studies or a related subject area
• Additional languages
• Experience with collection development principles and practices, teaching, research support, communications, and project management are all assets
• Experience working in an academic library is an asset
• Knowledge of African knowledge systems and traditions
• Knowledge of digital methods (e.g. Black Digital Humanities)

Salary and Terms of Appointment: This is a permanent status stream position.

It is anticipated that this position will be filled at the Librarian I, II, or III level, subject to review and experience. Minimum salary: LIB I: $76,403; LIB II: $79,720; LIB III: $102,023; (Salary is dependent on rank at hire and qualifications).
Benefits: We offer generous benefits packages to all employees. Additional information is available at: https://people.utoronto.ca/careers/benefits/

Additional information
Librarians at the University of Toronto are members of the University of Toronto Faculty Association.

How to Apply
Application Materials Required: A cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references of which at least two have supervised your work. Please send a single electronic file (MS Word or pdf) with a file name convention of [Surname,FirstName. OUTREACH] to Library Human Resources at utlhr@utoronto.ca; or to Room 1140, 130 St. George Street, University of Toronto Libraries, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A5; by November 21, 2023.

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

Diversity Statements
The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

University of Toronto Libraries’ Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Statement:
https://www.library.utoronto.ca/inclusion-diversity-and-equity-statement
University of Toronto Libraries’ Anti-Racism Statement:
https://www.library.utoronto.ca/anti-racism-statement

Accessibility Statement
The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact utlhr@utoronto.ca.

University of Toronto Library System: http://onesearch.library.utoronto.ca/
University of Toronto: https://people.utoronto.ca/
Policies for librarians: https://people.utoronto.ca/policies/

Application Process

Application Materials Required: A cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references of which at least two have supervised your work. Please send a single electronic file (MS Word or pdf) with a file name convention of [Surname,FirstName. OUTREACH] to Library Human Resources at utlhr@utoronto.ca; or to Room 1140, 130 St. George Street, University of Toronto Libraries, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A5; by November 21, 2023.