Library Instruction Support Services Fellowship
Title: Library Instruction Support Services Fellowship
Division/Department: University of Chicago Library
Reports to: Librarian for College Instruction and Outreach, University of Chicago Library.
General Summary:
As graduate students consider alternative careers beyond research and teaching positions, library and information science is a field that offers many opportunities for individuals with an academic background. Academic research librarians are engaged in teaching students about key information literacy skills, providing instruction on how to identify, locate and use a wide variety of information resources (including printed materials, archives, data, etc.). Many research librarians also require deep domain knowledge to provide support to students in specific majors or fields.
This fellowship will provide graduate students with hands-on experience in providing library instruction, as well as developing guides and tools to help students learn about the variety of resources available to them at the Library and beyond. In addition, the fellowship will also offer graduate students an opportunity to learn about academic libraries services and collections that may benefit their own research, along with providing an insight into careers in library and information science.
While initial appointment is for a single academic quarter, reappointment is possible through the end of Fall Quarter 2019.
Specific activities will vary according to fellow’s skills and interests, but may include:
- Providing orientation tours for students engaged in summer research programs.
- Teaching and co-teaching orientation programs for incoming undergraduate and graduate students.
- Designing online finding aids and research guides highlighting Library resources.
- Answering virtual reference questions via email and chat services.
- Offering one-on-one instruction in research consultations for students.
- Designing and teaching workshops on citation management and research tools.
- Developing Library handouts and outreach materials for use in new student orientations.
- Becoming familiar with the University of Chicago Library collections, research tools, and services.
- Learning about Library and Information Science programs, careers and resources.
Each fellowship that is renewed for two additional quarters requires a presentation focusing on an issue relating to research support services in an academic library during the third quarter of the fellowship experience.
Qualifications:
- Student currently enrolled a PhD program in the University of Chicago’s Humanities Division or Social Science Division. in good academic standing during the period of the fellowship
- Experience using the University of Chicago Library’s collections for research
- A strong service philosophy
- Ability to manage multiple priorities
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience teaching undergraduates
- Experience in academic or public library
- Experience interacting with undergraduates
- Interest in library or information science as a career