Northwestern University Libraries
Librarian Faculty Position
Position: Curriculum Innovation Librarian
Work Group: Academic Engagement
Reports to: Head of Academic Engagement
Summary
The Curriculum Innovation Librarian develops, coordinates, and supports a program of services that promote innovative teaching and advance faculty creation and adoption of freely available, high-quality Open Educational Resources (OER) at Northwestern. As part of the Libraries’ Academic Engagement department and the University’s Affordable Instructional Resources (AIR) initiative, the Curriculum Innovation Librarian leads collaborative work among faculty, librarians, technical specialists, and other campus units to identify, adopt, develop, publish, and assess OER, to raise awareness of course affordability issues, and to promote open and affordable course material alternatives. Through the Libraries’ academic liaison program, the Curriculum Innovation Librarian also directly supports the teaching and research needs of one or more academic departments and partners with all library liaisons to engage faculty and promote innovative curriculum including OER, open digital publishing, and affordable course materials across all academic areas.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and coordinate initiatives and services that advance awareness, adoption, and creation and integration of OER into Northwestern University curricula
- Communicate with the Provost’s Office, University IT, the School of Professional Studies, and other campus pertinent campus partners to coordinate the OER Faculty Grant application process, which awards faculty grants to adopt, adapt, or create OER; manage associated budgets
- Lead outreach, training, and individual consultations for faculty, instructors, and librarians that encourage and facilitate the adoption and development of OER on campus
- Collaborate closely with the Digital Publishing Librarian, Digital Humanities Librarian, Copyright Librarian, and subject librarians and technical specialists from across the Libraries to support the organization, project management, content development, rights management, publication, and implementation of faculty OER
- Select and recommend high-quality OER to liaisons, faculty, and academic departments
- Maintain partnerships with other campus units such as the Provost’s Office, University IT, Searle Center for Teaching and Learning, Office of Equity, Student Affairs, Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, and Accessible NU to advance OER and open educational practices on campus
- Provide expertise on current and emerging trends in innovative curriculum and open pedagogical approaches, and pursue new features and applications for OER that enhance faculty support and student success
- Assess impact, including usage, benefits, and cost savings of OER and establish methods for communicating impact and effectiveness
- As a member of the Affordable Instructional Resources (AIR) steering committee, coordinate and maintain active communication among AIR members and partners, and participate in quarterly meetings with AIR co-sponsors from the Libraries and the Office of the Provost to advise on initiatives and related operational and service needs
- Participate in consortial initiatives in the Big Ten Academic Alliance designed to promote open education initiatives including OER, open homework systems, and related efforts
- Participate in and contribute to the development of the Academic Engagement workgroup and its programs and initiatives
- Contribute to development of digital scholarship and library services with interest in ongoing innovation, new technologies, and evolving responsibilities in a dynamic digital research and teaching environment.
- Serve as a liaison to one or more academic departments or other university constituencies
- Contribute to the Libraries and campus community through participation on committees and other bodies as appropriate
- Engage in scholarly activities and provide service to the university and wider profession, including representing Northwestern Libraries in pertinent projects and open education initiatives of the Big Ten Academic Alliance
Minimum Qualifications
- Master’s degree in library and information science or other degrees and training related to the skills and responsibilities of this position
- Knowledge of current and emerging best practices and technical processes associated with the adoption, adaptation, and creation of OER
- Familiarity with issues in copyright, open licensing, authors’ rights, and current and emerging trends in open education
- Experience providing direct support to library users in an academic environment through instruction, consultation, and outreach
- Awareness of approaches for reducing the cost of instructional materials and enhancing access to resources for research and learning
- Experience leading programming or outreach efforts, including workshops for faculty and campus units
- Experience in project management, accessibility, and/or web design
- Learning aptitude for emerging technologies and the applications to teaching, research, and library services
- Strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility
Minimum Competencies
- Ability to work in a collaborative team-based environment
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Adaptable, ability to adjust to changing environment
- Customer focused
- Commitment to creating and maintaining an inclusive environment/workplace for students, researchers, and staff
- Takes ownership of work, completes what is needed without being asked, follows through
- Plans ahead, manages time well, is resource conscious, finds better ways to achieve personal and work group goals
To Apply
Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and the names of three references. Please apply for this position on the NUHR Recruitment Website https://careers.northwestern.edu/psp/hr857prd_er/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=51540&PostingSeq=1
In your application, note which pronouns you use. This position is in a bargaining unit represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 73. First consideration will be given to applicants who apply by January 10, 2025.
This is a full-time, benefits-eligible, librarian faculty position. The minimum starting salary for this position is $71, 750 annually. Offers will be based on candidate experience and education, as well as equity within Northwestern University.
Library Environment
Northwestern University is a selective private university with campuses in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois and in Doha, Qatar. One of the leading private research libraries in the United States, Northwestern University Library serves the educational and information needs of the NU community as well as scholars around the world. Its collection contains more than 7 million volumes, a full array of digital resources, and collections of distinction in Africana, transportation, and 20th-century and contemporary music. Northwestern is a member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA). See more information about University Libraries at: http://www.library.northwestern.edu
The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today. Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. EEO is the Law https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf
