Librarian for Creative & Instructional Technologies

The Librarian for Creative & Instructional Technologies is part of the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries’ Teaching & Learning Department at Vanderbilt University and is a key leader responsible for advancing the library’s teaching and learning efforts by working with library staff, students, and faculty from across campus and disciplines to advance creative inquiry through workshops, interdisciplinary course-integrated instruction, and point of need consultations. This position supports instructional technologies within the library, envisioning and coordinating the library’s lendable technology program and partnering with Libraries staff on creative and instructional technology services, and collaborates on library outreach and student-focused events with campus and community partners. 

Reporting directly to the Associate University Librarian for Teaching & Learning, the Librarian for Creative and Instructional Technologies works closely with students, faculty, and staff both in the Libraries as well as across the University to incorporate critical literacy perspectives into instruction and programming through a digital and technological lens. 

About the Work Unit

The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries at Vanderbilt University comprises nine libraries, as well as service departments in collections services, digital scholarship & scholarly communications, information technology and digital services, and teaching & learning. We seek to create a welcoming environment and serve as a partner in research and scholarship. The libraries are dynamic places for faculty, staff, students, and alumni to reflect and discover. We also strive to be a workplace in which staff at every level continuously grow in knowledge and skills, staying abreast of advances and trends in librarianship to power relevant, vibrant research libraries. 

The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries are fundamental to the university’s goal of advancing scholarship and learning. We collect, preserve and make accessible a wide variety of resources, we partner with faculty and students to shape research, and we encourage the development of informed scholars and engaged citizens.

Key Functions and Expected Performance

• Spearheads workshop development and activities related to media and instructional technologies, including video creation, podcasting, poster design, and other areas driven by students’ curricular and co-curricular needs. 
• Coordinates and maintains a library-wide lendable technology program, offering training and support for devices in the technology lending program, and facilitates collection development for the tactile learning collection.
• Supports student and faculty learning through consultations, workshops, course-based instruction, web-based tutorials, and other learning content.
• Collaborates with colleagues to develop, implement, and apply innovative multimedia and online learning tools, resources, technologies, and services for integration with library-related instructional needs.
• Contributes to development of instructional and creative technologies for the Vanderbilt Libraries. 
• Works closely with the Librarian for Instruction & Digital Learning to provide professional development opportunities for improving the design and delivery of curriculum-aligned, pedagogically sound, technology-appropriate information literacy learning experiences. 
• Contributes overall to assessment of library instruction, services, programs, and other initiatives.
• Maintains an ongoing current awareness of national trends related to emerging and evolving instructional technologies in higher education; evaluates those trends for applicability to instruction at Vanderbilt Libraries; and leads in their implementation.
• Hires and supervises student workers as needed. 
• Participates in system-wide library and university initiatives and committees.
• Participates in scholarly and professional activities including publication of journal articles and book reviews, and presentations at regional and national professional conferences that contribute to the practice of academic librarianship.

Supervisory Relationships

This position does have supervisory responsibility for one or more student workers; this position reports administratively and functionally to the Associate University Librarian for Teaching & Learning.  

Education and Certifications

• Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA accredited institution or an equivalent and related Master’s Degree (e.g. instructional technologies or digital media) is necessary.
• 0 to 5 years of experience is necessary.
• Coursework or professional experience with instructional technology, instructional design, learning theory, and/or the scholarship of teaching and learning is strongly preferred.

Experience and Skills

• Outstanding communication skills and a demonstrated ability to effectively teach and present is necessary.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively on teams within the library and with campus partners is necessary. 
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a changing environment is necessary.
• Demonstrated knowledge of digital media creation and production technologies (including Adobe Creative Suite) or teaching with technology is necessary.
• Demonstrated comfort with and enthusiasm experimenting with and teaching new technologies is strongly preferred.
• Experience with online learning platforms and/or creating digital tutorials, videos, and research guides is preferred.
• Familiarity with a wide variety of technologies for research and teaching in libraries (e.g. GIS tools, VR headsets, media production tools, etc) is preferred. 
• Familiarity with teaching information and digital literacy skills across multiple disciplines on a college campus is preferred. 
• Familiarity and knowledge of instructional design principles, digital pedagogy, and Open Educational Resources is preferred.
• Experience working with or directing student workers is preferred. 
• Familiarity and experience with budgets and/or grant applications is preferred.