FACULTY & AP POSITION REQUEST
Draft November 14, 2006
Revised August 15, 2007
Proposing Division, Unit, Central Reference
Group or Individual
Proposed Title
Instructional Services Librarian
Faculty Rank
Assistant Professor of Library Administration
Estimated Salary
$47,000
Potential sources of
funding for position
Vacancy of position held by Joe Straw at $54, 098; currently
held as a visiting position by Merinda Hensley until
December 15, 2007 at $45,500.
Beth Woodard, Reference Library Head, until August 15,
2008. After this date, reporting line will be determined by
the creation of the Scholarly Commons/recommendations of
the Integrative Research Services Task Force and the
Executive Committee.
This is a critical position, which is why a temporary position
was requested and approved through from December 16,
2006 to December15, 2007. A request has been submitted to
extend Merinda Hensley until May 16, 2008. A search for
a permanent position would need to start soon in order to
have the position filled by May 16, 2008, as a search
typically takes 6 months from the time the search committee
has been appointed.
The strategic goals that are specific targets for this position
are:
1) Lead in strengthening programs that develop student’s
abilities to access and use information effectively and
efficiently, and
2) Increase capacity and interest through marketing and
communication efforts.
Reports to
Recommended time
frame for filling
(immediate need, 6
months, 1 year, etc.) and
explanation
Position Need &
Rationale: explain how
this position contributes
to the Library’s strategic
goals
While there are excellent programs in place in the
Undergraduate Library and in many departmental libraries,
there is an important role for general library instruction not
tied to a specific course. Reference takes a lead in providing
instruction in the use of the online catalog, RefWorks, and
other non-subject specific library tools, and provides
instruction to English as a Second Language students and to
Brief position
description and job
duties
individual classes on request. As the Global Campus
initiative evolves, Reference will expand its current online
instruction to more broadly support online instruction and
remote library patrons. Reference has, and will continue, to
play a large role in orienting community members and
alumni to library services.
 Manage the coordination, development, implementation,
and assessment of Information Literacy program and
initiatives within the Reference Library, which
complements the instructional programs in the
departmental libraries;
 Coordinate library-wide instruction efforts for the online
catalog and RefWorks, and other library-wide tools.
 Plan and teach formal library instruction classes in both
traditional and electronic classroom environments;
 Develop and maintain various instructional and
promotional materials, including the Learn web pages,
which were transferred from the Coordinator of
Information Literacy and Instruction to the Reference
Library in January 1007;
 Reach out to classroom faculty to expand the
University’s information literacy efforts, particularly
those not directly affiliated with departmental libraries,
such as international student affairs, the graduate college,
James Scholars;
 Work collegially and collaboratively with other library
faculty to integrate information competencies into the
curriculum through the creation of resource-based
learning experiences;
 Work with the Coordinator for Information Literacy
Services to lead ongoing assessment of information
literacy efforts within the department;
 Facilitate the creation of course and online materials to
support information literacy.
 Work with the Coordinator for Information Literacy
Services and the Undergraduate Library Instructional
Services Librarian to develop and deliver training
programs for library graduate assistants in delivering
library instruction;
 Chair the Integrated System Coordinating Committee
(ISSC) PAC EDUCATION TEAM
 Support of alumni use of library resources
 Provide the lead for the Library’s interactions with the
OSHER Lifelong Learning Institute on campus,
coordinating instructional efforts with other units within
the library.

How might this position
evolve to meet
continuing Library
needs in 5-10 years?
Provide quality reference services to in person and
remote library patrons at the desk and via virtual
reference services in cooperation with other units in the
library.
There will be continuing needs for instructional materials not
related to specific courses, including:
 Orientation to the physical library building
 Virtual orientation to the library and its resources
 Instructional and research support of UIUC patrons
who are researching and studying off-campus both
through online learning and traditional study aboard
and research opportunities.
 Citation management education (citing materials and
using tools like RefWorks to manage one’s own
resources)
 Support of alumni use of library resources
 Using major library tools, such as the online catalog
to find materials
 As the research commons develops, instructing users
in the use of digital tools for the discovery,
manipulation, and creation of content will be critical
to this initiative.
Library EC, rev. August 15, 2007