LIAISON LIBRARIAN & ASSISTANT HEAD
FRASER LIBRARY - SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY - SURREY CAMPUS
Simon Fraser University Library invites applications for Assistant Head of Fraser Library and
Liaison Librarian for the Surrey based programs of School of Criminology and Beedie School of
Business. This is a full-time, term (August 2014 – August 2015) position based at SFU Surrey.
SETTING
Ranked by respected national surveys as one of Canada’s top three comprehensive universities for
the past 20 years, Simon Fraser University has also been named one of British Columbia’s top 40
Employers for 2011, as well as one of Canada’s top 100 employers. SFU offers more than 100
undergraduate major and joint major programs and more than 45 graduate offerings, spanning many
disciplines in eight faculties, and has an international reputation for its innovative interdisciplinary
and professional programs. The University was established in 1965 in Burnaby and has since
expanded to Vancouver and Surrey. SFU is integrally involved in the life of all three of its campus
communities, including participation in a range of urban renewal and development initiatives.
Further information about SFU is available at www.sfu.ca
Established in 2002, Simon Fraser University Surrey is the newest of the three SFU campuses.
Located in one of Canada's largest and fastest growing cities, SFU Surrey offers graduate and
undergraduate degree programs in all disciplines. Over 7,500 students attend classes at SFU Surrey,
benefiting from a smaller, supportive learning community and an intimate and friendly campus.
Over 200 faculty encourage the pursuit of academic excellence through first-year cohort programs
and unique programs in computing science, interactive arts and technology, mechatronic systems
engineering, entrepreneurship and innovation, mathematics operations research, criminology police
studies, and world literature. The University has plans to double the Surrey Campus enrollment by
2020, and add three new buildings to the Campus.
Fraser Library is a unique facility providing access to library, learning and research commons, media,
gaming and equipment services. The twenty-five thousand square foot library includes a gaming
room, the Yosef Wosk Student Learning Commons, a screening room, PC, MAC, and laptop
computers, and study space for 350 in group, quiet and silent-study rooms. Our collection includes
more than 28,000 monographs, 1500 games, 1500 DVDs and 2500 equipment sets. Continuing staff
include three liaison librarians and four library assistants, plus two limited term reference librarians
and seven temporary student technicians. Fraser Library staff are innovative, resourceful, energetic,
and actively collaborate with other campus units. For more information, see our website at
www.lib.sfu.ca/surrey
ASSIGNMENT
This position will be attractive to an engaged, innovative, and flexible individual with excellent
communication and collaborative skills; one who is highly motivated to embrace new environments
and technologies. The successful candidate will provide services to faculty and students in both
general and subject specific areas.
Liaison Librarian
• Liaise between the SFU Library and faculty, staff and students in:
o Criminology at SFU Surrey, in consultation with the Criminology liaison librarian at
the Burnaby Campus,
o Beedie School of Business at SFU Surrey, in consultation with Business liaison
librarians at Burnaby and Vancouver campus locations,
o other departments at Surrey, as required.
• Provide instruction and assistance to students and faculty in the use of information sources
through instructional seminars, guides, and individual consultations.
• Provide in-person and online reference service in all disciplines as a member of a team
serving students and faculty in an active research environment.
• Collaborate in the development and management of collections, selecting materials from
approval plan shipments and forms, order materials within guidelines, and provide support
for other collections activities.
• Work with other library and campus staff on library-wide project teams and committees
related to reference, instruction, collections, scholarly communications, and/or other library
services.
• Communicate with faculty and students about trends in scholarly communication and
publishing, and SFU Library's programs and initiatives in this area.
• Participate in campus community events.
• Develop professional knowledge and skills on a continuing basis.
• Participate in professional organizations.
Assistant Head
• Reporting to Head, Fraser Library, the incumbent will act as Head Librarian when required
and be responsible for the branch in her absence.
• Assists in hiring, training, mentoring, and supervising limited-term librarians and temporary
student technicians and is responsible for completing timesheets as needed.
• May be responsible for scheduling loans and reference desks.
Please note liaison areas and other duties, including assistant head responsibilities, will be reviewed
periodically and may change.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
• MLIS or equivalent from an accredited institution.
• Minimum 2 years professional library experience.
• Supervisory or leadership experience in library or other professional contexts.
• Reference, collections, and instruction experience.
• Demonstrated ability to assist library users from a variety of disciplines in a busy research
environment.
• Demonstrated ability to master information sources thoroughly and quickly.
• Demonstrated skill in planning and delivering instruction.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated facility with technology.
• Superior interpersonal and intercultural skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a collegial team environment.
• Demonstrated flexibility.
• Ability to take initiative, prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated success leading a team or project.
Preferred
• Understanding of the current issues in scholarly communication.
• Demonstrated record of ongoing professional development and contribution.
• Experience in a research library emphasizing business, criminology, or law.
• Reference, collections, and instruction experience in business, criminology, or law.
• Degree in business or criminology an asset.
• Experience leading or working with staff in a unionized environment.
TERMS OF APPOINTMENT
This is a full-time, term (August 2014 – August 2015) position. Some weekend and evening shifts
might be required.
Appointment will be made at the appropriate Librarian rank in accordance with SFU Policy A 12.03
http://www.sfu.ca/policies/academic/a12-03.htm
The successful applicant will be appointed at a salary level commensurate with his or her experience
and qualifications. SFU Librarian salary scales can be viewed at:
http://www.sfu.ca/content/dam/sfu/policies/files/academic_policies/20_series/JUL_2009_Librar
ianLibAdmin.pdf
Librarians are members of the SFU Faculty Association. Benefits information is available at the
following webpages:
http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/academic/a21-01.html
http://www.sfu.ca/human-resources/faculty.html
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will
be given priority. Simon Fraser University is committed to employment equity and encourages
applications from all qualified women and men, including visible minorities, aboriginal people and
persons with disabilities.
Under the authority of the University Act, personal information that is required by the University
for academic appointment competitions will be collected. For further details see:
http://www.sfu.ca/vpacademic/faculty_openings/Collection_Notice.html
TO APPLY
To be given assured consideration applications must be submitted by email in one consolidated PDF
document with cover letter, curriculum vitae and three references by 4PM PDT Wednesday, June
18th, 2014 to:
Susie Smith
Library Management Office
W.A.C. Bennett Library
Simon Fraser University
Phone: 778-782-4658
Fax: 778-782-3023
Email: library@sfu.ca