Assistant Librarian Associate Librarian

KUs excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences perspectives and backgrounds of our faculty staff students and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate and support each others success. We foster a culture of care where each person is seen heard and valued. When people feel a true sense of belonging we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things.

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES (70%)

• Builds relationships with individuals families and social business and political communities across the state to develop African American Experience collections through purchases and donations

• Consults with and supports organizations individuals and communities that wish to preserve and document their collections locally

• Partners with library and university colleagues to integrate original resources and perspectives into classes across the KU curriculum and to strengthen students primary source literacy

• Participates in developing and delivering instructional and outreach programming and activities including classes and tours; physical and virtual exhibits; and posts for Spencer Librarys shared blog

• Plans and staffs outreach events and activities to promote knowledge and use of the African American experience collections including travelingexhibitsand presentations to potential users and donors groups clubs etc.

• Serves as a public point of contact for this collection including inquiries from the media anddemonstratesthe ability to advocate for the importance of historical materials in understanding the past present and future

• Shares in providing referenceassistanceto students faculty and the public and consults on reference requests in assigned areas of responsibility

• Works collaboratively with colleagues across theLibrariesto promote the collections through digital initiatives social media community events K-12 outreach tours and other means.

• Works collaboratively as a member of project teams and other groups to advance the libraries strategic priorities

• Works collaboratively with faculty and other librarians to design and deliver library instruction to students

RESEARCH (20%)

• Contributes to the professions collective knowledge by engaging in scholarly researchactivity.

• Research may involve the publication of articles books book reviews grant-supported inquiry or editorial work (see Promotion and Tenure Procedures at KU Spring 2017).

SERVICE (10%)

• Engages in service to the Libraries the University and to professional organizations byparticipatingin committee work projects and other contributory achievements.

(Service and research percentages may not ordinarily be less than 5% each and willgenerally totalbetween 10% and 20%)

Required Qualificationsfor All Candidates

ALA-accreditedmasters degree in Library/Information Scienceor equivalent from a foreign institution by date of appointment OR a PhD in library and information science from an LIS program that also offered an ALA-accredited masters degree at the time the PhD was awarded

Appointment at the Associate Librarian rank requires a review of the candidates materials to ensure work at the level documented inKU Libraries Criteria for Academic Ranks of Library Faculty

This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have the foundational knowledge and skill set required to perform the duties of the position. The level of degree is based on accreditation requirements institutional standards of academic and professional excellence alignment with peer institution benchmarks and contributes to the credibility and effectiveness of the role within the university community.

1. Outreach with African American communities organizations and learning the history in the region

1. Working with an archival repository or special collections environment historical society or museum

1. Understanding relevant subject areas such as American Studies African American Studies or History

Kenneth Spencer Research Library (KSRL) at the University of Kansas (KU) Librariesseeksa creative and collaborative curator for our established and growing African American Experience (AAE) collections are a major area of research and focus documenting the legacy of African American individuals families businesses churches and schools through substantial collections of correspondence photographs organizationaleducationaland business records books pamphlets and newspapers. The curator will spearhead efforts to build and share collections that reflect the lives and experiences of African Americans in Kansas and the region. They will work with colleagues to develop an established community-based collecting program that supports the teaching and research missions of the university. The curator will collaborate with KU faculty and other instructors teaching in varied subject areas and with students and other scholars to interpret the rich resources of the collection through instruction reference service and public outreach. Working collaboratively across theLibrariesand the campus the curator will also support and collaborate on robust cataloging and description preservation and digitization of collection materials.

KSRL has built collections related to Kansas and Kansans from allwalks of lifesince itsinceptionand has devoted significant resources to our African American Experience to the Director Kenneth Spencer Research Library the curator will also participate in the work of Kenneth Spencer Research Library and KU Libraries as a whole and may supervise student assistants or project position will work closely with the Kansas Collection Curator and Curator of Latino/a Collections. This on-site position will requireperiodic in-state travel and occasional work in the evenings or weekends.

This position requires a commitment to understanding Kansas cultures and the skills to be successful as part of a collaborative professional team.

This position requires occasional evening and weekend workalong with somein-state overnight stays.

The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the is a full-time 12-month tenure-track faculty position. Rank considerations are based on professional performance research and service experience sufficient to qualify for appointment at the rank of Assistant Librarian or Associate Librarian.

See the Libraries Criteria for Academic Ranks document: about theLibrariespromotion and tenure procedures can be found at the following website: Candidate Instruction
Applicants should attach a cover letter resume/CV and contact information for three professional references (including at least onepreviousor current supervisor) to this online application. Please use your cover letter to address how you meet the required and preferred qualifications. An online application must be completed to be considered for this position.

Review of applications will begin on January 19th 2026. Please submit a complete application no later than midnight on January 18th for consideration.