Job Summary
Job Tittle: Biological Sciences Librarian (Librarian I/II; Permanent Status Stream)
Date Posted: 02/12/2025
Closing Date: 03/14/2025
Req ID: 41525
Job Category: Librarian - Permanent Status Stream
Faculty/Division: Library
Department: Earth Sciences Library
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Are you looking for challenging, meaningful work in a supportive and diverse environment? Are you looking for a career at one of Canada’s top employers? Work where the world comes to think, discover and learn. Consider a career at the University of Toronto.
About the University of Toronto Libraries
The University of Toronto Libraries system is the largest academic library in Canada and is consistently ranked in the top ten among academic research libraries in North America. The system consists of 40 libraries located on three university campuses: St. George, Mississauga, and Scarborough. This array of college libraries, special collections, and specialized libraries and information centres supports the teaching and research requirements of over 300 graduate programs, more than 70 professional programs, and about 700 undergraduate degree programs. In addition to more than 12 million volumes in 341 languages, the library system currently provides access to millions of electronic resources in various forms and over 31,000 linear metres of archival material. More than 150,000 new print volumes are acquired each year. The Libraries' data centre houses more than 600 servers with a storage capacity of 1.5 petabytes.
About the Earth Sciences and Mathematical Sciences Libraries
The Earth Sciences Library (Noranda) is the main library at the University of Toronto (U of T) for botany, forestry, geology, and ecological evolutionary biology. With over 110,000 volumes, materials consist of books, periodicals, theses, and government and technical reports. Noranda provides a peaceful, quiet, and comfortable space for independent study. The Mathematical Sciences Library collection is focused on mathematics and statistics and contains over 40,000 volumes of monographs, serials, and theses. This library is embedded in the Department of Mathematics and is well-used by graduate and undergraduate students alike.
The Opportunity
The University of Toronto Libraries (UTL) seeks a highly motivated, adaptable, and collaborative librarian to fill important roles related to liaison librarianship at the Earth Sciences and Mathematical Sciences Libraries. The Biological Sciences Librarian will report directly to the Head of the Earth Sciences and Mathematical Sciences Libraries and will work collaboratively with other members of the library team and with colleagues across the University of Toronto Libraries.
The successful candidate will:
- Actively build relationships with Earth Sciences and Mathematical Sciences Libraries’ students, faculty, staff, and researchers
- Work with faculty to develop and embed information literacy in Cell & Systems Biology and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology curriculums and other related departments and programs, and work with other librarians across UTL who support the life sciences
- Provide research support to students and faculty through in-depth consultations and reference desk services at both libraries
- Identify and implement opportunities for student engagement and promotion of library services and resources
- Proactively design, plan and execute projects within a small team in line with the goals of both libraries
- Supervise, hire, train, and mentor student casual staff
- In collaboration with colleagues across UTL, build, maintain, and assess library collections, ensuring that library resources meet the evolving, increasingly digital scholarly needs of students and faculty
- Provide administrative oversight of the Earth Sciences and Mathematical Sciences Libraries when needed
- Provide support to researchers for research data management (RDM) and open access requirements, as mandated by funding agencies and open education initiatives
- Provide support to faculty and students on the effective and ethical use of AI tools in the context of research
- Participate in committees and working groups as appropriate
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master’s degree in library, archival or information science from an accredited institution
- Demonstrated commitment to the values of inclusivity, diversity, equity, anti-racism and accessibility
- Willingness to take initiative and be a self-starter
- Proven organizational skills and an ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively
- Outstanding service orientation and commitment to supporting patrons and colleagues
- Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as a collaborative team member
- Strong interpersonal, presentation, and communication skills
- Demonstrated ability to proactively identify, analyze, and solve problems
- Knowledge of best practices in teaching
- Demonstrated understanding of the role of technology in library services and resources and the impact on diverse user communities
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Teaching experience
- Experience in the provision of services such as reference and research support, collection building, and liaison work for academic and research communities
- Academic background in the sciences or life sciences/biology or equivalent work experience in these subject areas
- Experience in supervising, hiring, training, and mentoring staff
- Experience with managing projects
- Familiarity with concepts important to user groups such as scholarly communications, research data management, instructional technology, open access requirements, and/or effective and ethical use of AI
Salary and Terms of Appointment:
It is anticipated that this position will be filled at the Librarian I or II level, subject to review and experience. Minimum salary: LIB I: $76,403; LIB II: $79,720 (Salary is dependent on rank at hire and qualifications). This is a permanent status stream appointment.
Benefits: We offer generous benefits packages to all employees. Additional information is available at: https://people.utoronto.ca/careers/benefits/
Additional information:
Librarians at the University of Toronto are members of the University of Toronto Faculty Association.
How to Apply:
Application Materials Required: A cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references of which at least two have supervised your work. Please attach a single electronic file into the “Resume” Field. (MS Word or pdf) with a file name convention of Surname, FirstName, 41525.
The University of Toronto Libraries thanks all applicants but will only contact applicants selected for an interview.
University of Toronto Library System: http://onesearch.library.utoronto.ca/
University of Toronto: https://people.utoronto.ca/
Policies for librarians: https://people.utoronto.ca/policies/
This search aligns with the University’s commitment to strategically and proactively promote diversity among our community members (Statement on Equity, Diversity & Excellence). Recognizing that Black, Indigenous, and other Racialized communities have experienced inequities that have developed historically and are ongoing, we strongly welcome and encourage candidates from those communities to apply.
University of Toronto Libraries’ Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Statement:
https://www.library.utoronto.ca/inclusion-diversity-and-equity-statement
University of Toronto Libraries' Anti-Racism Statement:
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
Diversity Statement
The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.
As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.
Accessibility Statement
The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.
The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.
If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact uoft.careers@utoronto.ca.