Job Summary
Job Tittle: Special Collections Librarian (Librarian I; 2 Year CLTA)
Date Posted: 02/18/2025
Closing Date: 03/21/2025
Req ID: 41711
Job Category: Librarian - Contractually Limited Term Appointment
Faculty/Division: UofT Mississauga
Department: UTM: Library
Campus: University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM)
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.
The University of Toronto Mississauga Library
The University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) is thirty-three kilometers west of the downtown St. George campus. Renowned for its natural beauty, the campus is situated next to the Credit River. The U of T Mississauga Library, located in the Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre (HMALC), is a leading, world-class library committed to providing students with an open and collaborative environment – one that embeds rich information and technology resources, integrates expert services into a dynamic and imaginative experience, and inspires and facilitates learning. The Library is a state-of-the-art teaching and learning centre that emphasizes people space. It includes a Learning Commons, two smart classrooms, an audio-video recording studio, a digitization studio, the Li Koon Chun Finance Learning Centre and a dedicated space for archives and special collections.
The Library’s archives and special collections is the most extensive research library in Canada for Game Studies. As the intellectual and cultural hub for Game Studies programs at the University of Toronto, the Library is committed to engaging with faculty, students, and the wider community to provide exceptional resources and services in support of scholarship, research, and learning. Through continued expansion of its collections and partnerships, the Library holds the Syd Bolton Collection of video games and gaming technologies, the Personal Computer Museum of computer games and personal computers, and the EP Media Ltd. fonds of game journalism audiovisual records for use in curriculum, research, and public scholarship. The Library has completed multiple digital projects to improve discoverability and accessibility of its rare and unique collections through various partnerships and is committed to developing collections in Game Studies, in collaboration with other libraries at the UTL and external partners and community partners. The Library also organizes a range of public outreach events working with campus partners, local community groups, and national and international partners to inspire scholarship and cultivate relations with the campus and the community.
The Opportunity
The University of Toronto Mississauga Library invites applications from innovative and service-oriented librarians for a two year contractually limited term appointment (CLTA) in the position of Special Collections Librarian. Reporting to the Head, Collections & Digital Scholarship, the incumbent will work collaboratively with a team of colleagues at the Library to provide specialized support for the acquisition, arrangement, description, preservation, and access to the Library’s growing Game Studies archives and special collections. The incumbent will also participate in teaching, reference, and outreach to support and promote the use of the archives and special collections in curriculum and research for game studies and other areas. Finally, the successful candidate will also work with colleagues across units and campuses at the University of Toronto by participating on relevant working groups and committees.
- Acquire and maintain special collections of resources in various formats that are relevant to academic programs at UTM.
- Participate in the Library’s Reading Room access services for archives and special collections and provide reference and research support to students, faculty members, staff, and visiting scholars.
- Design and deliver tailored instruction and learning opportunities in various formats using special collections to support the curriculum in Game Studies and other relevant areas, enhancing teaching, learning, and research at the University.
- Support innovative resources and services, including digital projects and special collections preservation, to enhance research and academic excellence at the University.
- Conduct outreach in physical and virtual settings collaborating with campus partners, local community groups, and national and international partners.
- Facilitate connections with external researchers, donors, and international partners.
- Engage in professional development, committees, and other scholarly activities.
- In collaboration with colleagues across UTL, builds, maintains and assesses library collections, ensuring that library resources meet the evolving, increasingly digital scholarly needs of students and faculty.
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.
- Knowledge of game history, technologies, culture, and preservation.
- Understanding of collection, preservation, and access to multimedia archival records and special collections materials in all formats.
- Demonstrated interest in area studies librarianship, archives or special collections.
- Outstanding interpersonal, organizational, presentation, and communication skills.
- Outstanding service orientation and commitment to supporting patrons and colleagues
- Demonstrated flexibility, creativity and ability to innovate and adapt to a changing environment.
- Demonstrated understanding of the role of technology in library services and resources and the impact on diverse user communities
- Strong initiative and ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively.
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and independently.
- Demonstrated commitment to providing outstanding public service.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Working knowledge of image, audiovisual, and software conversion for access and preservation.
- Understanding of the Canadian legal landscape for game preservation and access.
- Knowledge of trends or developments in conservation of computing technologies and artifacts.
- Knowledge of current trends in Game Studies
- 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: This is a 2 year Contractually Limited Term Appointment.
It is anticipated that this position will be filled at the Librarian I level, subject to review and experience. Minimum salary: LIB I: $76,403 (Salary is dependent on rank at hire and qualifications)
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, 41711.
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.