Research and Instruction Librarian

Research And Instruction Librarian

Concordia University, Nebraska, an institution of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, believes, teaches, and confesses that the Holy Scriptures are the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God. As people called by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel to saving faith in Christ Jesus, the Word of God guides all we do in leading, teaching, and learning. Concordia equips students for lives of learning, service, and leadership in the home, church, and world. Come and belong…join our team of passionate service leaders! Concordia University is needing a Research and Instruction Librarian who wants to be a part of this mission. The main campus (and this role) is located in Seward, Nebraska. If you thrive in a Christian atmosphere and community-driven environment, you will enjoy Concordia University's community feel.

Position Purpose: The Research and Instruction Librarian provides leadership for the development, delivery, and assessment of research assistance and information literacy instruction at Link Library. The position collaborates closely with faculty to integrate information literacy, research skills, and effective use of library resources into the curriculum. The librarian provides individual and group research support to undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and other library users; develops instructional and research resources; and contributes to assessment and continuous improvement of library services. The position also supports targeted outreach activities that strengthen faculty and student engagement with library instruction, research services, collections, and resources.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the planning, development, coordination, assessment, and continuous improvement of Link Library's research and instruction services, incorporating current best practices, emerging technologies, and innovative approaches to teaching and research support.
• Coordinate and provide in-person and online research assistance to undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff, and other library users, including individual research consultations and specialized research support.
• Design, deliver, and assess information literacy and research instruction in collaboration with faculty, incorporating student learning outcomes, active-learning strategies, appropriate technologies, and effective assessment methods.
• Develop and maintain instructional and research resources, including research guides, tutorials, handouts, online learning objects, and other resources that support student learning and independent research.
• Serve as a library liaison to designated academic departments and programs, developing collaborative relationships with faculty and identifying opportunities to integrate library resources, research skills, and information literacy into courses and curricula.
• Provide specialized research consultations and support for faculty and students, including assistance with advanced research strategies, scholarly resources, databases, citation tools, and other research-related technologies and services.
• Develop and deliver workshops and training opportunities on research strategies, library databases and resources, information literacy, scholarly communication, emerging research tools, and other topics relevant to the academic community.
• Collaborate with faculty and library colleagues in collection development, helping identify resources that support teaching, learning, research, and academic programs.
• Participate in the assessment of research and instruction services, including gathering and analyzing data, documenting instructional activity and outcomes, contributing to annual reports, and supporting accreditation and institutional assessment needs.
• Support targeted outreach and communication efforts that increase awareness and use of library research, instruction, collections, and academic support services. Collaborate with library colleagues and campus partners on selected programs, orientations, events, and initiatives that directly advance the library's academic mission.
• Represent Link Library on appropriate University committees, working groups, orientations, and academic initiatives, particularly those related to student learning, first-year experience, general education, research, information literacy, and academic success.
• Maintain professional knowledge of current and emerging trends in academic librarianship, research services, information literacy, scholarly communication, artificial intelligence, educational technology, and higher education, and apply relevant developments to library services.
• Contribute to the collaborative work of Link Library, including departmental planning, special projects, selected library programming, and other duties as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS/MLS) or equivalent from an ALA-accredited program preferred. Candidates currently enrolled in an ALA-accredited master's program who are nearing completion of the degree are encouraged to apply. The degree should be completed within 12 months of appointment.

• Minimum of 1 year experience directly related to the position duties.

Special Position Requirements:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to communicate professionally with a diverse constituency.
• Understanding of customer service principles and their application across generations.
• Committed to an environment of encouragement, teamwork, and excellence within a Christian University.
• Responsible for creating an environment which is consistent with the values of the University and fosters the development of students, staff, and faculty. This environment is one which is designed to build a positive character and foster Christian faith formation.
• Demonstrate character qualities of enthusiasm, courtesy, flexibility, integrity, gratitude, kindness, self-control, perseverance, and punctuality.
• Able to work within a culture of teamwork with emotional stability and positive words/actions.
• Be professional and courteous in dealing with students, families, faculty and staff, and the general public.
• Values and beliefs aligned with The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
• Must follow security policies that correspond to the level of sensitivity of the data they handle.
• Should promptly report any security concerns or incidents to designated personnel.
• Maintain security and patching of personal devices connected to Institutional email.
• Maintain high standards for institutional, staff, faculty, employee, and financial data used for business operations.

Preferences:

• Additional language skills helpful (e.g. Spanish, ASL, Chinese).
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with faculty.
• Experience developing research guides, tutorials, or other instructional materials.
• Familiarity with academic databases, discovery systems, and research technologies.
• Knowledge of information literacy frameworks and assessment practices.
• Familiarity with emerging technologies, including the responsible use of generative AI in research and information literacy.
• Ability to manage multiple instruction requests, communicate promptly with faculty, and independently coordinate instructional responsibilities.