The Asian Studies Librarian works with a team of subject librarians in Central Library, one of nine campus libraries within the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries, to support the research and teaching mission of the Vanderbilt College of Arts and Science. As part of a collaborative team of librarians, this position will partner with faculty, students, and staff to support the teaching and research in the College of Arts and Science and academic schools, departments, and cognate programs in the humanities and social sciences. The Asian Studies Librarian will be primary liaison for the Asian Studies and ?. This position will support area specific collection development and research support services, as well as participate in instruction for the first-year A&S College Core.

The Asian Studies Librarian works closely with colleagues in Central Library and across the Vanderbilt Libraries to proactively support trans-disciplinary programs and initiatives and to design, deliver, and assess curriculum-aligned educational programming, conduct outreach to academic programs and campus groups, and provide reference and consultative support to students, faculty, and library colleagues.

The Asian Studies Librarian develops and shares expertise in anti-racist, accessible and inclusive pedagogies and services and is expected to contribute to, and make tangible, the Library's commitment to the principles and values of inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, and belonging through their work and the work of the Library. Professional staff are expected to support and participate in system-wide library committees or other strategic initiatives as an integral component of their responsibilities.

  About the Work Unit

The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries at Vanderbilt University comprises nine libraries, as well as service departments in collections services, digital scholarship & scholarly communications, information technology and digital services, and teaching & learning. We seek to create a welcoming environment and serve as a partner in research and scholarship. The libraries are dynamic places for faculty, staff, students, and alumni to reflect and discover. We also strive to be a workplace in which staff at every level continuously grow in knowledge and skills, staying abreast of advances and trends in librarianship to power relevant, vibrant
research libraries. 

The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries are fundamental to the university’s goal of advancing scholarship and learning. We collect, preserve and make accessible a wide variety of resources, we partner with faculty and students to shape research, and we encourage the development of informed scholars and engaged citizens.
 

Key Functions and Expected Performance

Develops and manages collections to support research and instruction in Asian Studies by formulating policies and selecting materials in relevant formats and languages; monitoring and reviewing gifts; managing the materials budgets including endowment funds Provides expert, in-depth reference, consultation, and information services to the Vanderbilt University community. Serves as the primary liaison for the Department of Asian Studies, as well as an additional A&S department to be determined Actively engage with the faculty and students in all learning, teaching, and research contexts, whether physically located anywhere on campus or virtually based Identify and develop outreach and engagement events that are aligned with campus strategic initiatives. Seek opportunities for collaboration around teaching and research, in particular with campus partners and/or library colleagues on grant-funded initiatives or projects Represent the library locally, regionally, and nationally in relevant professional associations  Actively contribute to the information science profession in the areas of Asian Studies librarianship, information literacy, pedagogy (digital and otherwise), among other areas of scholarly interest in Asian Studies, while also keeping abreast of latest developments in these areas and other related trends in academic librarianship. Participate in the libraries’ instructional program for the first-year A&S College Core

 

Supervisory Relationships
This position does not have supervisory responsibility. Reporting to the Assistant College Librarian for Arts and Science, this role is based in the principal arts, social science, and humanities campus library (Central Library), and organizationally located in the Libraries’ Teaching and Learning division.

 

Education and Certifications

Required: Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA accredited institution in-hand or completed within six months after date of hire, or equivalent advanced degree and experience. Required: Substantive experience in one or more fields germane to this position, such as East Asian Studies, Asian American Studies, or Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Languages and Literatures. Required: Full professional fluency in reading, writing, and speaking English and Chinese, in addition to basic knowledge of Japanese. Preferred: Some familiarity with Korean, or willingness to learn. Preferred: Experience providing public service and/or research support. Preferred: Experience delivering instructional programming Preferred: An additional graduate degree in a field related to Asian Studies, or cognate fields in the humanities or social sciences with substantial relevant coursework. Preferred: Experience building research collections in a library setting.
Communications Internal: Frequent contact and complex communication with various departments, staff, and faculty members External: Regular contact with faculty and administrators outside of Vanderbilt University Student/Faculty/Patron: Frequent contact with students, faculty and library users

 

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are.  We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education. 

Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.