POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT   March 2009 University of California, Berkeley Chemical Information Specialist/Cheminformatics Librarian Chemistry & Chemical Engineering Library Hiring Range: Assistant Librarian II – Librarian III $47,087 - $82,524, based upon qualifications This is a three-year appointment with possibility for extension.

The University of California, Berkeley is seeking a librarian with a scientific background and degree in chemistry or a closely related discipline who is interested in developing an informatics-based (cheminformatics/bioinformatics) instructional program for students and faculty as well as serve as a liaison to a select group of interdisciplinary science and engineering research staff.

This person will be a member of the Chemistry & Chemical Engineering Library, but will also participate in the provision of reference service to the broader UC Berkeley science and engineering community as well as develop and teach relevant course-related and drop-in instructional classes. As liaison, he/she will work closely with a select group of research staff at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBL), an affiliated organization that has contracted with The Library for information services. This person will also have collection development and public service responsibilities for this group of researchers including reference work at the LBL information service point.

UC Berkeley librarians are expected to participate in Library-wide planning and governance, to work effectively in a shared decision-making environment and to be active professionally. In order to advance in the Librarian series, the successful candidate is expected to show evidence of professional growth and contributions beyond the primary assignment.

The Environment

The UC Berkeley Library is an internationally renowned research and teaching facility at one of the nation’s premiere public universities. In a highly-diverse and intellectually-rich environment, Berkeley serves a campus community of 23,000 undergraduate students, 9,000 graduate students, and 1,500 faculty. The Library is comprised of 20 libraries, including the Doe/Moffitt Libraries, The Bancroft Library, and the East Asian Library collectively offering extensive collections in all formats and robust services to connect users with those collections and build their related research skills. The Library has a collection of more than 10 million volumes and a collections budget of over $17 million. The Library has a current operations budget of over $48 million with nearly 375 FTE employees and more than 600 part-time student employees. The Library is a member of the Center for Research Libraries (CRL), the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), and the Research Libraries Group (RLG), and is an active participant in the California Digital Library (CDL). Through participation in exciting initiatives such as the Google Digitization Project, UC System’s WorldCat Local pilot, and New Directions Initiative, the Library continues to explore new approaches and roles for research libraries. Discover more about the Library and our initiatives via the following Web site http://www.lib.berkeley.edu.

The Chemistry & Chemical Engineering Library is one of eight science and engineering libraries of The Library of the University of California, Berkeley. The Chemistry & Chemical Engineering Library serves a campus wide audience for research in the chemical sciences, chemical engineering and biotechnology. The collection includes over 85,000 volumes, a rich collection of electronic and print journals and a wide variety of electronic resources. More information about the library is available at http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/CHEM.

Responsibilities

• Develop and teach educational programs related to the selection and use of information resources, in particular, cheminformatics/bioinformatics resources, for students and researchers in a multidisciplinary science and engineering environment including structural and chemical biology, life sciences, materials science, physics, biochemical engineering and biotechnology.
• Serve as a liaison to a select group of researchers connected with LBL with a broad multidisciplinary subject range including life sciences, chemical sciences, environmental sciences, physics and engineering.
• Collaborate with science and engineering librarians regarding educational programs, digital library services and collection development.
• Share responsibility for reference services including electronic reference and individual consultations.
• Maintain current awareness of newly developed databases and resources and develop innovative approaches to disseminating this information.

Qualifications

Required

• MLS from an ALA-accredited institution or equivalent degree.
• Understanding of and skill in the use and manipulation of cheminformatics/bioinformatics resources, software and search engines.
• Demonstrated aptitude for teaching and developing user-oriented documentation.
• Subject expertise in areas of chemistry, molecular biology or genomic sciences.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, organizational and analytic skills.
• Ability to work creatively, collaborative and effectively both as a team member and independently.
• Academic background in chemistry, cheminformatics, or closely related discipline.

Preferred

• Librarian experience in a research or academic setting.
• Advanced degree in chemistry or closely related discipline.
• Experience with integrating new and emerging technologies into the delivery of information service.
• Knowledge of XML and its application in the chemical sciences.

DEADLINE : Consideration will be given to applications received by May 15, 2009.

Professional librarians at UC are academic appointees and are represented by an exclusive bargaining agent, University Council - American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT). This position is in the bargaining unit.

Librarians are entitled to appropriate professional leave, two days per month of vacation leave, one day per month of sick leave, and all other benefits granted to non-faculty academic personnel. UC has an excellent retirement system and sponsors a variety of group health, dental, vision and life insurance plans in addition to other benefits. Relocation assistance is provided.

The Library at the University of California, Berkeley is committed to the support and encouragement of a multicultural environment and seeks candidates who can make positive and imaginative contributions in a context of ethnic and cultural diversity.

Applicants should apply in writing, including with their letter a complete statement of qualifications, a full resume of their education and relevant experience, and the names, addresses, and phone numbers of three references who are knowledgeable about their qualifications for this position. Send applications to:

Barbara Kornstein
Academic Personnel Specialist
Library Human Resources Department
110 The Library
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
Or FAX to: 510.642.8675
Or EMAIL: librec@library.berkeley.edu

Applications received via email preferred.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer

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