Librarian Position FAQs

SJSU Library will be hiring a Special Collections Librarian and a Digital & Data Literacy Librarian in the 2024-2025 academic year. These are tenure-track faculty positions.

Learn more about the positions, library, and University by reviewing the FAQs below or attending one of two Zoom meetings:

Wednesday, March 19 at 12:00-1:00 pm PDT or
Wednesday, March 19 at 6-7:00 pm PDT

No registration is required and the meeting link is the same for both times.

Do you have additional questions about faculty librarian positions at the MLK Library? Feel free to contact the committee chair:

Ann Agee, ann.agee@sjsu.edu

We look forward to hearing from you!

General University, Library, or Position Questions

What is the best part of working at your library?

We are a fun, dedicated team of professionals who facilitate community building, innovation, and knowledge creation. We are also proudly committed to bringing anti-racism practices into our library services.

What are the liaison and teaching responsibilities?

Liaison responsibilities apply only to the Special Collections Librarian position. When assigned as a liaison to one of the teaching departments, the librarian is responsible for the collection development within that subject and research area. The librarian serves as the main point of contact for students and faculty in that department for services such as subject-specific reference and information needs. This also includes outreach and providing information literacy instruction for courses in the department. Librarians generally do not teach stand-alone information literacy courses. Instead, the librarians collaborate with instructors in order to provide information literacy services such as class visits, research demonstrations, workshops, tutorials, and guides.

What are the reference responsibilities?

The Digital & Data Literacy Librarian position will not be part of the library's reference services. The Special Collections Librarian will be answering student, faculty, and public reference questions via email and in person as needed.

Is a work-from-home/remote option available for the positions?

This position offers a hybrid schedule with a minimum of three days working on-campus and two days off-campus.

Are the positions part of a union? Can I see the contract?

Yes, these positions are part of Unit 3 - California Faculty Association. The collective bargaining agreement was just ratified. See https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/faculty-staff/labor-and-employee-relations/Documents/unit3-cfa/2022-2026-CFA-CBA.pdf

What benefits are available with this position?

The California State University System offers excellent benefits. You can read more about them here: https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/careers/benefits/Documents/employee-benefits-summary.pdf

Are relocation expenses covered if I accept an offer for a position?

Relocation should be discussed with the hiring manager when an offer is made.

Will you consider new MLIS graduates?

Unless specified otherwise, yes. An MLIS degree from an ALA-accredited institution must be completed before a candidate's start date for any entry-level position. A copy of your transcripts conferring your MLIS degree will be requested at the time of your finalist interview or soon thereafter.

What is the interview process like?

The process begins with a hiring committee of 3-5 librarians who review all of the applications. Next, invitations for Zoom interviews are sent to eligible candidates, in which we typically set aside an hour for each interview. Interview questions are shared in advance. Finalist candidates will be invited for longer, follow-up interviews. Often the candidate presents to the library on a specific prompt and has informational meetings with the library faculty and administration.

Retention, Tenure, and Promotion Questions

What are the tenure and promotion requirements at the SJSU MLK Library?

Tenure-track librarians are evaluated for tenure based on three overarching categories: Academic Assignment; Service; and Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity (RSCA). More information about the requirements of each of these areas can be found in the library's Tenure Criteria policy.

You will be formally reviewed at the beginning of years 3 and 5 of your assignment. You will create a comprehensive dossier that documents all of the work you have completed in the categories listed above since your start date. For the years in which you are not required to submit a dossier, you will undergo an annual review and summarize the work and accomplishments for the previous year.

For individuals who receive service credit, their evaluative calendars will adjust to accommodate the number of service credit years received and when they commenced work at SJSU.

Are librarians provided with a mentor to help them navigate the tenure process?

We do have formal mentoring program for new librarians to become familiar with the department, campus units, and various processes, and tenure-track librarians are supported by the department chair. It is a collaborative environment and librarians work closely with one another on projects and publications, and offer support at every stage of the tenure process.

Can you explain the differences in rank at SJSU?

The commonly used faculty rank levels at SJSU are Senior Assistant, Associate, and Full Librarian. Most librarians begin at the Senior Assistant rank, apply for promotion to Associate when applying for tenure, and then apply for promotion to Full Librarian several years after tenure.

Ranks determine a librarian's salary and can influence the level of responsibilities for a faculty member. It is generally expected that as you move up in rank, your service work for the university (ex: university-level committees, library committees, task forces) increases as well.

Can you elaborate on the amount/degree of scholarly research that is required?

Peer-reviewed publications are generally expected and the university recognizes that every scholar's path is different. To see examples, visit SJSU ScholarWorks, SJSU's institutional repository, to see the work of current SJSU librarians. https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/lib_pub/

Do librarians receive professional development funds?

Absolutely! Professional development is encouraged and supported by the library administration, and many librarians have been funded. Funds are available each year, but can be dependent upon a fluctuating budget. Additionally, the University provides annual grants and seed money which librarians use for research and scholarly activities.

What percent of working hours are devoted to scholarly research?

Faculty have the autonomy to schedule and set aside time to work on research and scholarly activities. Per the faculty union contract, faculty have "assigned time" to pursue their research/scholarly agenda during the first two years of the probationary period, which amounts to 8 hours a week.

Are librarians eligible for sabbaticals?

Yes, librarians are eligible for one-semester- and two-semester-long sabbaticals.

What percent of current SJSU librarians have achieved tenure?

We are proud to say that a large majority of the tenure-track librarians achieve tenure. The tenure track is typically 6 years, it may be shorter for some due to credit given for prior work and research experience. A maximum of two years may be given based on prior experience.

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