The Pratt Institute Libraries seek a Critical & Inclusive Pedagogy Librarian (CIPL) for a new 12-month per year, full-time, tenure-track faculty position. Located within the Libraries’ Research & Collection Development Department, the CIPL will support Pratt’s faculty as they diversify and decolonize their curricula and will guide the library in aligning its own inclusive pedagogical approaches within a critical librarianship framework. This position is part of a larger focus, within Pratt Institute Libraries and the Pratt Institute as a whole, on diversity, equity, accessibility, civic engagement, social justice, and wellness.
Pratt is deeply committed to advancing its goals for DEI Accessibility (DEIA) as evidenced in Pratt’s current Strategic Plan in its goals related to student success, academic excellence, and civic engagement. They are further refined in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategic Plan in pillars focused on creating a welcoming environment and recruiting, retaining, and supporting diverse students, faculty, and staff. How these themes are woven into the curriculum is evidenced in the All Institute Learning Goals and this all informed the Libraries’ own Strategic Plan in its goal to integrate principles of DEIA across all aspects of the Libraries’ teaching, programming, service provision, collection development, and partnerships.
Working collaboratively with colleagues in the Libraries, academic departments, and the Center for Teaching & Learning, the successful candidate will focus on making Pratt’s research environments more inclusive and equitable. The CIPL will apply inclusive teaching and critical research practices to their outreach and engagement work and will guide the integration of critical information literacy philosophies and practices within Libraries’ services. This work includes taking a leadership role in shaping library teaching and research support practices to be more inclusive and relevant to students’ lives with a goal towards improved student success and retention. The CIPL will also lead efforts to make students and faculty aware of the diversity of authors, subjects, and topics in the Libraries’ print and electronic collections while ensuring their relevance to the curricula at Pratt.
The Pratt Institute Libraries support the research and education of approximately 5,200 undergraduate and graduate students across campuses in Brooklyn and Manhattan. The Libraries provide research support to students, faculty, staff, and visiting scholars pursuing teaching and learning in areas of art, design, architecture, information studies, writing, and other fields of academic inquiry and creative work. Pratt Institute Libraries’ educational vision includes a demonstrated commitment to the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion in teaching, research, educational support, and community values. Library faculty have liaison responsibilities that include collection development and management, information literacy instruction, and outreach. Pratt recognizes the strength that stems from a diversity of perspectives, ideas, backgrounds, approaches, and experiences. Together, we aspire to be a place that always welcomes and encourages individuals of all backgrounds to contribute and be part of Pratt culture.
More about Pratt Institute Libraries
As a top-ranked college with opportunities in art, design, architecture, liberal arts and sciences, and information studies, Pratt offers nearly 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The Institute’s impact expands beyond its 25-acre residential campus in Brooklyn to cutting-edge facilities throughout the borough, a landmark building and public gallery in Manhattan, as well as an extension campus, PrattMWP College of Art and Design in Utica, New York. Since its founding in 1887, Pratt has prioritized diversity and inclusion, welcoming students from all walks of life while developing and sustaining pathways to more equitable workplaces and careers.
More about Pratt Institute
Job Responsibilities
Outreach
- Serve as library liaison to assigned departments.
- Develop and maintain partnerships with Pratt faculty and administration to support initiatives that advance inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility goals, particularly in areas that positively affect academic engagement, social engagement, affordability, and students’ ability to navigate the institute.
- Initiate outreach to potential campus-wide educational partners in areas related to social justice, intercultural competency, and critical pedagogy.
- Participate in Libraries-wide initiatives to examine current practices and develop activities, outreach tools, or programs that support and integrate accessibility, equity, and diversity.
- Partner with a range of campus stakeholders to champion library programming that features a broad array of perspectives and approaches with an emphasis on inclusion and accessibility.
- Communicate value of Open Access publishing (OA), Open Educational Resources(OER), and zero-cost textbook adoptions to campus faculty and administration.
Teaching & Research Support
- Apply critical teaching and learning practices to library engagement work through programming, outreach, and library instruction.
- Guide colleagues in updating the expectations and goals of library instruction, research support, program design, and collection development.
- Work with the Student Success Assessment Librarian to more fully integrate assessment of Library-wide services, policies, and DEIA initiatives geared towards student success and retention.
- Collaborate with classroom faculty to incorporate ethical and critical research practices into curricula and coursework.
Collection Development
- Assist in the evaluation and implementation of OA and OER programs, services, and initiatives.
- Address diversity, equity, and inclusion through the collection development, assessment, and management for assigned subject areas.
- Collaborate with faculty and departments to map collection development strategies to syllabi and curricula.
Research & Scholarship
- Engage actively in internal and external professional development as both participant and presenter.
- Publish and present on topics relevant to critical pedagogy and inclusive learning including critical librarianship, open education, collection development, outreach, and building community.
- Maintain currency in scholarship and best practices related to ethical research and inclusive pedagogy in librarianship specifically and higher education generally.
The Libraries & The Institute
- Serve on Institute and Library committees.
- Participate in state, regional, or national professional service activities.
- Co-chair the Library DEI Taskforce.
- Meet requirements for promotion and tenure as scheduled and defined by the Libraries’ Peer Review Committee.
- Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.
Qualifications
Education
- ALA accredited Master’s degree in Library Science or equivalent.
Experience
- Commitment to research and participation in professional organizations is required.
- Experience with or related coursework regarding open or inclusive pedagogy.
- Demonstrated experience using critical librarianship to build a more inclusive and equitable library and information landscape is preferred.
- Interest and experience implementing and using Open Educational Resources (OER) and other affordable learning solutions is preferred.
- Previous experience working in an academic library is desirable.
- Experience developing and executing effective outreach efforts is desirable.
Essential Knowledge and Skills
- Demonstrated skills in planning and implementing services and resources.
- Demonstrated knowledge of contemporary reference practice.
- Fluency with current library pedagogy, information literacy standards, and practices.
- Commitment to supporting students from underrepresented communities, such as BIPOC and first-generation students.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to set and modify work priorities independently with a high degree of initiative.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
Salary, Benefits, and Faculty Support
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. Salary range is $82,500-87,500 .
Generous Benefits:
- 403B retirement program
- Supplemental retirement account
- Tuition benefits for employees and dependents
- Tuition exchange program
- Summer hours
- Flexible Spending Accounts - commuter, medical, dependent care
- Child care benefit
- Basic life and AD&D insurance provided by Pratt
- Medical, dental, and vision care coverage
- Paid time off - vacation days, sick leave, research leave, and major holidays off
- Additional perks - free entry to select museums and cultural institutions, free use of campus recreation facilities
Application Instructions
- A complete curriculum vitae listing the names and contact information for three professional references.
- A cover letter outlining 1) your interest in the position; 2) at least one qualification not included in your resume; and 3) how this position aligns with your career goals.
- A 1 page statement describing how you have worked to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in your career and how you would continue to do so at Pratt.
- The names and contact information of three references. This information must be provided at the time of application; however, references will only be contacted by notifying the applicant in advance.
- For best consideration application materials should be submitted by January 31st, 2024. First-round interviews will be conducted via Zoom, and finalists will be invited for on-campus visits in the Spring 2024 semester.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion or belief, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, marital or domestic partnership status, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity or expression, age, disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pratt Institute recognizes and values the benefits of a diverse workforce.
