Assistant Librarian

The Role Maynooth University is committed to a strategy in which the primary University goals of excellent research and scholarship and outstanding education are interlinked and equally valued. We are seeking a Teaching & Learning Librarian (Assistant Librarian II) to work as part of our Teaching & Research Development team. The successful candidate will play a key role in delivering the library’s teaching and learning strategy, as an active member of the TRD team as a whole, and as part of the wider Library team.

Reports to: Assistant Librarian with Responsibility for Teaching & Research Development Principal Duties This will include: • Play a leading role in Library activities that support teaching and learning across the University, including the design, delivery, promotion and assessment of teaching activities, both face-to-face and online, and in synchronous and asynchronous formats. • Lead the design, implementation and assessment of successful course-integrated information and digital literacy classes and resources. • Contribute to the active and innovative promotion of the Library’s teaching & learning resources and initiatives, in collaboration with wider TRD team and the Library’s Digital Communications Team, using the Library’s social media channels. • Deliver excellent, timely and results-oriented customer service to our user community as part of the TRD team, ensuring our service outputs are appropriately co-ordinated, promoted and measured. Respond to student research queries across a range of subject areas and using a range of tools. • Engage with academic staff to develop strategies for the integration of the Library’s learning resources into the undergraduate and taught postgraduate curricula. • Enhance the usage of the Library collections, in particular online primary source content, by our academics, students and researchers, as part of teaching and learning strategies. • Collaborate effectively with the wider TRD team to ensure our teaching, research development and academic engagement functions are fulfilled successfully. • Contribute actively to the implementation of teaching & learning related actions as part of the Library Strategic Plan, with reference to the University Strategic Plan. • Represent the Library on national and international committees and forums in the areas of teaching & learning, information and research skills and literacies. • Demonstrate an active and ongoing awareness and interest in teaching and learning activities in the wider library and third level environment. • Any other duties as assigned by the University Librarian or his nominee.

The ideal candidate will have: Essential • A degree and a postgraduate qualification in Librarianship, and experience of working in an academic library. • Experience of designing, delivering, promoting and assessing information literacy instruction • An understanding of, and a willingness to embrace change, in the context of the current rapidly evolving landscape of higher education, ensuring that meeting student need remains a key focus. • Excellent oral and written communication skills and ability to demonstrate the ability to work effectively with students, academic staff and other key university personnel. • Proactive, energetic, enthusiastic and adaptable approach to a variety of tasks and projects, ensuring service is maintained at all times. • Excellent team working and time management skills, including the ability to work collaboratively to deliver projects to deadline, while successfully managing individual workload and priorities. • Awareness of the emerging issues of Open Scholarship, in relation to its significance on teaching & learning activities.

Desirable • Experience in managing projects, and leading new initiatives. • Experience in designing and developing online information and digital literacy resources, including familiarity with software and platforms for online content creation. • Excellent IT skills including a knowledge of MS Office, and relevant learning platforms for academic environments. • A knowledge of and ability to engage proactively with new and emerging technologies using a proactive, innovative and user focused approach. • Experience of using, and creating content for, social media platforms, in the context of an academic library environment.

The Library There are two main buildings - the John Paul II Library and the Russell Library, both of which hold significant book, archive and manuscript collections. The John Paul II Library holds over 400,000 print items. Access is also provided to over 500,000 electronic books and 70,000 electronic journals. The University Maynooth University is a very distinctive university, a collegial institution focused on science and engineering, humanities, and social sciences, and equally committed to research, teaching and community engagement. Located in Ireland’s only university town, its distinctive features and character owe much to its unique history and heritage. It provides a high-quality educational experience to over 15,000 students on a campus with 18th century roots and 21st century dynamism. The strategic trajectory and accomplishments of Maynooth University, in the 25 years since its establishment as an autonomous public university, are exceptional, and a source of great pride to the university community, staff, students and alumni. Maynooth University is now acknowledged to be one of the leading young universities in the world, and in 2022 ranked # 1 in Ireland in the latest Times Higher Education (THE) Best Young University Rankings. Maynooth University’s growing global reputation is based on the originality, quality, importance and impact of its research and scholarship, commitment to teaching and learning, the quality of academic programmes, and its leadership in widening participation in higher education. The sources of success are the dedication of its staff and the energy and engagement of its students.

Maynooth University is a place of lively contrasts – a modern institution, dynamic, rapidly-growing, research-led and engaged, yet grounded in historic academic strengths and scholarly traditions. With over 15,000 students Maynooth offers a range of programmes at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level in the humanities, science and engineering and social sciences, including business, law and education. The University also offers a range of international programmes and partnerships. Maynooth’s unique collegial culture fosters an interdisciplinary approach to research, which its worldclass academics bring to bear in tackling some of the most fundamental challenges facing society today. The University’s research institutes and centres consolidate and deliver this impact as vibrant communities of learning, discovery and creation. Research at Maynooth also is very much central to its teaching and the University prides itself on placing equal value on its research and teaching missions.

Principles and Values Maynooth University is committed to the following values: • Scholarly rigour; • Academic freedom; • Integrity and ethical behaviour; • Collegiality, transparency and trust; • Equality, inclusiveness and social justice; • Operational excellence, organisational flexibility and responsiveness; • Dignity, respect and care for the individual.

Maynooth University Strategic Plan 2023 – 2028 The University’s Strategic Plan 2023 - 2028 builds on our rich academic history and strong foundations to set out an ambitious and forward-looking path for the future of our University. This roadmap underscores our commitment to adapt to a changing world while staying true to our values. Our vision is to be a university of excellence, opportunity and impact, having a significant stake in all three.

Salary Assistant Librarian Grade II (2024): €43,405 – €61,187 p.a. (9 points) Appointments will be made in accordance with public sector pay provisions. (The working pattern for this role will be: Monday, Tuesday and each alternative Wednesday). Hours of work A 35-hour working week is in operation in respect of full-time positions (prorated for part-time positions). This can be reviewed or adjusted from time to time through national agreements. Location The place of work is the campus of Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.