School librarianship is central to the mission and work of the School of Library and Information Science at South Carolina. School Library students make up nearly 40% of our graduate class. In addition to this position we already have searches underway for the Augusta Baker Chair in digital literacy and youth and an instructor to work with our South  Carolina Center for Children’s Books and Literature. We run projects like Cocky’s Reading Express to encourage literacy in the neediest schools in the south. We have grants from the Hearst Foundation to develop community literacy initiatives that team teachers, school librarians, public libraries, and civic institutions. We have begun  Library Scholar program that teams with school districts to create cohorts of transformation teacher librarians from the teaching ranks. Our first cohort is with the Charleston County School District. Where other programs are shrinking or eliminating school library programs, we are growing ours.
If you are looking for the place to advance school librarianship scholarship, teaching, and advocacy you will find no better place. If you are interested, you will be part of building a vision that is transforming library service around the globe.
I and a number of faculty will be at ALISE and MidWinter if you’d like to talk.
Here is the job announcement:
The College of Information and Communications in Columbia invites applications and nominations for one tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor level in the School of Library and Information Science to begin fall 2018 in the area of school librarianship. Outstanding candidates at the associate level will also be considered.
Shape the future of library and information science. Pursue your interests in a diverse, intellectually stimulating, and multi-disciplinary environment that provides support and encouragement as part of a collaborative work culture. An earned doctorate in library and information science or a related field is preferred, while strong candidates who are ABD with a fixed graduation date will be considered. This position requires a clearly articulated research agenda, and enthusiasm for and excellence in teaching in both online and face-to-face formats.
The School is particularly interested in candidates with a specialization in school libraries. Selected candidates will be expected to help with the school’s commitment to diversity through research, teaching, and service.
The School of Library and Information Science has a growing Bachelor of Science in Information Science program and a joint Certificate of Health Communications with Public Health and Communications. The School’s MLIS degree program is fully accredited by the American Library Association. Â The school library preparation program is part of the University’s Professional Education Unit which is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Â The School also offers three programs of advanced study beyond the Master’s degree (the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Library and Information Science, the Specialist in Library and Information Science, and the Ph.D. in Library and Information Science). Â Faculty teach across all degree programs.
The School has a strong commitment to distance education and is one of two Schools in the College of Information and Communications.
The second is the School of Journalism and Mass Communications. The School is located on the   campus’ historic Horseshoe. It has nationally recognized programs in school library media, youth services, and medical librarianship. Since its inception, the School has emphasized the use of information technology as a vital component of library and information services.
Founded in 1801, the University of South Carolina-Columbia is the flagship campus of an eight-campus, fully accredited, state-supported system. USCÂ Columbia has strong undergraduate and graduate programs and other highly regarded professional schools including: medicine, law, education, engineering, social work, pharmacy, public health, arts and sciences, nursing, and business administration. The University is a Carnegie Research I institution. Approximately 33,000 students are enrolled on the Columbia campus and more than 44,000 throughout the system. The City of Columbia is the state capital with a metropolitan area population of almost half a million. It is a state center of financial, transportation, and industrial development, and it has a rich historical and cultural tradition. Â It is located within easy driving distance of both mountains and coast.
Responsibilities:Â
- Participate in instruction, research, publication, grant writing, and other scholarly activities
- Instruct undergraduate and graduate courses in both face-to-face as well as online environments in the areas of school librarianship and/or youth services
- Mentor and advise graduate students
- Provide service to the department, college, university, profession, and community
Minimum Qualifications:
- Earned doctorate by time of appointment in library and information studies or related field
- Ability to conduct scholarly research in the field
- Ability to teach and mentor at the graduate level
- Knowledge in creating educational materials for face-to-face and online instruction
Preferred Qualifications:
- Teaching experience at the collegiate level
- Teaching experience in an online or distance education environment
- Active involvement in one or more professional organizations appropriate to area of expertise
- Experience in management or teaching management courses
- Experience in procuring grants or external funding
Applications and nominations are invited for this position available in January 2018. Salary is fully competitive. The Committee will begin full review of applications and nominations Feb 28th, 2018 and will continue until the position is filled.
For further information, questions, or to submit nominations, send an email to Dr. Dick Kawooya, Committee Chair, at [email protected] or call at 803-777-4949 or Mike Corbo, Office and Communication Coordinator, at [email protected], 803-777-3858.
School Information is available at http://www.sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/cic/library_and_information_science
Minorities and women are encouraged to apply. The University of South Carolina is responsive to the needs of dual career couples.
The University of South Carolina is an equal opportunity institution.