Liaison Librarian

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Assistant Librarian or Associate Librarian (tenure track)

Duration: three years, with possibility of renewal
Salary: salary commensurate with experience

The Marvin Duchow Music Library (MDML) seeks a service-oriented and highly collaborative professional liaison librarian to lead a range of library and information services and collections to support teaching, learning, research, and outreach activities, with particular attention to the needs of graduate students of the Schulich School of Music.

This position is responsible for cultivating strong partnerships with academic departments, delivering specialized services in information literacy and resource discovery, and developing collections that reflect curricular and research needs. The librarian contributes to a collaborative environment and ensures that library services are responsive, inclusive, and aligned with institutional goals.

Constituted in 1965, the Marvin Duchow Music Library is one of Canada’s leading academic music libraries. Its collections of over 200,000 music scores, recordings, books, and journals are complemented by extensive online resources in various formats.

As an embedded library within the McGill Libraries system, it provides resources and services to support the performance, research, and teaching programs of the Schulich School of Music. The Library also serves the broader McGill University community, as well as academic libraries across Quebec and beyond.

THE McGILL LIBRARIES

Located in Montréal, one of the world’s great multicultural and multilingual cities, McGill University is internationally recognized for its excellence as a leading institution of higher education and research. For nearly 200 years, through the work of dedicated people, McGill has been breaking ground in diverse fields and contributing solutions to some of the world’s most significant issues. McGill is also the most internationally diverse research-intensive university in Canada, with over 32% of its students coming to McGill from more than 150 countries. The University systematically appears on the annual list of the best employers in Montreal.

The McGill University Libraries contribute to society by advancing teaching, learning, and research in a supportive and welcoming environment. We anticipate and respond to the needs of users by providing outstanding collections, excellent services, and spaces that inspire. We work in collaboration with global scholarly and library communities to enhance and facilitate access to knowledge.

The McGill Libraries has the largest collection in Quebec and is one of Canada’s largest academic libraries with over six million monograph titles and 150,000 e-journals and databases. The Libraries are a member of the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL), the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Partenariat des bibliothèques universitaires du Québec (PBUQ), the Center for Research Libraries (CRL), and the HathiTrust Digital Library.

INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE STAFF

Information about the University and the McGill Libraries can be found on the University’s web site. The McGill Libraries have developed Strategic Priorities for 2025-2030 to guide its actions. As a tenure stream appointee, the successful candidate is expected to satisfy the requirements in the Regulations Relating to the Employment of Librarian Staff.

DUTY STATEMENT

Primary Purpose of Position

The assist the provision of a range of library and information services and collections to support teaching, learning, research, and outreach activities

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Participate actively in the co-leading and development of the Marvin Duchow Music Library’s Information Literacy Program, ensuring currency, cyclical reviews, and alignment with latest trends in teaching and learning in higher education.
• Conduct information literacy/skills classes and training programs for users and library staff, with a specific focus on doctoral program candidates and instructors.
• Provide expert guidance, consultation, and research support to on-site and remote users in discovering, accessing, and effectively using library and information resources for teaching, learning, and research in music.
• Develop and maintain communication links and appropriately liaise with designated academic departments and university centres to ensure library and information needs are understood and met.
• May coordinate services and supervise the work of other library staff in designated areas, fostering collaboration, ensuring service quality, and working effectively as a member of a team.
• Develop, produce, and maintain library documentation, including web content, to support pedagogy, user engagement, and resource discovery.
• May assist in the development of the MDML collections in specific disciplinary areas to ensure teaching, learning, and research needs are met.
• Promote the Libraries’ resources and services and assist in outreach activities as appropriate.
• Work in partnership with other Libraries and University staff and sections, as well as external groups, on specific projects.
• Serve on various library, faculty, and university committees and represent the library on external committees, as required.
• Maintain current awareness of emerging technologies and developments in the library, education, and information environments and develop possible responses.
• Engage in scholarly activities and professional service and develop a dossier for promotion and tenure, consistent with University Regulations.

• The duties listed above are representative and not exhaustive; responsibilities may change or evolve in response to institutional and library needs.

Reporting relationship

This position reports to the Head Librarian, Marvin Duchow Music Library.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Required:

• A Master’s Degree in Library or Information Studies (MLIS, MIS, or MI) and a degree in music.

• Experience serving library users in an academic library or similar setting.
• Knowledge of and experience with the use of relevant music and other information resources, including electronic and networked resources, and information and communications technology.

• Knowledge of and experience with music research, and with music research methods and tools.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct information skills classes for small and large groups at various levels of study, preferably including experience with graduate cohorts
• Excellent organizational, documentation, and knowledge management skills.
• Proven ability to work in collaborative settings, including participation in situation analysis, problem solving, and group decision making.
• Capacity to supervise the work of other staff and coordinate workflows.
• Relationship building skills and experience creating and fostering a positive working environment.
• High level of professionalism, commitment to the organization and its mission, and the ability to work flexibly in a changing environment.
• Ability to understand and respond to priorities and trends in library and university environments.
• Demonstrated ability to uphold the values of respect, collaboration, diversity, and employment equity.
• Fluency in oral and written English is required. McGill University is an English-language university where most teaching and research activities are conducted in the English language, thereby requiring English communication both verbally and in writing. The level of English required for this position has been assessed at level 4 on a scale of 1-4.

Desired:

• A graduate degree in music, including coursework in musicology is highly desired.
• Professional experience in an academic music library or similar setting is highly desirable.
• Oral and written abilities in French are highly desired.

• Working knowledge of German or Italian is an asset.

The McGill Libraries are committed to advancing open, equitable, and sustainable research practices and welcomes candidates who will contribute to these priorities.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Applications should address the above selection criteria, be accompanied by:

• a letter of interest,
• a curriculum vitae,
• the names and addresses of three referees.

*** Applicants are encouraged to indicate any accommodation needs related to job duties.
Before applying, please note that to work at McGill University, you must be both authorized to work in Canada and willing to work in the province of Quebec at the campus where the position is based / located.

McGill University is committed to equity and diversity within its community and values academic rigour and excellence. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities.

At McGill, research that reflects diverse intellectual traditions, methodologies, and modes of dissemination and translation is valued and encouraged. Candidates are invited to demonstrate their research impact both within and across academic disciplines and in other sectors, such as government, communities, or industry.

McGill further recognizes and fairly considers the impact of leaves (e.g., family care or health-related) that may contribute to career interruptions or slowdowns. Candidates are encouraged to signal any leave that affected productivity, or that may have had an effect on their career path. This information will be considered to ensure the equitable assessment of the candidate’s record.

McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated equity groups to self-identify. It further seeks to ensure the equitable treatment and full inclusion of persons with disabilities by striving for the implementation of universal design principles transversally, across all facets of the University community, and through accommodation policies and procedures. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, [email protected].

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.