Humanities Librarian (African American Studies and English Literature) at Univer

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign seeks a knowledgeable and dynamic individual to provide library services for African American Studies and global English Literatures and Language. The Humanities Librarian will be responsible for library collections and services in support of research, teaching, and learning, and for community outreach and engagement. The primary focus for African American Studies is Black history and culture in the United States, with a secondary focus on the broader Western Hemisphere African diaspora. For English Literature and Language, the focus is on world literature in English and translation, Creative Writing, and Writing Studies. As a subject specialist in the Arts and Humanities Division, the Humanities Librarian will report to the Head of the History, Philosophy, and Newspaper Library (HPNL) and work in close collaboration with the Literatures and Languages Library (LLL). The position will serve as the Library’s liaison to the Department of English and the Department of African American Studies, as well as to affiliated and interdisciplinary faculty and students. The Humanities Librarian will collaborate with colleagues in the Library’s Arts and Humanities Division, Special Collections Division, and International and Area Studies Division on collections and programming related to African American Studies and English Literature. The librarian will also contribute subject expertise to library-wide diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA) initiatives such as changes to cataloging metadata. In collaboration with library colleagues in Teaching, Learning, and Academic Support (TLAS), the librarian will contribute to Library outreach and programming focused on student success at the Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center. Subject specialists at the University of Illinois build strong relationships with the faculty and students of the departments and programs they support. They provide virtual and in-person reference and research consultations and instruction sessions, promote library resources and services, develop online subject guides and instructional material, and work with departmental faculty to integrate information literacy concepts and skills programmatically into the curriculum. They build and curate collections in all relevant formats to serve the research, teaching, and learning needs of the University community. They are expected to maintain a high level of expertise in their subject area(s) and to work closely with colleagues in related areas on collection development, exhibition, and other public programming, and in advocating the use of primary sources in the curriculum. As a land grant institution, the University of Illinois has a deep-rooted commitment to community outreach and engagement. The Humanities Librarian will be supported and encouraged in initiatives that strengthen collaboration between the community and the University and promote community access to and engagement with the resources of the University Library. Major Duties and Responsibilities Serves as the University Library’s subject specialist for African American Studies; Serves as the University Library’s subject specialist for world literatures in English and in translation, Creative Writing, and Writing Studies; Serves as a liaison to the Department of African American Studies and the Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center; Serves as a liaison to the Department of English and related interdisciplinary programs; Depending on qualifications and Library/unit needs, may serve as the Library’s liaison/subject specialist for an additional subject area in the humanities; Develops and manages collections in all formats in areas of responsibility, and works closely with faculty to establish collection priorities and to develop collections in all formats relevant to the subject areas; Develops, promotes, and provides in-depth, subject-based reference, research, and instruction services to faculty and students in liaison areas, including office hours; integrates library instruction into the curriculum; Develops and maintains research guides, websites, and instructional materials; Works with colleagues to develop both campus- and community-focused programming related to African American Studies and other subject responsibilities; Keeps current with theoretical, methodological, and topical trends in subject areas of responsibilities; Contributes to the national and international reputation of the University Library through professional research, service, and collaboration with national colleagues, organizations, and consortia. Qualifications Required ALA-accredited MS-LIS or equivalent, or a PhD in a relevant field (completed by start date), combined with at least two years of professional work experience in an academic library. Demonstrated knowledge of African American history and culture. Knowledgeoftrends,issues,andresourcesin humanitiesresearch. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively to manage multiple tasks effectively in a team environment. Experience working with a diverse community. Evidence of the ability to do research, publication, and service consonant with University standards for tenure and promotion. Preferred Experience with, or coursework in, collection development and management. Teaching experience or coursework in classroom instruction. Salary and Rank The budgeted salary range for this open-rank faculty position is $65,000 to $85,000 and will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The University of Illinois Library is committed to competitive salaries and attending to equity in compensation within the organization. Terms of Appointment Twelve-month appointment; 24 annual vacation days; 11 annual paid holidays; 12 annual sick-leave days (cumulative), plus an additional 13 sick-leave days (non-cumulative) available, if needed, each year; health insurance requiring a small co-payment is provided to employee (with the option to purchase coverage for spouse and dependents); required participation in State Universities Retirement System (SURS) (8% of annual salary is withheld and is refundable upon termination), with several options for participation in additional retirement plans; newly-hired employees are covered by the Medicare portion of Social Security and are subject to its deduction. Application Procedures & Deadline Information Apply for these positions using the Apply Now button at the bottom of this posting. To ensure full consideration, all required application materials must be received by 6:00 pm (CST) on November 30, 2025. Please create your candidate profile, upload a cover letter, your curriculum vitae, and the names and email addresses of four professional references by the close date. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For questions about this position, please contact the Search Coordinator, Aneitre Johnson, at 217-265-0244. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137. Application Deadline November 30, 2025. #J-18808-Ljbffr