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Business Librarian Job at The California State University in San Luis Obispo

The California State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States


Overview Job Posting Title: Librarian 12-month
Working Title: Business Librarian
Department: Library - Academic Services
Division: Library
Anticipated hiring Rank: Senior Assistant Librarian
Position Description Under the general supervision of the Associate Dean for Academic Services, the Business Librarian serves as a strategic partner to align instructional support, research services, and collection decisions with Cal Poly’s "Learn by Doing" philosophy. A central responsibility of the position is sustained engagement as the primary liaison to the Orfalea College of Business (OCOB), where they support undergraduate and graduate programs across the San Luis Obispo, Solano, and community college 2+2 degree contexts. Additionally, the Business Librarian plays a lead liaison role for Agribusiness in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES), supporting hands-on, interdisciplinary programs that integrate quantitative analysis and industry engagement. In this capacity, the position will also support the growing portfolio of innovation and entrepreneurship at Cal Poly, ensuring strategic library alignment with campus-wide initiatives.
Because business-related research and instruction are highly interdisciplinary at Cal Poly, the role extends to several academic units including Marine Transportation, Wine and Viticulture, Industrial Manufacturing and Engineering, Graphic Communication, and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. To meet evolving curricular priorities and accreditation requirements, the Business Librarian actively collaborates with library colleagues, students, faculty, and administrators. This work is executed through a strategic blend of shared services, internal capacity building, and leadership in research consultation and outreach to ensure a vibrant learning experience across all business-related disciplines at Cal Poly.
In addition to discipline-specific liaison responsibilities, the Business Librarian contributes to library-wide initiatives that advance institutional goals and learning outcomes. These include general reference, campus engagement, and service activities that strengthen the library’s role as an integrated academic partner.
Tenure-track librarians hold full faculty status and are expected to be prepared to meet the requirements for tenure and promotion. This includes supporting their practice through an active program of scholarship or creative work; participating in shared governance; and contributing service at the library, campus, and professional levels in alignment with the goals of the University Library, Cal Poly, and the California State University system.
Kennedy Library recognizes that candidates may have acquired relevant experience in a variety of ways. We expect candidates to be stronger in some required qualifications than others. We are committed to helping future colleagues expand their skills as well as learning from their areas of strength.
Professional Responsibilities Serves as the primary library liaison to the Orfalea College of Business and the Agricultural Business Department in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, actively integrating library programs, services, and resources into curricular and research activities.
Provides specialized business reference and research services, including scheduled and unscheduled consultations via email, chat, phone, and in-person.
Designs and delivers workshops, orientations, and instructional materials in both in-person and online environments.
In collaboration with library colleagues, builds and maintains the Library’s collections in all formats to support business curricular and research needs at Cal Poly.
Takes individual and collaborative measures to understand constituent needs, assess the reach and effectiveness of library services, and close the assessment loop by taking steps to ensure the Cal Poly goal of universal student success.
Develops and assists with library outreach and collaborative initiatives, participates in campus events, and fosters community engagement for the mutual benefit of students and the region.
Active and contributing member of the Academic Services team.
Professional Growth and Contribution Leverages knowledge of users’ needs and trends in librarianship and business education to develop and maintain effective programs that support innovative teaching, learning, and productive research.
Maintains awareness of trends in scholarly communication, data management, and other emerging program areas, integrating these into outreach and instructional services for business-related programs and the university.
Engages in an active program of research and scholarship, including externally validated presentations and publications.
Contributes to the knowledge base of the profession, particularly within areas of specialized expertise.
Service and Other Activities Serves on select library, university, and system-wide committees, working groups, and special initiatives related to professional expertise and the needs of the library.
Contributes to shared governance as an active member of the library and campus faculties.
Required Qualifications ALA-accredited Master’s Degree in Library and Information Sciences, or comparable experience with a relevant advanced degree, at the time of appointment.
Three years of relevant experience.
Skill in using business information resources, including economic, financial, legal, management, competitive intelligence, and marketing data sources.
Familiarity with content, licensing, and functionality considerations for core academic and/or commercial business information products.
Awareness of equity-related issues in business and economics, such as sustainability, inclusive entrepreneurship, and structural dynamics affecting leadership, education, and labor.
Experience providing instruction and/or reference support for entrepreneurship, company/industry research, labor relations, operations and supply chain management, or intellectual property information needs.
Ability to design and deliver effective, accessible learning experiences in in-person, virtual, and asynchronous environments.
Experience or demonstrated ability communicating and promoting library services to varied audiences.
Experience participating in collections planning, assessment, or prioritization.
Ability to work at both tactical and strategic levels, translating disciplinary needs into sustainable research support and collections approaches.
Ability to work effectively as part of a team, with and in support of culturally diverse faculty, students, and staff.
Excellent oral and written communication, collaboration, and project management skills.
Preferred Qualifications Advanced degree, or substantial subject experience, in business, economics, marketing, or a related field.
Ability to articulate trade-offs, advocate for resources in consortial decision-making, and incorporate diverse economic perspectives, global contexts, and nontraditional research outputs.
Familiarity with evidence synthesis practices and their implications for research support and collection strategy.
Familiarity or expertise with quantitative, statistical, or spatial analysis tools (e.g., SPSS, ArcGIS, or programming languages/environments such as R).
Skill in using instructional software and multimedia tools (such as Camtasia, Articulate, Powtoon, etc.), to create engaging learning experiences.
General public services experience in an academic or special library.
Professional competency in Spanish.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Note: Cal Poly cannot deny an applicant a position solely or in part due to a criminal conviction history until it has performed an individualized assessment and linked the relevant conviction history with specific job duties in the position being sought.
Please note: Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Sensitive positions require heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to Cal Poly or individuals in the university community.
For health and well-being, Cal Poly is a smoke & tobacco-free campus. The university is committed to promoting a healthy environment for all members of our community.
In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU related work outside of California. It is also expected that tenure-line faculty will establish an on-campus presence to fulfill their responsibilities.
Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment
This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities.
How to Apply
Please attach to your electronic application the following materials:
Universal Student Success Statement - Cal Poly is a public, student-centered university that serves the diverse constituents of the state of California and has a strong emphasis on the teacher-scholar model. Please detail your approach to teaching and learning at the collegiate level, including evidence of experience with inclusive, accessible, and intentional teaching, to a wide variety of students and a description of how you will continue to develop this expertise at Cal Poly. For librarian applicants, evidence of inclusive and intentional teaching may encompass support for information literacy, the provision of accessible tools for learning or discovery, or of research services that empower a diverse student body in their academic pursuits, etc.
Unofficial transcripts showing highest degree earned. Official sealed transcript showing highest degree earned will be required prior to appointment.
Please be prepared to provide three professional references with names and email addresses when completing the application. Cal Poly will directly solicit letters from the individuals listed by applicants.
This position is open until filled.
Projected Start Date: July 31, 2026
Review Begin Date: March 23, 2026. Applicants with complete files by the Review Begin Date will be given full consideration. Applications received after this date may be considered.
Anticipated Hiring Range - $85,524 - $90,655
For questions about the position please contact search committee chair:
Advertised: Feb 23 2026 Pacific Standard Time
Applications close:
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The Business Librarian at Cal Poly is a tenure-track faculty member responsible for aligning library services with the university’s "Learn by Doing" mission. Primary responsibilities include serving as the lead liaison to the Orfalea College of Business where they support undergraduate and graduate programs across the San Luis Obispo, Solano, and community college 2+2 degree contexts. Additionally, the Business Librarian plays a lead liaison role for Agribusiness in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, supporting hands-on, interdisciplinary programs that integrate quantitative analysis and industry engagement. The role involves active collaboration with faculty and students to meet accreditation and curricular priorities. In addition to discipline-specific duties, the position entails participation in library-wide strategic initiatives, and a formal program of scholarship and creative work. Candidates must demonstrate a commitment to professional scholarship and service, meeting the university’s requirements for tenure and promotion through active engagement in the field.
The Business Librarian at Cal Poly is a tenure-track faculty member responsible for aligning library services with the university’s "Learn by Doing" mission. Primary responsibilities include serving as the lead liaison to the Orfalea College of Business where they support undergraduate and graduate programs across the San Luis Obispo, Solano, and community college 2+2 degree contexts. Additionally, the Business Librarian plays a lead liaison role for Agribusiness in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, supporting hands-on, interdisciplinary programs that integrate quantitative analysis and industry engagement. The role involves active collaboration with faculty and students to meet accreditation and curricular priorities. In addition to discipline-specific duties, the position entails participation in library-wide strategic initiatives, and a formal program of scholarship and creative work. Candidates must demonstrate a commitment to professional scholarship and service, meeting the university’s requirements for tenure and promotion through active engagement in the field.

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In Summary: The Business Librarian serves as a strategic partner to align instructional support, research services, and collection decisions with Cal Poly’s "Learn by Doing" philosophy . A central responsibility of the position is sustained engagement as the primary liaison to the Orfalea College of Business .

En Español: Título de trabajo general: Bibliotécnico 12 meses Trabajo del título: Departamento de Bibliotecarios Empresariales: Biblioteca - División de Servicios Académicos: Biblioteca Rango de contratación anticipado: Descripción del puesto de Asistente Superior Librario Bajo la supervisión general del Decano Asociado para los servicios académicos, el bibliotecario de negocios sirve como socio estratégico para alinear el apoyo educativo, los servicios de investigación y las decisiones de recopilación con Cal Poly's "Aprender haciendo" filosofía. Una responsabilidad central del puesto es el compromiso sostenido como enlace principal con Orfalea College of Business (OCOB), donde apoyan programas de pregrado y posgrado a través de San Luis Obispo, Solano y colegio comunitario grado 22 contextos . Además, la biblioteca de negocios desempeña un papel de vinculación altamente interdisciplinario para la empresa agropecuaria en la Facultad de Agricultura e Ingeniería Agrícola (CAFES). Para satisfacer las prioridades curriculares en evolución y los requisitos de acreditación, el bibliotecario empresarial colabora activamente con colegas de la biblioteca, estudiantes, profesores y administradores. Este trabajo se ejecuta a través de una mezcla estratégica de servicios compartidos, desarrollo interno de capacidades y liderazgo en consulta y divulgación de investigación para garantizar una experiencia de aprendizaje vibrante en todas las disciplinas relacionadas con los negocios en Cal Poly. Además de responsabilidades de vinculación específicas por disciplina, el bibliotecario comercial contribuye a iniciativas en toda la biblioteca que promueven objetivos institucionales y resultados educativos. Éstas incluyen referencias generales, compromiso del campus y actividades de servicio que fortalecen la biblioteca como un papel académico integrado. Los candidatos tenor-track tienen estatus de facultad y se espera que estén preparados para cumplir con los requerimientos de tenencia y promoción profesional. Esto incluye apoyar sus niveles profesionales mediante un programa de becas o participar en trabajos; alineación en gobernanza activa; los candidatos a la Biblioteca Estatal de Califórnia pueden tener una gran variedad de metas relevantes y calificaciones, así como otros candidatos que participan en la Universidad de California. Estamos comprometidos a ayudar a los futuros colegas a expandir sus habilidades, así como aprender de sus áreas de fortaleza. Responsabilidades Profesionales sirve como el enlace primario de la biblioteca con el Colegio Orfalea de Negocios y el Departamento de Empresas Agrícolas del Colegio de Agricultura y Ciencias Ambientales, integrando activamente programas, servicios y recursos de la Biblioteca en actividades curriculares e investigativas. Proporciona servicios especializados de referencia e investigación empresarial, incluidas consultas programadas y no planificadas por correo electrónico, chat, teléfono y personales. Diseña y entrega talleres, orientaciones y materiales educativos tanto en persona como en entornos informáticos. En colaboración con las facultades de bibliotecas y el departamento de negocios agrícola en el colegio de agricultura y ciencias ambientes medioambientales, construye y evalúa colecciones de conocimientos académicos en todos los formatos para desarrollar necesidades empresariales y de investigación en Calgary. Si no se completa satisfactoriamente la verificación de antecedentes, puede resultar en la retirada de la oferta de empleo. Nota: Cal Poly no puede negar a un solicitante una posición únicamente o parcialmente debido a un historial criminal de condena hasta que haya realizado una evaluación individualizada y vinculado el historial relevante de condenas con deberes laborales específicos del puesto buscado. También se espera que la facultad de tenencia establezca una presencia en el campus para cumplir con sus responsabilidades. Igualdad de oportunidades y excelencia en educación y empleo Esta posición está abierta y disponible para todos independientemente de raza, sexo, color, etnia o origen nacional.