Description
Engineering Instruction and Outreach Librarian
Tenure-System Faculty Position
Grainger Engineering Library Information Center (GELIC)
University of Illinois Library Urbana-Champaign
Position Available: This position is available as soon as possible. There is the possibility of a hybrid work schedule for faculty, determined through conversation and approval by the faculty supervisor based on unit needs, but as a residential campus all faculty are expected to have an on-site presence. This is a 100%-time, permanent, twelve-month faculty appointment in the University Library.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Statement: The University Library of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign values diversity of thought, perspective, experience, and people, and is actively committed to a culture of inclusion and respect. We are dedicated to the practices of social justice, diversity, and equality, and we strive to overcome historical and divisive biases in our society and embrace diverse points of view as assets to the fabric of our community. All positions will be called on to contribute to building this environment in the Library and throughout the campus community, and we encourage candidates who share these values to apply. Additional information can be found on the Library’s DEIA webpage: https://www.library.illinois.edu/geninfo/deia/.
Position Summary: The Grainger Engineering Library Information Center (GELIC) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library is seeking an entrepreneurial, collaborative, innovative, self-starting and intellectually curious individual to serve as Engineering Instruction and Outreach Librarian. Reporting to the Head of Grainger Engineering Library Information Center, the position will work in collaboration with other Physical Sciences and Engineering Division faculty to advance instruction and outreach services, initiatives, and partnerships as determined by the University Library and GELIC strategic goals. The Engineering Instruction and Outreach Librarian will advance STEM literacy through course integrated instruction, reference and instruction consultations, and outreach programs development. The Engineering Instruction and Outreach Librarian will create programming and in-person and online instructional interventions for all departments in the Grainger College of Engineering, with particular focus on the undergraduate curricula. The Engineering Instruction and Outreach Librarian will conduct research and disseminate scholarly publications that advance the field of library and information science.
Responsibilities:
Oversee reference services (in person, online and email) for Grainger Engineering Library Information Center.
Coordinate instructional development and curricular innovations that support student success (both in and out of the classroom), with particular focus on scalable and sustainable instruction solutions for College of Engineering undergraduates that integrate information literacy within the disciplinary curricula.
Develop innovative services and outreach to Grainger College of Engineering, based upon relationships and needs assessments that meet articulated and unstated needs of the stakeholders, identify trends and changes in that discipline, and innovate new services, outreach and instruction to improve research and educational outcomes.
Lead assessment for instructional interventions and outreach initiatives at Grainger Engineering Library Information Center.
Develop innovative services and outreach to Grainger College of Engineering students, faculty and staff.
Develop innovative outreach programming to support Grainger Engineering Library Information Center patrons from across all colleges and departments of the campus.
Mentor, educate and support pre-professional graduate assistants employed by Grainger Engineering Library Information Center.
Participate in initiatives of the Grainger Engineering Library Information Center.
Participate in service to the profession via both internal and external opportunities.
Contribute to the national and international reputation of the University Library through professional research, service and collaboration with national colleagues, organizations, and consortia.
Unit Description: Grainger Engineering Library Information Center is home to 8 faculty librarians (including this position), 13 staff, and 4.25 FTE graduate assistants from the School of Information Sciences. GELIC faculty also serve the Carle Illinois College of Medicine and the Gies College of Business. Served by the Grainger Engineering Library Information Center and the other libraries, the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois is home to 9,814 undergraduates, 6,432 graduates and 313 faculty involved in more than 2,000 research projects totaling $300 million in research expenditures for FY 2024. More about the Grainger College of Engineering is available at https://engineering.illinois.edu.
Environment: The University of Illinois is a predominantly residential university. Therefore, it is understood that most employees, including both academic and classified personnel, will maintain an onsite presence to effectively meet institutional and operational needs. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library is a leader in the delivery of user services, and active programs in information, instructional, access, and scholarly services that help the Library to maintain its place at the intellectual heart of the campus. Considered among the preeminent research libraries in the world, the University Library curates and provides access to over 15-million print and digital volumes and 23-million manuscripts, maps, and other resources to students, faculty, and scholars on campus and across the State of Illinois. The Library is committed to maintaining the strongest collections and service programs possible, and to engaging in research, development, and scholarly practice - all of which support the University's missions of teaching, research, and public engagement. The Library employs approximately 90 faculty members, and more than 300 academic professionals, staff, and graduate assistants. For more information, see: http://www.library.illinois.edu/ .
Salary and Rank: The budgeted salary range for this open-rank faculty position is $65,000 to $90,000 and is commensurate with credentials and experience. The University of Illinois Library is committed to competitive salaries and attending to equity in compensation within the organization.
Librarians have faculty rank, and must demonstrate excellence in librarianship, research, and university/professional/community service in order to meet university standards for tenure and promotion. Library faculty have an obligation to remain professionally informed, to pursue the discovery of new knowledge related to their field of expertise, to disseminate the results of their scholarly work, and to seek opportunities for service to the Library, campus, state, nation and profession. Library faculty are governed by University statements on review and promotion found in Article IX of the Statutes, and in Provost’s Communication No. 9 https://provost.illinois.edu/policies/provosts-communications/communication-9-promotion-and-tenure/ and Provost’s Communication No. 13 https://provost.illinois.edu/policies/provosts-communications/communication-13-review-of-faculty-in-year-three-of-the-probationary-period/. For more information on library tenure and promotion, see https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/promotion-and-tenure-advisory-committee
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.
Campus and Community: The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a comprehensive and major public land-grant university (Doctoral/Research University-Extensive) that is ranked among the best in the world. Chartered in 1867, it provides undergraduate and graduate education in more than 150 fields of study, conducts theoretical and applied research, and provides public service to the state and the nation. It employs 2,848 faculty members who serve more than 34,000 undergraduates and 21,000 graduate and professional students. More information about the campus is available at www.illinois.edu.
The University is located in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana, which have a combined population of 207,000 and are situated about 140 miles south of Chicago, 125 miles west of Indianapolis, and 180 northeast of St. Louis. The University and its surrounding communities offer a cultural and recreational environment ideally suited to the work of a major research institution. For more information about the community, visit: https://illinois.edu or https://www.champaigncounty.org.
Application Procedures & Deadline Information: Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on March 6, 2026. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact the Search Coordinator Aneitre Johnson at atjohnsn@illinois.edu . For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.
Founded in 1867 as Illinois’s flagship public university, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign empowers a global community of students, scholars, and alumni to change the world through bold, innovative research and transformative education. With a land-grant heritage rooted in progress, Illinois faculty drive paradigm-shifting discoveries, mentor future leaders, and collaborate across 15 colleges and instructional units and more than 20 research institutes. The university’s legacy of excellence includes 24 Nobel Prizes and 29 Pulitzer Prizes awarded to its faculty and alumni, $755 million in sponsored research funding, and 94 academic programs ranked in the top 20 nationally. Illinois offers the resources, recognition, and reach to accelerate your career — along with a highly competitive benefits portfolio. Discover how the Illinois Value Proposition fosters professional longevity, personal fulfillment, and a deep sense of purpose in every role.
Faculty Recruitment
Champaign-Urbana
This position is eligible for sponsorship, except for sponsorship of a new H1B petition that would incur the $100,000 fee.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.
This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.
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The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates.
Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.
Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodation portal, or by contacting the Office for Access & Equity at 217-333-0885, option #1, or accessibility@illinois.edu.
Requirements
Qualifications:
Required
ALA-accredited MS-LIS or equivalent; or a PhD in a relevant field combined with at least two years of professional work experience in an academic library. Degree qualifications must be met by start date, preference given to completion by August 2026.
Demonstrated experience creating and providing instructional interventions for the engineering and/or STEM disciplines.
Experience providing outreach programming for diverse audiences.
Demonstrated experience collaborating with diverse groups and populations in the delivery of educational and outreach programs.
Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly in person and in writing.
Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment and participate in collaborative endeavors.
Preparation and commitment to conduct independent scholarship consistent with a tenure-track faculty appointment and indications of ability to meet the promotion and tenure requirements of the University.
Preferred
Experience providing library support or building liaison relationships to engineering and/or science disciplines in an academic or clinical setting.
Experience providing reference or research support services in an academic library setting.
