Librarian and Coordinator for Indigenous Initiatives

Duties :

Working under the general direction of the University Librarian, the Librarian and Coordinator for Indigenous Initiatives will provide leadership in a collaborative context to advocate for and advance decolonial approaches to strategy and practices in the Library.

The Librarian and Coordinator for Indigenous Initiatives :

Develops and sustains reciprocal relationships with Indigenous Elders, faculty, and community members who contribute to guiding library practice and strategy for respecting Indigenous knowledges and value systems;

seeking to ensure that they feel welcomed, supported, and respected in any form of engagement with VIU Library, in ways consistent with community or cultural protocols.

• Provides careful, strategic perspective and leadership in respect to protecting and promoting engagement with Indigenous knowledges in ways that align with guiding principles and practices received in relationship to local Coast Salish Elders and community members.
• Advances strategy related to decolonizing library services in local and collaborative contexts, including but not limited to decolonizing descriptive practice.
• Advocates for culturally responsive stewardship and care for Indigenous knowledges and content related to Indigenous peoples by providing perspective and contributing to collaborative initiatives with respect to Library collections and Special Collections, and other areas of Library work from time to time.
• Promotes Indigenous language revitalization and use, particularly Coast Salish languages, in library online and physical spaces.
• Incorporates decolonization principles and critically informed approaches into teaching and learning to foster a deeper understanding and engagement with Indigenous perspectives and knowledges.
• Participates in a wide range of activities in support of students, including instruction, reference, liaison duties, and collections.
• Coordinates opportunities for staff and partners to develop cultural competencies, including with respect to Indigenous knowledges.
• Develops and coordinates experiential learning opportunities for students to engage respectfully with Indigenous information topics and practices.
• Liaises with assigned academic and support departments, including Services for Aboriginal Students, to enhance the value of the Library as a partner in teaching, research, and scholarship related to Indigenization, decolonization, and reconciliation.
• Works with the Librarian and Strategic Lead for Collections on challenging assumptions of strategy and practice in traditional Library approaches to Collections to advance and support decolonial approaches.
• Collaborates with the Librarian and Coordinator for Copyright and Open Licensing to support members of the VIU community with considerations for Indigenous knowledges and cultural expressions in relation to information rights, and in collaboration with other experts on the team.
• Engages with and draws from professional and collegial networks to shape their practice.
• Participates in institutional committee meetings and other initiatives; grant-funded or collaborative projects; and professional activities in and outside the institution.
• Works collegially and in close collaboration with library faculty, decanal areas, university and cohort stakeholders and partners, internal and external to VIU.

Required Qualifications :

Master of Library and Information Science, or equivalent, from an ALA- accredited program. A minimum of 3 years experience working as an academic librarian, or a minimum of 3 years experience coordinating Indigenous initiatives in an academic or not-for-profit organization is preferred.

This position is open to all candidates; though Indigenous applicants will be preferred. If you wish to qualify for priority consideration, you are asked to self-identify in your cover letter.

If this job description is of interest to you, and you have a Master of Library / Information Science, or equivalent, from an ALA-accredited institution, we still encourage you to apply.

We understand that experiences and qualifications vary.

Vancouver Island University is a comprehensive teaching university with 13,000 students across four campuses. VIU proudly fosters student success, strong community connections and meaningful collaborations by providing access to a wide range of programs, from academic undergraduate and master’s to industry-responsive trades and vocational training.

VIU is pleased to offer employees a comprehensive benefit plan; ample paid holiday time; professional development opportunities and a desirable pension plan that takes the worry out of retirement.

As part of the VIU campus community, you will work with supportive colleagues within an encouraging environment and are provided with the tools and training that promote learning and development.

The perks of VIU employment are multiple, and include well-being initiatives and services, strategic discounts, and flexible work opportunities.

The VIU community acknowledges and thanks the Snuneymuxw, Quw’utsun, Tla’amin, Snaw-naw-as and Qualicum First Nation on whose traditional lands we teach, learn, research, live and share knowledge.