Library Research Assistant Jobs in Montana (NOW HIRING)

Position Details
Position Information
Announcement Number
FAC - VA - 26141
For questions regarding this position, please contact:
Robin Francis, Assistant to the Dean
406-994-4997
robin@montana.edu
Classification Title
Working Title
Assistant Professor - Instruction and Open Strategies Librarian
Brief Position Overview
This tenure-track librarian will focus on library open strategies and offer library instruction, including providing strategic direction across the library with open technologies, open research, open education and pedagogy, and scholarly communication; being a member of the library instruction department, offering credited and embedded instruction to students, staff, and faculty; and contributing scholarship and service.
Faculty Tenure Track
Yes
Faculty Rank
Assistant Professor
Position Number
4B3299
Department
Library
Division
Library
Appointment Type
Faculty
Contract Term
Fiscal Year
Semester
If other, specify From date
If other, specify End date
Union Affiliation
Exempt from Collective Bargaining
FTE
1.0
Benefits Eligible
Eligible
Salary
Salary commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications
Contract Type
MUS
If other, please specify
Recruitment Type
Open
Position Details
General Statement
The Montana State University (MSU) Library seeks a student-focused and creative individual for a tenure-track Assistant Professor - Instruction and Open Strategies Librarian in the MSU Library's Instruction Department.
This position provides vision and leadership for open strategies at the MSU Library. This position also plays a central role in advancing student success and the library's teaching through library instruction.
MSU welcomes a broad array of experiences and perspectives and is committed to continually supporting, promoting, and building an inclusive and culturally rich campus environment. In support of our campus and library strategic plans, we enthusiastically encourage members of traditionally underrepresented groups to apply.
Duties and Responsibilities
Facilitate conversations across the library organization and campus community about open strategies, keep up with open trends, and be engaged internationally and nationally about partnership opportunities around open efforts, pursuing such opportunities when appropriate.
Lead the MSU Library in its efforts to improve affordable course material options, including leading an established OER program.
Focus attention on developments in open software and systems, including open Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies.
Provide instruction and instructional support to students, staff, and faculty through research consultations, library instruction sessions, workshops, and/or credit-bearing courses. Contribute scholarship and service in accordance with tenure expectations.
Required Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

1. Master's degree in library and information science (MLS/MLIS) from an ALA-accredited program (or international equivalent) or terminal degree from an appropriate discipline by the time of appointment.
2. Experience with open areas of library and information science such as open access publishing, open data publishing, open educational resources (OER), open pedagogy, or open-source software and systems.
3. Knowledge of reference, research support, or information literacy instruction in an academic, research, or equivalent setting.

Preferred Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

1. Experience with professional organizations supporting open strategies and administering programs that further open efforts such as open publishing funds or grants for open educational resources (OER).
2. Demonstrated project management experience.
3. Experience designing and delivering library instruction, workshops, or credit-bearing courses.
4. Evidence of scholarly or professional contributions in librarianship, teaching, or related fields.
5. Demonstrated ability to build relationships with faculty, staff, and students in support of student success.

The Successful Candidate Will

• Have a broad knowledge and an understanding of current trends and issues in academic libraries, particularly related to instruction and open strategies.
• Have excellent communication skills across a range of audiences, including students, faculty, library colleagues, and the professional community.
• Have project management skills and an aptitude for managing multiple priorities.
• Have strong collaborative abilities with students and colleagues of diverse skills and perspectives.
• Contribute positively to the academic success of the students and the mission of Montana State University.
• Have the ability to engage in research and be an active tenure-track faculty member capable of meeting the university's promotion and tenure requirements for librarianship, scholarly activity, and service.

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University's rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Physical Demands
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
The Program
| The MSU Library embraces educational initiatives in many formats and multiple modalities including point of use, course-integrated, web-based, and credit-bearing course instruction. Workshops, research consultations, and instruction sessions are designed to develop students into self-sufficient and empowered seekers, users, and creators of information. We aim to engage users by modeling the pursuit of knowledge and lifelong learning. We acknowledge that librarianship is inherently multidisciplinary and collaborative. We seek to be adept and flexible in our approaches. We are guided by documents such as the Association for College and Research Libraries Framework for Information Literacy in Higher Education, Roles, and Strengths of Teaching Librarians, and by the movement toward a critical information literacy pedagogy. Current initiatives include a move toward robust instruction assessment, scaffolding information literacy concepts through strategic curriculum planning, and embracing 21st century learning tools and technologies.
The Department
The Instruction Department supports the MSU Library's curricular and instructional program, creating instructional resources, providing in-person and online tools, and dynamic instruction to the campus community through classroom teaching experiences, workshops, and interactive tutorials. It seeks to empower the campus community to critically discover, evaluate, and engage with information resources.
For more information visit https://www.lib.montana.edu/about/faculty-and-staff/departments/instruction/
The College
The MSU Library is a dynamic, adaptive, and responsive research library. We aspire to build innovative digital and physical spaces where our diverse communities can access and apply information to grow intellectually, build meaningful collaborations, communicate ideas, and envision a better future for Montana and beyond. We are proud to serve the university and the people of Montana, and we strive to do so while embodying the core values of the profession of librarianship and MSU. Our values reflect how we carry forward our strategic and operational decisions: we aim to build a more informed, thoughtful, and just world while striving to cultivate an environment that supports the potential for finding joy and meaning in our work. The library has a broad range of resources and services for students and faculty, including books and electronic resources, special collections, public computer workstations, printers, scanners, technology-rich group study rooms, quiet study areas, information instruction, data and publication services, and technology and research consultations.
The MSU Library is committed to providing access to information resources and supporting student and faculty success through instructional services and research assistance. Our library faculty are campus leaders and active within state, regional, and national library communities.
The MSU Library has over 50 faculty and staff employees, including 16 tenure-track faculty, 33 staff members, and 25-30 student employees.
Posting Detail Information
Number of Vacancies
1
Desired Start Date
Upon completion of a successful search.
Position End Date (if temporary)
Open Date
Close Date
Applications will be:
Screening of applications will begin on July 20th 2026; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.
Special Instructions
To apply, please upload:
1. A cover letter highlighting elements of your experiences that specifically addresses the required and preferred qualifications for this position.
2. A current curriculum vitae.
3. A statement on your teaching philosophy that will be applied to your work with students and instructors at MSU (max 2 pages).
This position is not eligible for new sponsorship.
EEO Statement
Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.
In compliance with the Montana Veteran's Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran's preference, please complete the veteran's preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.