Department/Organization
207401 - School of Library and Info Studies
Rank
Assistant Professor
Position Summary
The University of Alabama School of Library & Information Studies (SLIS) in the College of Communication and Information Sciences at the University of Alabama invites applications for a nine-month, non-tenure track renewable contract assistant professor in school library media to begin August 16, 2026.
Detailed Position Information
The University of Alabama School of Library & Information Studies (SLIS) in the College of Communication and Information Sciences at the University of Alabama invites applications for a nine-month, non-tenure track renewable contract assistant professor in school library media to begin August 16, 2026.
Position Summary & Responsibilities:
This position provides an exciting opportunity for a passionate scholar and educator to lead our existing NCATE/CAEP and ALA (American Library Association) accredited School Library Media program and to shape the character and direction of the School of Library and Information Studies. We are at a thrilling juncture with a new facility, growing student body and faculty at all ranks, and supportive administration dedicated to information literacy and access.
As part of a leadership team in SLIS, this enthusiastic individual is expected to:
• Maintain an active research agenda relevant to their areas of expertise
• Teach graduate courses in the areas of school library media and research methods and undergraduate courses in information literacy and/or youth media/literature
• Advise school library media concentrator graduate students in SLIS’s Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) program, education specialist (EdS) program, and the College’s interdisciplinary doctoral program
• Supervise graduate internship experiences at K-12 school placements
• Manage school library media assessment and certification processes for the MLIS and EdS programs
• Direct MLIS and EdS school library media degree programs in conjunction with the College of Education and AL State Department of Education to ensure licensure requirements are met
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with educators in K-12 schools and with other faculty members in the College of Education
• Participate in academic service in SLIS, the College of Communication and Information Sciences, and the College of Education
• Engage in professional LIS organizations at the state, national, and international levels
• Serve as the main SLIS contact with the College of Education for all school library media degree programs
• Recruit potential school library media graduate students for both the MLIS and EdS programs
This teaching focused position is based on a 3-year renewable contract cycle with opportunities for promotion. Successful applicants will display the ability to be an active and involved member of a highly collaborative faculty team. The standard teaching load for renewable contract faculty members is four courses per semester. Administration of the school library media MLIS and EdS programs (including the school library media internship oversight course) will count as one of these four courses. . Instructional modes include web-based synchronous distance education and face-to-face.
If the individual in the school library media faculty position has teaching experience that is more than 5 years old, they will be required to spend 10 hours per semester in K-12 schools shadowing a highly effective school librarian.
About the Department/School:
The School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) offers an ALA-accredited Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) program, an Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program in the book arts, undergraduate minor in informatics, undergraduate minor in book arts, educational specialist degree (in collaboration with the College of Education) in school library media, and doctoral courses that contribute to a multidisciplinary doctorate in Communication and Information Sciences. Established in 1985, The Book Arts Program at The University of Alabama fosters the development of original scholarship and creative practice. Our students acquire advanced skills in book arts, become cognizant of the historical background in which these various crafts evolved and develop knowledge about the professional environments in which our graduates will work. Courses explore the reconciliation of modern sensibilities with historic craft.
Minimum Qualifications
• Earned doctorate in Library and Information Science or Education from a regionally accredited university prior to the appointment date.
• American Library Association (ALA)-accredited MLIS degree or Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)-accredited library media master’s degree
• Commitment to work with students, colleagues, and partners with a range of backgrounds, perspectives, and levels of experience
• Hold or have the ability to obtain an Alabama Class A teaching certificate in the area of school library media. This requires at least two years, full-time teaching experience in K-12 schools as a school librarian.
Preferred Qualifications
• Active involvement in relevant regional and/or national organizations • Previous experience teaching and supervising graduate students in school library media
Instructions and Required Materials for Application
Applicants must apply online at https://careers.ua.edu/faculty and submit the following required materials. 1. Cover letter highlighting your overall match for the position 2. Curriculum vitae 3. Names and contact information for three references 4. Teaching philosophy Review of applications begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Questions regarding the search should be directed to the search chair, Dr. Ramona Caponegro at racaponegro@ua.edu.
About the Division/College/School
The College of Communication & Information Sciences has four academic units, approximately 110 full-time faculty members, and serves approximately 3,500 students across bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs, including approximately 95 students in the college-wide Ph.D. program. The college’s Institute for Communication & Information Research (ICIR) is a premier research institute dedicated to addressing societal and cultural issues related to communication and information research. The ICIR collaborates with businesses, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, foundations, and other entities to produce high-impact research that informs and improves our evolving communication and information landscape. The College is also home to the Public Opinion Lab, equipped with the Sprinklr data warehouse and custom data collection and management resources; a biometrics lab outfitted with state-of-the-art iMotions software and associated hardware; and the near-term development of an interactive VR/theater lab, among others. The college is also home to the Holle Center for Communication Arts, whose mission is guided by a commitment to advance narrative justice through innovative and arts-informed research, community engagement, and creative co-operation. The college also maintains the 40,000 square-foot Digital Media Center, which is home to Alabama Public Radio and WVUA 23, a full-power commercial television station serving a top-50 television market.
About the University
The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, named one of Travel + Leisure’s 25 Best College Towns and Cities in the U.S. As one of the nation’s premier universities, UA offers bachelor’s, master's and doctoral degrees in nearly 200 fields of study. With more than 1,400 acres of tree-lined academic core campus and over 300 state-of-the art facilities, UA has been ranked among the most beautiful and most impressive college campuses in the South, in the state of Alabama and in the nation.
In Fall 2023, the Capstone set a new enrollment record with more than 39,000 students, including more than 8,200 in the freshman class. The current enrollment includes students from every county in Alabama, every state in the nation and 92 countries around the world. More than 1,100 National Merit Scholars are currently enrolled, making UA one of the largest enrolling institutions of the scholars in the country.
UA was recently recognized as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. students for the seventh time in nine years, as well as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. Scholars for the first time. UA is one of only 12 universities in the nation to receive both honors.
For reasons like this, the University made Forbes list of America’s Top Colleges for 2023 and Time magazine’s list of Top 50 Best Colleges for Future Leaders. It also made Princeton Review’s list of Top Value Colleges.
UA is also designated among the top doctoral research universities in the United States in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. One of the fastest growing major research institutions in the nation, UA saw a 21% increase in sponsored awards in the 2023 fiscal year.
Since 2015, UA has invested over $1.1 billion in the physical campus, adding more than 2.55 million gross square feet of space, over 150 new research-intensive faculty, signature research areas (e.g., “The Alabama Research Institutes”), and a growing number of partnerships with industry and with state and federal agencies.
The University employs nearly 2,100 faculty and over 4,500 staff, with 52 UA researchers included in the National Academy of Inventors. An additional 40 current faculty have received the NSF CAREER Award, the nation’s most prestigious recognition of top performing young scientists in disciplines ranging from nanoscience and engineering to biological sciences.
Background Investigation and EEO Statement
Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.
The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants to and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. Follow the link below to find out more. "EEO is the Law" https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf
