​Florida International University is Miami’s public research university, focused on student success. According to U.S. News and World Report, FIU has 42 top-50 rankings in the nation among public universities. FIU is a top U.S. research university (R1), with more than $200 million in annual expenditures. FIU ranks 15th in the nation among public universities for patent production, which drives innovation, and is one of the institutions that helps make Florida the top state for higher education. The Next Horizon fundraising campaign is furthering FIU’s commitment to providing students Worlds Ahead opportunities. Today, FIU has two campuses and multiple centers, and supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA, with more than 400 student athletes participating in 18 sports. The university has awarded more than 330,000 degrees to many leaders in South Florida and beyond. For more information about FIU, visit www.fiu.edu.

Health Sciences Librarian:  FIU is committed to building an academic community whose members represent and embrace diverse cultures, backgrounds, and life experiences that reflect the multicultural nature of South Florida and our global society. As a member of the Information & Research Services Department, the Health Sciences Librarian provides reference and instruction services to undergraduate and graduate students.

As a library faculty member, the Health Sciences Librarian is expected to participate in scholarship and service activities, while working with library faculty and staff across multiple departments to meet the mission and goals of the FIU Libraries.

I. Professional Practice
      1. Provides face-to-face and virtual general reference assistance to faculty, staff, students, and the public through staffing of the Reference Desk and online reference services. Also plans, provides, and promotes research assistance and consultations concentrating on disciplines in the health sciences including nursing, psychology, public health, and social work.
     2. Plans, develops, promotes, and delivers instructional services, activities and materials for information literacy concentrating on disciplines including the health sciences, nursing, psychology, public health, and social work, involving developing content for and creating virtual learning tools.
     3. Develops, manages, and promotes print and electronic collections in the health sciences. Provides other collection development and management activities as requested.
     4. Builds relationships and regularly communicates with faculty, staff, and students within the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, the Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, and other health sciences-related departments and programs, such as the Department of Psychology, to promote library resources and services and to keep abreast of their research and instructional needs.
     5. Participates in workshops, conferences, and other continuing education and professional development activities.
     6. Other duties and special projects as assigned by the chair of I&RS and/or dean of the libraries.

II. Research/Scholarship/Creative Works
     1. Engages in research, scholarship, and creative activity related to the position and to librarianship

III. Service
       1. Contributes to the library, university, profession, and community through active participation in committees, meetings, professional associations, research, and other activities.

Required Qualifications:

•  Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited program or equivalent
•  Excellent analytical, time management, and problem-solving skills
  
• Effective oral and written communication, including ability to develop clear written procedures to assist with staff training
  
• Ability to adapt to changing standards and evolving work-related expectations in a dynamic working environment
  

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience working in a digital library
  
• Excellent interpersonal communication and organization skills, including project management
  
• Ability to take initiative, work accurately, and follow through effectively and efficiently with all issues and tasks
  
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a culturally diverse environment
  
• Skill in standard office software, such as Word and Excel
  
• Fluency in Spanish
  

Rank/Salary: Non-tenured faculty status; rank and salary are competitive based on qualifications and experience.

About the Libraries:
For information about the FIU Libraries, please visit http://library.fiu.edu. Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply to Job Opening ID 527810 at https://facultycareers.fiu.edu/ and attach cover letter and curriculum vitae. Candidates will be requested to provide names and contact information for at least three references who will be contacted as determined by the search committee. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Clery Notice
In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act, the University Police department at Florida International University provides information on crimes statistics, crime prevention, law enforcement, crime reporting, and other related issues for the past three (3) calendar years. The FIU Annual Security report is available online at: https://police.fiu.edu/download/annual-security-fire-safety-report/. To obtain a paper copy of the report, please visit the FIU Police Department located at 885 SW 109th Avenue, Miami, FL, 33199 (PG5 Market Station).

Pay Transparency
Florida International University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

FIU is a member of the State University System of Florida and an Equal Opportunity, Equal Access Affirmative Action Employer all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Building Health Literacy Awareness Through Action

October is Health Literacy Month – a time when health organizations, literacy programs, libraries, social service agencies, businesses, professional associations, government agencies and other groups can work together to integrate and expand the mission of health literacy – to build a world where our collective efforts will lead to health equity, where all people can attain positive health outcomes.



​Visit healthliteracymonth.org to learn more about how to shift from awareness to action today! #healthliteracymonth

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The video below was made by IHA and illustrates the moments when health care providers and health information specialists have realized the impact of health literacy. Have you had an Aha! moment? Feel free to share in the comments below.

Health Sciences Librarian

Assistant University Librarian or Associate University Librarian

     The University of Florida's George A. Smathers Libraries seek two (2) creative, energetic, service-oriented librarians to support the research, education and service goals of the Borland Health Sciences Library (Borland). Borland is the Jacksonville branch of the Health Science Center Libraries, part of the University of Florida’s George A. Smathers Libraries. The Health Sciences Librarian provides support through reference assistance, in-depth information consultations, instruction, and outreach for the students, residents, faculty, and staff of the UF Health Jacksonville campus and its Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy. This 12-month, tenure-track faculty position serves as a member of the Health Science Center Libraries faculty, and is responsible for special projects as assigned, such as development of web-based resources, service evaluation, collaboration on evidence syntheses, and collection reviews. Additionally, the Health Sciences Librarian assists with oversight of circulation and interlibrary loan functions for the branch.

      The search will remain open until October 13th, 2022, and applications will be reviewed as received. For a full description of the position and instructions on how to apply, please refer to the George A. Smathers Libraries faculty recruitment webpage at https://hr.uflib.ufl.edu/prospective-employees/current-openings/vacant-faculty-positions/.

      The University of Florida is an equal opportunity employer and is strongly committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. Applicants from a broad spectrum of people, including members of ethnic minorities and disabled persons, are especially encouraged to apply.

  Address inquiries to Joe Piazza, Smathers Libraries Human Resources Office, at: jpiazza@ufl.edu.

By: Janet Chan

​Q. How did you come up with the idea for dog therapy days and when did they start?

Jill: We started them in 2014. One of the student assistants at the library knew I was taking Snitch for certification and suggested bringing dogs to the library. The first event was very popular and a little chaotic. We had a great turnout with very little advertising. 
     The person who planned the initial event left the library and I took over the program because of my connection with Pet Partners. That first year we started with 4 dog therapy days that coincided with other library events and have now worked up to having around 6-8 per year. Some coincide with other events and some are stand alone dog therapy days. 

Q. What does a dog therapy day look like? 

Stephanie: From a staffing perspective, it is getting things organized and set up: moving furniture, setting out snacks, decorations.  Once the event starts, we focus on keeping the food stocked and making sure that there is a flow and that spacing is appropriate. We try to keep an eye out for any bottlenecking areas as the students come in groups. Mostly the day is waves of lots of excitement, lots of joy, and just happy chaos. 

Jill: We get lots of students asking if they can take pictures or if we will take a picture for them. 

Stephanie: From our perspective, it is very rewarding. You can see the students come in and start to relax and decompress when they are with the dogs. The students love to reminisce about their puppies that they have left at home when they moved for college. 

Q. What feedback have you received about this event?

Jill: We get thanked a lot. The students say “I really needed this” or “This is great. I was having a terrible day”. 

Stephanie: Faculty and staff (especially library staff) are just as excited as the students. 

Jill: I’ve gotten feedback from a few of the administrators that they are happy with the dog therapy events. When they can come, they do. 

Stephanie: I don’t think we’ve had any negative reactions. We did have one student who was afraid of dogs and she actually ended up petting one of our small dogs. 

Q. Are there any challenges or special considerations in doing this type of event?
 
Jill: We have now grown to have three different organizations bringing dogs in. The initial group is a group where I knew all the dogs and was familiar with them. Now that we have expanded, it is a little more work placing the dogs as I get to know them. 
       We do event requests at our facility prior to any event. We also have to ask the organizations to add our library to their insurance policy. This will vary by institution and is something to check at your library. 
      The dogs may get tired and need breaks. This is largely the responsibility of the handler to determine if their dog has had a lot of people and is getting tired. They are always welcome to take them away for a break or even take them home if they need too. Two hours is a good time for most handler teams. You can stagger them if you have a longer event. 

Q. What advice would you give someone who wants to start a dog therapy program at their library?
 
Stephanie: First, check with your director or administration for approval. Next would be to check the logistics because even within the same organization, the logistics can be vastly different. See what kind of space approvals you need before you reach out to any therapy organizations. 

Jill: I would also say that it is hard to organize and manage these types of events yourself if you are not familiar with them. It helps if you have someone who has a certified dog who can manage that aspect. There are certain rules surrounding dogs and therapy work and you want to make sure all the team are in compliance with the types of leashes they use and how the dogs greet people. If you don’t have someone with a certified dog, it is very helpful to do some research, so you are familiar with the rules of therapy work. 

Stephanie: I would also add to be aware of your space and how many dogs can fit in that space. Be prepared for people to not want to leave. Expect crushes of people and plan accordingly. If you only have a small library, you may only want two dogs or to stagger them. These events tend to be popular and people love them.