Job Title: User Services Librarian (Librarian I/II; Contractually-Limited Term Appointment)
Date Posted: 08/21/2026
Closing Date: 09/20/2026
Req ID: 49934
Job Category: Librarian - Contractually Limited Term Appointment
Faculty/Division: Library
Department: User Services - Research & Education
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Existing Vacancy: Yes
Are you looking for challenging, meaningful work in a supportive and diverse environment? Are you looking for a career at one of Canada’s top employers? Work where the world comes to think, discover and learn. Consider a career at the University of Toronto.
About the University of Toronto Libraries
The University of Toronto Libraries (UTL) system is the largest academic library in Canada and is ranked in the top five among peer institutions in North America. The system comprises 40 libraries located across three university campuses: St.George, Mississauga, and Scarborough. This diverse and extensive network of college libraries, special collections, and specialized information centres plays a pivotal role in supporting the teaching, scholarly, and research needs of nearly 100,000 students enrolled in a wide array of graduate, professional, and undergraduate programs.
The library system provides access to millions of resources in various formats, including electronic, print, audio-visual, data and geospatial materials. UTL also boasts impressive holdings of archival material and substantial digital collections, securely preserved in the libraries' data centre. The staff at UTL are integral to the academic and scholarly enterprise, working closely with faculty and students to support their teaching, learning, and research requirements. They are subject matter experts; they are skilled in research data management, collections, statistics, GIS, metadata, digital preservation, scholarly communications, copyright, teaching, knowledge synthesis, open access and much more. Our work is grounded in our commitment to support equity, diversity, and inclusion. UTL continuously evolves to meet the changing academic priorities and pressures at the University and within the broader landscape of higher education.
The Opportunity
The University of Toronto Libraries seeks a proactive and collaborative librarian to both deliver and facilitate research and teaching support to our user communities for a contractually-limited term to cover a leave.
Reporting to the Assistant Head of User Services at John P. Robarts Library, the User Services Librarian will engage students and faculty at the Factor-Inwentash School of Social Work—including the Indigenous Trauma and Resiliency program—and the Department of Sociology on the St George Campus. These programs comprise of a diverse student body with a curricular emphasis on social justice and critical praxis. This work will involve teaching research and related skills, consulting with users about their research projects, and assuming collection development responsibilities to support the teaching and research needs of the faculties. Additionally, the librarian will support social science researchers with methods-driven reviews as a consultant and may also work with research teams as a co-author through the Systematic and Scoping Review Collaboration.
As a member of the Research & Education team, the User Services Librarian will also lead UTL’s contribution to Ask the Library chat through mentorship, training, scheduling, documentation, resource development, and targeted communication. Ask the Library chat is a consortial chat reference service staffed by colleagues throughout UTL and other Ontario university libraries coordinated through OCUL/Scholars Portal. Student casual workers staff this and other research help services in the unit. Participating in hiring, training, and ongoing supervision with an anti-oppressive management style is critical to success in the role.
Responsibilities
Serve as the liaison librarian to the Factor-Inwentash School of Social Work, including the Indigenous Trauma and Resiliency program, and the Department of Sociology through community engagement, teaching, research support and collaboration, and collection development
Coordinate U of T Library’s contribution to Ask the Library chat service including serving on OCUL/Scholars Portal committees like the Chatbot Beta Tester Working Group, Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reference Working Group, and the Virtual Reference Steering Committee
Consult with social science researchers on methods-driven reviews, with possible opportunities for co-authorship through the Systematic and Scoping Review Collaboration
Participate in student casual employee supervision, hiring, and training
Deliver in-depth research support through chat, email, and by appointment
Participate in the strategic and operational work of the Research & Education Team within the User Services Department of the John P. of Robarts Library
Required Qualifications
Master’s degree in library, archival or information science from an accredited institution
Demonstrated commitment to the values of inclusivity, diversity, equity, anti-racism and accessibility
Demonstrated understanding of the role of technology in library services and resources and the impact on diverse user communities
Excellent oral and written communication skills including intercultural communication
Proven ability to establish and grow professional relationships
Outstanding commitment to user-focused service
Track record of successful collaboration and consensus building
Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
An understanding of the diverse experiences of Indigenous Peoples and communities
Curiosity and openness to emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence
Aptitude for complex, analytical work
Knowledge of Information Literacy teaching best practices and approaches
Preferred Qualifications
Work experience in an academic library
Teaching experience
Public service and research support experience
Experience supporting learners in critically engaging with AI tools and concepts
Experience managing or training staff members in a unionized environment
Experience developing and managing collections
Lived experience or experience working with Indigenous Peoples and communities
Familiarity with methods-driven reviews methodology
Experience designing, conducting, and documenting comprehensive literature searches
An educational background in social work, sociology, or another social science discipline
Salary and Terms of Appointment:
It is anticipated that this position will be filled at the Librarian I/II level, subject to review and experience. Minimum salary: LIB I: $88,786; LIB II: $92,906. (Salary is dependent on rank at hire and qualifications) The expected salaryrange is $88,786 - $92,906, depending on experience. Negotiations beyond this salary range will be considered forexceptionally qualified candidates. This is a contractually-limited term appointment ending on July 31, 2027.
Benefits: We offer generous benefits packages to all employees. Additional information is available at: https://people.utoronto.ca/careers/benefits/
Additional information:
Librarians at the University of Toronto are members of the University of Toronto Faculty Association.
How to Apply:
Application Materials Required: A cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references of which at least two have supervised your work. Please attach a single electronic file into the “Resume” Field. (MS Word or pdf) with a file name convention of Surname, FirstName, 49934.
The University of Toronto Libraries thanks all applicants but will only contact applicants selected for an interview.
University of Toronto Library System: https://library.utoronto.ca/
University of Toronto: https://people.utoronto.ca/
Policies for librarians: https://people.utoronto.ca/policies/
This search aligns with the University’s commitment to strategically and proactively promote diversity among our community members (Statement on Equity, Diversity & Excellence). Recognizing that Black, Indigenous, and other Racialized communities have experienced inequities that have developed historically and are ongoing, we strongly welcome and encourage candidates from those communities to apply.
University of Toronto Libraries’ Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Statement:
https://library.utoronto.ca/policy/anti-racism-and-diversity-equity-and-inclusion
University of Toronto Libraries' Anti-Racism Statement:
https://library.utoronto.ca/policy/anti-racism-and-diversity-equity-and-inclusion
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
Diversity Statement
The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.
As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.
Accessibility Statement
The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.
The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.
If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact
[email protected].
Job Segment: Data Center, Consulting, Audio Visual, Sociology, GIS, Technology, Creative, Social Sciences
