Department/School Name: J. Paul Leonard Library

Area of Specialization: Public Services

Rank of Appointment: Senior Assistant Librarian                                                                                                                                 

J. Paul Leonard Library at San Francisco State University seeks a collaborative, student-centered, and service-oriented tenure-track librarian to contribute to the Library’s public services program. The successful candidate will bring experience in one or more areas of public service, including but not limited to research assistance, instruction, outreach and engagement, access services, student success, and the development of inclusive and responsive library services. They will also demonstrate a commitment to supporting the diverse students, faculty, and communities of San Francisco State University, working collaboratively with colleagues across the Library and campus to advance equitable access to information, strengthen student learning and success, and contribute to a welcoming, inclusive, and user-centered library environment.

The Library particularly welcomes applicants whose academic background, professional experience, cultural competencies, and community engagement will enhance its capacity to serve San Francisco State University's diverse student population. Candidates are encouraged to view the 2025 SFSU Fact Sheet for information about the University's student demographics.

Required qualifications:

• Master’s degree in library and information science from an ALA-accredited program
• Current employment as a lecturer faculty at J. Paul Leonard Library at San Francisco State University
• Experience providing public services in an academic library
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse students, faculty, staff, colleagues, and community members
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, belonging, and student success
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and collaboration skills
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a complex, service-oriented environment
• Evidence of initiative, mental flexibility, problem-solving ability, and commitment to continuous improvement
• Commitment to library, CSU system-wide, university, professional, and/or community service
• Commitment to professional growth, scholarship, creative activity, or continuing development in librarianship or a related field

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience developing, coordinating, leading, or assessing programs, services, projects, initiatives, or workflows
• Experience teaching, training, presenting, facilitating workshops, or supporting learning in formal or informal settings
• Experience with inclusive, culturally responsive, accessible, or equity-centered library services
• Experience working with students from historically underserved, first-generation, transfer, multilingual, and/or nontraditional student communities
• Experience collaborating across library departments, units, or institutions
• Familiarity with current trends in academic libraries, public services, information literacy, access services, student success, or user-centered service design
• Evidence of professional engagement, scholarship, creative activity, or contributions to the field
• Demonstrated potential for meeting the requirements for tenure and promotion under the library’s criteria for primary assignment, scholarship, and service
• Demonstrated knowledge of the strengths and limitations of generative AI-enabled research tools for information discovery and research, as well as broader issues related to generative AI technologies
• Demonstrated experience using technologies to support teaching, learning, and research, and to facilitate workflows and collaboration

About San Francisco State University

SFSU is a major public urban university, situated in one of the world’s great cities. Building on a century-long history of commitment to quality teaching and broad access to undergraduate and graduate education, the university offers comprehensive, rigorous, and integrated academic programs that require students to engage in open-minded inquiry and reflection. SFSU prepares its students to become productive, ethical, active citizens with a global perspective. Learn more about working at the California State University and the impact of our mission. Candidates are encouraged to view the 2025 SFSU Fact Sheet for information about the University's student demographics.

Mission Statement

SFSU educates and equips students to thrive in a global society. We deliver academic excellence by pursuing knowledge, inspiring creativity, supporting our diverse community and advancing social justice and positive change in the world. Visit the Strategic Planning website to learn more. 

About the Department

The J. Paul Leonard Library at San Francisco State University fosters student success and social justice by organizing and providing equitable access to diverse information resources; maintaining welcoming and inclusive spaces; delivering user-centered library support and research expertise that empower underserved learners; and equipping the SFSU community with tools to pursue their academic, professional, and personal goals.

We support a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff, and we are dedicated to furthering educational equity through our information literacy and collections development practices. Our collections include more than one million items in all formats, including an extensive collection of online databases, full-text resources, and digital collections. Librarians have full faculty status and are expected to meet faculty requirements for tenure and promotion. The library faculty is committed to providing mentoring and support to tenure-track colleagues. The successful candidate will play a key role in helping to shape the future of the library. Additional information about the J. Paul Leonard Library is available at: J. Paul Leonard Library.

Responsibilities:

The General Public Services Librarian will contribute to one or more areas of public service, depending on experience, expertise, and Library needs. Responsibilities may include:

• Providing research assistance, reference services, and/or user support in person and online
• Supporting students, faculty, staff, and community users in accessing and effectively using library resources, services, spaces, and technologies
• Teaching or contributing to information or primary source literacy instruction, orientations, workshops, course-integrated instruction sessions, and other learning opportunities
• Teaching and supporting users in the effective use of library technologies, including OneSearch, research databases, digital collection platforms, and/or emerging generative AI-enabled research tools
• Participating in outreach, engagement, and student success initiatives that connect users with library services and resources
• Supporting, coordinating, or improving access services, including circulation, course reserves, resource sharing, stacks management, or related user-facing services
• Developing, coordinating, or assessing new programs, services, workflows, or initiatives that improve the user experience and respond to campus needs
• Collaborating with colleagues across library units to support inclusive, accessible, and effective public services
• Contributing to Library efforts related to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, belonging, and student success
• Supporting faculty and student scholarly publishing and open access efforts
• Developing the library’s collection through selection and management of individual titles, monograph packages, and journal and monograph subscription services
• Participating in library, CSU system-wide, university, professional, and/or community governance and service
• Engaging in research, scholarship, creative works, professional development, and activities that contribute to professional achievement and growth
• Additional duties as assigned

Compensation:                                                                                             

Salary is based on the CSU Salary Schedule. The Senior Assistant Librarian Professor 2026 classification salary range is:

$90,000.00 to $97,000.00 annually (12 monthly payments per academic year).

Salary offered is commensurate with experience and qualifications. In addition, the California Equal Pay Act prohibits employers from paying its employees less than those of the opposite sex and/or another race or ethnicity for substantially similar work (California Equal Pay Act).

Professional development funds, moving expenses, start‐up funds, and a reduced teaching load may be available.

The California State University (CSU) provides generous health, retirement, and other benefits.

Application Procedure

A complete online application must be submitted to receive consideration. Application review begins 7/17/2026 and continues until position is filled. 

To begin the application process and upload the following materials:

1. Cover letter relating your experience to the required qualifications

2. Curriculum vitae

3. Samples of scholarly work and philosophy of librarianship

4. Names and contact information of three references who will provide letters of recommendation upon request.

Candidates are invited to include these optional documents in their application package:

1. Evidence of research, scholarship, or creative activity that integrates understanding of and/or engages underrepresented communities;

or 

2. Evidence of service or work experience serving and contributing to underrepresented Communities.

Please direct all questions about the position to Christy Stevens, Dean, J. Paul Leonard Library, at crstevens@sfsu.edu.

SFSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against persons on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, covered veteran status, or any other protected status.

We warmly welcome applications from individuals with disabilities, veterans, and others from historically underrepresented groups, who bring diverse experiences and perspectives that strengthen our academic community.  We believe that such diversity enhance our curriculum, research, and student support.  Our campus actively supports reasonable accommodations and works collaboratively with disabled faculty to remove barriers and foster success.

The California State University is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California.  Because of this, CSU prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside of California with very limited exception.  While this position may be eligible for occasional telework, all work is expected to be performed in the state of California, and this position is assigned to on-campus operations.

Pursuant to Education Code Section 89521, the CSU is required to contact the current and/or former employer(s) of an applicant in the final stages of the recruitment process and make a reasonable attempt to obtain information regarding any prior misconduct by the applicant within the last seven years.