Background of my university and library position.

1. University Library System
Being a Librarian
at the
University of Pittsburgh
Robin Kear
Reference/Instruction Librarian
University Library System

2. University Library System
A Few Pitt Facts…
• Pitt’s Cathedral of Learning, 535 feet
(163 meters) tall, is the second-high
education building in the world.
• Pitt’s motto is Veritas et Virtus, Latin for
“Truth and Virtue.”

3. University Library System
History
• Founded as the Pittsburgh Academy
in 1787 on what was then the
American frontier and in 1908, the
school was renamed the University
of Pittsburgh.
• Pitt faculty and alumni have
received Nobel and Pulitzer Prizes,
the National Medals of Arts and of
Science, and the MacArthur
“Genius” Award, among many other
honors.

4. University Library System
Leader in Education
• Pitt has been ranked in the top cluster of
U.S. public research universities, and has
been named a “best value” by various
publications.
• Since 1995, Pitt undergraduates have
won Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Udall,
Goldwater, and Churchill Scholarships.

5. University Library System
Pioneer in Research
• Pitt faculty members have been
pioneers in astronomy, genetics,
organ transplantation, and
virology, among other fields.
• The Salk polio vaccine was
developed at Pitt in 1955.
• A Pitt professor was the first to
isolate and identify vitamin C.
• In 1974, Pitt was elected to the
Association of American
Universities (AAU), which includes
North America’s leading research
universities.

6. University Library System
University of Pittsburgh System
• The Pitt system comprises the
132-acre Pittsburgh campus as
well as regional campuses in
Bradford, Greensburg,
Johnstown, and Titusville.
• Pitt’s 12,000 employees
(including 3,800 fulltime
faculty members) serve some
34,000 students in 15
undergraduate, graduate, and
professional schools.

7. University Library System
University Library System (ULS)
• The ULS comprises 10 libraries on the
Pittsburgh campus as well as regional
libraries on the campuses in Bradford,
Greensburg, Johnstown, and Titusville.
• There are separate Health and Law library
systems.
• The ULS has 194 employees (including 77
fulltime faculty librarians).

8. University Library System
Hillman Library
• Focused primarily on the
humanities and the social
sciences, Hillman Library
contains approximately
1.5 million volumes, over
400 databases, study
capacity for 1500 users,
numerous departments,
service points, and
specialized collections.

9. University Library System
Reference/Instruction Librarian
• Main responsibilities are
reference assistance at the
Hillman reference desk
and information literacy
instruction for students.
• Research interests include
international
librarianship, new
information technologies,
and information literacy.

10. University Library System
Credentials
• Faculty librarians are required to have an MLIS, Masters
of Library and Information Science.
– Most area studies faculty librarians have a second
masters in their subject area.
– I have a Bachelors of Arts (BA) in Global Policy
Studies and the MLIS.
• Faculty librarians are in a tenure stream, “expectation of
continuing employment” and have dossier reviews at the
third and sixth year of employment to obtain expectation.

11. University Library System
Professional Activities
• Involved with American
Library Association in
various ways
• Publish articles
• Frequent presentations
• University Senate

12. University Library System
Contact information
Robin Kear
Reference/Instruction Librarian
University of Pittsburgh
G22 Hillman Library
3960 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
+1-412-648-7728
rlk25@pitt.edu
http://www.linkedin.com/in/robinkear
Twitter: @rkear
Meebo Chat: rkear
Skype: robin.kear
http://pitt.libguides.com/profile.php?uid=18189