Accessibility Librarian (Librarian II; Contractually-Limited Part-Time Term Appointment; 60% FTE)

University of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 50,000 - 85,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading academic library system in Toronto is seeking an Accessibility Librarian to enhance library accessibility services. This role includes overseeing accessible format services, collaborating with partners, and providing personalized support to students and faculty. Ideal candidates will hold a Master's in library science and have a strong commitment to equity and inclusivity. This part-time position offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

Benefits

Generous benefits package

Qualifications

• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and accessibility.
• Experience with adaptive technologies and accessibility supports.
• Knowledge of emerging accessibility trends.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and manage accessible format services.
• Consult with partners to enhance accessibility initiatives.
• Engage with users to provide personalized accessibility support.

Skills

Inclusivity

Communication skills

Knowledge of AODA

Education

Master’s degree in library science

Job description

Job Title: Accessibility Librarian (Librarian II; Contractually-Limited Part-Time Term Appointment; 60% FTE)

Date Posted: 10/03/2025

Closing Date: 11/03/2025

Job Category: Librarian - Contractually Limited Term Appointment

Faculty/Division: Library

Department: User Services

Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

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.

About the User Services Department

Based at the John P. Robarts Library, the User Services Department includes over 30 appointed staff (librarians, professional managers, and unionized staff), and approximately 30 student casual employees. The Department's teams (Accessibility Services, Research & Education, and Access Services) provide a wide variety of user-centered library services designed to support students, staff, faculty and researchers as they pursue their paths to becoming creative and thoughtful scholars, learners and citizens.

The Opportunity

The University of Toronto Libraries (UTL) is seeking a highly user-centered, knowledgeable, and collaborative librarian to provide leadership in library accessibility services. As the librarian responsible for accessibility services, you will play a key advocacy role within the UTL system and the University, striving to ensure that accessibility is a fundamental consideration in all UTL functions, including library services, spaces, and collections. With the support of the Accessibility & Senior Access Services Associate, and in collaboration with users and colleagues in various libraries and departments across UofT’s three campuses, you will work proactively to remove barriers and ensure that students, staff, and faculty members with accessibility considerations have the support they need to succeed in their library endeavours. You will also play a key role in supporting the learning of colleagues across UTL in the areas of accessibility and universal design.

Reporting to the Head, User Services at the Robarts Library, you will:

• Oversee UTL’s accessible format services, including managing UTL’s contributions to Scholars Portal Accessible Content E-Portal (ACE), and liaising with publishers to request accessible formats.
• Consult and collaborate with a wide range of partners including the University’s AODA Office, Accessibility Services, student groups, Scholars Portal, Alternative Educational Resources Ontario (AERO), CNIB, and other library and campus colleagues to support and enhance accessibility initiatives across library spaces, services, and collections.
• Engage with individual users and accessibility advisors to provide personalized support to ensure that library resources and services meet or exceed the diverse accessibility needs of users.
• Facilitate tours, orientation sessions, workshops, and other special events for users with disabilities to raise awareness about library resources, services, and spaces, and to help build community.
• Lead workshops, build asynchronous learning objects, and design other learning opportunities for library colleagues to increase awareness and build capacity related to accessibility, Universal Design, and AODA / other accessibility guidelines.
• Explore, recommend and oversee the implementation of new accessible technologies and tools.
• Build and maintain UTL Accessibility web pages in Drupal and internal documentation in Microsoft SharePoint.
• Monitor relevant accessibility legislation, treaties, standards, guidelines, and policies such as the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and assess their impact on the Library and the University.
• Provide supervision, training, mentoring and support for a unionized staff member (CUPE 1230).
• Engage in professional development, committees, and other scholarly activities.

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
• Experience providing accessibility supports, including adaptive technologies, software, and formats
• Proven knowledge of AODA and related accessibility legislation, treaties, standards, guidelines, and policies
• Strong knowledge about emerging trends related to accessibility services
• A flexible, creative, proactive, and empathetic approach to the delivery of user-centered services
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills
• Experience applying the principles of teaching and learning to deliver effective presentations and instruction
• Strong initiative, organizational skills and an ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively
• Ability to work effectively as both a team member and independently
• Demonstrated commitment to innovation and continuous learning

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supervising in a unionized environment
• Experience working in an academic library
• Knowledge about web design and adaptive workspaces
• Undergraduate / graduate degree or course work in Disability Studies, Equity Studies, or a related subject area and / or lived experience

Salary and Terms of Appointment: This is a part-time (60%) 1-year contractually-limited term appointment. It is anticipated that this position will be filled at the Librarian II level, subject to review and experience. Minimum salary: LIB II: $84,573 (pro-rated to 60% FTE, $50,672) (Salary is dependent on rank at hire and qualifications). The anticipated start date is February 1, 2026.

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, 45363.

The University of Toronto Libraries thanks all applicants but will only contact applicants selected for an interview.

University of Toronto Library System: http://onesearch.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