Digital Collections Librarian

Description

Located in culturally diverse, historic, and dynamic Richmond, Virginia, convenient to the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the recreation destinations of the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Commonwealth University is one of Virginia's largest universities and among the nation's leading research institutions. The VCU Libraries, one of Virginia’s outstanding research library systems, advances the University’s teaching, research, service, and patient care mission with 2.5 million volumes, 61,000 serials, 600,000 e-books, and nationally prominent collections in the health and biological sciences, social work, the arts, the history of medicine, and comic and book arts.

The Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries invites applications and nominations for the position of Digital Collections Librarian. The Digital Collections Librarian will take a lead role in the advancement of VCU Libraries digital collections, institutional repository, and publishing efforts. Working with current and future digital asset management systems, the Digital Collections Librarian develops and supervises standards-based workflows for the entire lifecycle of digital and digitized objects. The successful candidate will join a culturally and academically diverse faculty of the highest caliber.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Digital Collections Systems Librarian, the Digital Collections Librarian provides innovative and sustainable solutions for the maintenance and presentation of VCU Libraries digital assets. Working in a team environment across departments, the incumbent will be responsible for supervising, evaluating and optimizing digitization procedures, including capture, presentation, and preservation. The Digital Collections Librarian will manage the Digital Production Unit, which consists of one full-time staff member and student workers. The successful candidate will efficiently leverage digital asset management, institutional repository, and publishing systems to encourage discovery and use of digital assets by both the university and the larger scholarly community. He or she will promote state-of-the-art services through continuous innovation and awareness of national trends and best practices. The Digital Collections Librarian is expected to be active professionally and to contribute to developments in the field. Faculty with the VCU Libraries are evaluated, and promoted, on the basis of job performance, scholarship, and professional development and service.

Qualifications

Although experience in certain areas is desirable, this is an entry-level position in which candidates who demonstrate excellent promise and a passion for developing digital library systems will be given the most serious consideration.

Required: ALA-accredited graduate degree or accredited graduate degree in another appropriate discipline. Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

Preferred: Working knowledge of technologies and standards needed to manage digitization activities including capture (for still and moving images, text, audio, and born-digital formats), ingest and presentation (into digital asset management and institutional repository systems), metadata creation, and preservation. Understanding of and experience with enterprise digital library applications and their role in higher education (e.g. Digital Commons, CONTENTdm, Omeka, DSpace, etc.). Experience with digital imaging file formats, conversion, and software such as Adobe Photoshop CS. Exposure to research libraries with knowledge of public and technical services operations, as well as library standards (Dublin Core, OAI-PMH, EAD, etc.). Experience with programming languages such as PHP, XSLT, PERL. Strong analytical, troubleshooting, time management, and project management skills. Ability to learn and apply new technologies independently. Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with a diverse group of clients and staff. Ability to work successfully with external vendor support and documentation. Availability and willingness to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings, weekends, and holidays. Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Libraries

Virginia Commonwealth University is Virginia’s largest research university, enrolling nearly 32,000 students. Located in Richmond, Virginia (http://www.vcu.edu/richmond/), VCU offers 41 doctoral, 74 masters, 3 professional, and 64 baccalaureate degree programs. Thirty-two of VCU's graduate, professional programs are ranked by U.S. News & World Report as among the best in the nation, with 19 programs ranking in the top 25 and two programs — sculpture and nurse anesthesia — ranked number one. Over 3,200 faculty comprise the University's teaching force. Research strengths at the University include health and life sciences, education, engineering, social work, behavioral sciences, public affairs, advertising and design, and the fine arts. Sponsored research funding totals over $260 million, placing VCU among the top 100 research institutions in the United States.  VCU’s strategic plan embraces an acceleration in the growth of VCU’s library system and includes a new Master Site Plan that envisions additions to both library facilities operated by the VCU Libraries. Architectural work has begun on a major addition to and renovation of the James Branch Cabell Library that is expected to open in 2015.

Libraries at Virginia Commonwealth University (including the James Branch Cabell Library on the Monroe Park Campus and the Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences on the MCV Campus) employ 51 professionals and 90 support staff with an annual budget exceeding $17.5 million. VCU also operates programs in Doha, Qatar, including a library supporting the program there, Northern Virginia, and in various additional locations throughout the U.S. and the world. The VCU Libraries is a Resource Library in the National Network of Libraries of Medicine and a member of the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries, SPARC, CNI, BioMed Central, and the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA), a statewide networking consortium for shared access to electronic and print resources.  The VCU Libraries has adopted Primo as its discovery layer and is one of the first libraries worldwide to have implemented Alma as its next generation cloud-based system for library management. CONTENTdm and DSpace supplement the foundation of its system architecture to enhance access to its collections and services.

Salary: Salary commensurate with experience, not less than $45,000 annually. This is a full-time, non-tenured faculty position. Normal faculty benefits apply, including 24 vacation days annually and choice of retirement and annuity plans. For more information about benefits, see http://www.hr.vcu.edu/benefits/.

For more information about the VCU Libraries, please visit our home page at http://www.library.vcu.edu/ and at http://www.pubinfo.vcu.edu/facjobs/home.asp. 

Review of applications will begin March 1, 2014, and will continue until the position is filled. Submit cover letter, resume, and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three references to:

Pamela H. Fraga
Assistant to the University Librarian
VCU Libraries, Virginia Commonwealth University
901 Park Avenue
PO Box 842033
Richmond, VA 23284-2033
804-828-1107
804-828-0151 (fax)
phfraga@vcu.edu

Virginia Commonwealth University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.  Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.