Geospatial Information Specialist (GIS) Librarian

Description

Reporting to the Head, Digital Research & Publishing, the GIS Specialist will design, implement, and support the University of Iowa Libraries’ geospatial library. Recognizing the importance of geospatial data across all disciplines, this position is critical to the University Libraries’ efforts supporting scholarly digital publishing, the creation of new information resources for teaching and research, and campus priorities in informatics and digital humanities. The GIS Specialist will collaborate with many stakeholders to enhance access to and use of geospatial information, digitized historical maps and atlases, and applications for visualizing geospatial data for research.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Designing and implementing a geographic-based portal for discovering, previewing, and downloading geospatial data owned, licensed, produced, or curated by the Libraries
• Managing the operations and the ongoing development of the geospatial library collection
• Curating, promoting, and enhancing geospatial datasets
• Collaborating with university affiliates to design and deliver a geospatial literacy program that supports the academic curriculum across the University
• Engaging in campus outreach to introduce geospatial and GIS technologies to students and others
• Actively participating in the emerging campus GIS community and the technical core group
• Providing instruction and research assistance in the use of geospatial information in collaboration with subject liaison librarians
• Assisting scholars in the creation, management, analysis and visualization of geospatial data as part of a campus-wide coordinated multidisciplinary approach to informatics support and services
• Serve as library liaison to the UI Informatics Initiative in domain applications related to spatial data
• Working with Special Collections and Library Information Technology staff to enhance access to digitized historical map and atlas collections

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in library and information science with a concentration or advanced coursework in GIS, or an equivalent degree related to the position (e.g., an advanced degree in geography or in geographic information science, or a geoinformatics certificate with a degree in informatics or other program)
• For the Specialist Librarian level, three or more years of experience is required.
• Relevant experience using GIS software, including ESRI ArcGIS
• Knowledge of map and geospatial resources
• High degree of computer literacy
• Interest in emerging technologies
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to explain technical topics to a non-technical audience
• Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with diverse stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with geospatial and FGDC-endorsed metadata standards such as ISO 19115
• Experience with a programing language such as Python or PHP
• Experience teaching the use of GIS in a library environment
• Experience building GIS web services
• Experience with open-source and web-based GIS tools (Open GeoPortal, Harvard WorldMap, Quantum GIS, ESRI Online, etc.)

Please see a full position vacancy announcement at http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/employment/.