Digital Initiatives Librarian

Description

Digital Initiatives Librarian

Binghamton Universities’ Library Technology department provides innovative, high quality information technologies in order to support the computing needs related to the initiatives of the University Libraries, which includes the Glenn G. Bartle and Science Libraries, the Library Annex@Conklin, and the University Downtown Center Library and Information Commons in the College of Community and Public Affairs. As a member of the Library Technology department, the Digital Initiatives Librarian provides quality service and support to library faculty, staff and patrons in the area of Library Technology. The position reports to the Director of Library Technology, with the Dean of University Libraries as second-line supervisor.

The Digital Initiatives Librarian collaborates in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of digital projects to enhance user experience and improve workflows within the library. This includes, but is not limited to, digital initiatives such as digital curation and preservation, digital exhibits, the Libraries’ website, and search and discovery of library resources. Digital curation and preservation tasks include digital media inventorying, digital forensics, applying metadata schema for access and preservation, and investigating and developing submission workflows for the acquisition of digital content. Additionally they will assist in the training and supervising of student assistants and interns working on digital projects. The Digital Initiatives Librarian assists in developing an overall migration strategy that ensures materials in standard and non-standard or obsolete digital formats are migrated so as to minimize degradation while maintaining authenticity. The Digital Initiatives Librarian serves as a project manager for processing various collections and materials for digital exhibits; working closely with metadata/cataloging, special collections and university archives, and librarians and staff to deploy and configure systems to fully leverage the potential of metadata and digital objects derived from disparate sources.

The Digital Initiatives Librarian assists in administering core library systems including the Libraries search and discovery interface (Primo, by Ex Libris) and digital preservation system (Rosetta, by Ex Libris) ensuring successful delivery of integrated services that provide seamless user access to resources in the discovery layer. The Digital Initiatives Librarian also assists in providing secondary technical support for a wide variety of microcomputer, networked, and web-based applications.

The Digital Initiatives Librarian maintains current awareness of digital library and preservation technologies as well as overall trends in Library-related information technology. They must be self-motivated to learn new technology and identify emerging trends to improve the Libraries’ endeavors and have the ability to effectively communicate and work with people with a wide range of technical abilities including librarians and library staff, faculty, students, and other members of the university community.

Librarians at Binghamton University are members of the faculty and are expected to contribute significantly to the profession as well as to perform their specific duties.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities:

• Assist in maintaining the Libraries’ digital preservation system (Rosetta) and enhancing the university’s capacity to preserve and provide access to digital documents, publications, images, multi-media materials, data sets, websites, andother digital materials.
• Design, implement, and execute workflows, systems, and applications to support submission and delivery of digital objects and metadata into and out of the Libraries' digital preservation system.
• Provide technical expertise, advice, and support related to the ongoing development of the Libraries' discovery system (Primo) that incorporates and exposes content from the library catalog, academic journals, archives, faculty activity, research data, university records, and outside sources as appropriate.
• Utilizing XML, XSL, SQL (Oracle and MySQL), and other technologies, automate the transformation and migration of descriptive metadata for use in various systems within and outside of the Libraries including in linked Data and semantic web applications.
• Develop or utilize available APIs and web services to search, consume, and interact with third-party data that follows library and W3C standards.
• Create custom scripts and programs using Java, shell scripting, Perl, PHP, Python, or other languages.
• Provide local documentation and training on library technology.
• Provide secondary technical support, in a courteous manner, for a wide variety of networked, web-based, and computer applications.
• Represent the Libraries to appropriate campus units and university offices and participate in professional activities and committee assignments within the Libraries and on campus. Represent the Libraries through participation in local, regional, and national cooperative, outreach, and professional activities.
• Maintain a current knowledge of the literature, information technology, and overall technology trends in academic libraries and higher education via professional literature, continuing education, professional development, and communication with other libraries.
• Participate actively in research, development, and other library information technology-related projects as requested.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

Graduate degree in library science from an ALA-accredited degree program orequivalent; Evidence of flexibility, innovative thinking, and a vision for the future of academic libraries; ability to work individually as well as in groups; excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to communicate clearly with others; demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with internal and external parties and diverse constituencies, including other staff and cross-department/division teams with varying technical knowledge; ability to adapt to changing environments and priorities as evidenced by previous experience; knowledge of and experience with current trends in digital preservation, digital image file formats, and file format conversion and related software including experience using image editing applications; experience developing web applications with one or more of the following programming languages: Java, PHP, Ruby, Perl, or Python; strong UNIX or Linux skills including shell scripting experience; experience with SQL and relational databases.; computer knowledge necessary to perform technical-support related tasks; strong commitment to service and professional development; and demonstrated ability to meet requirements necessary for achieving tenure. Must have ALA accredited MLS or equivalent by time of appointment.

Preferred:

An additional advanced degree, certificate or graduate coursework; experience with institutional repositories; understanding of copyright laws and rights management issues in a digital environment; experience working with a variety of media formats and technologies; experience working with information technology in an academic or research library or in an academic institution; experience with responsive Web design and/or mobile Web design and understanding of Web accessibility standards; knowledge of linked data and Semantic Web applications; knowledge of various library and information-related protocols such as OpenURL, OAI-PMH, Z39.50, SRU/W; and knowledge of metadata standards such as MARC, Dublin Core, EAD, and PREMIS; and project management experience. 1+ years experience working with digital preservation software; 1+ years working with library discovery layers (Primo preferred); experience with digital preservation software (Rosetta preferred).

Binghamton University Libraries

Binghamton University has built a reputation as a world-class institution that combines a broadly interdisciplinary, international education with one of the most vibrant research programs in the nation. Binghamton is proud to be ranked among the elite public universities in the nation for challenging our students academically, not financially. The result is a unique, best-of-both-worlds college experience. Our academic culture rivals a first-rate private university – rigorous, collaborative and boldly innovative – while our campus culture exemplifies the best kind of public university experience: richly diverse students, active social life and deep engagement with the community. Our students, both undergraduate and graduate, work one-on-one with an exceptional faculty that includes innovative scientists and groundbreaking scholars. They take advantage of special academic opportunities like combined degrees, foreign language study groups and an unparalleled international education program.

Binghamton University Libraries are the center of the University's intellectual community, providing a welcoming environment for the creation and management of knowledge through innovative thinking, open inquiry, and collaborative partnerships. We serve 16,000 students and more than 900 Faculty. Our collections total 2.4 million volumes and we offer a vast array of electronic resources. Located in the Southern Tier of upstate New York, Binghamton University consistently ranks high in national rankings.

Glenn G. Bartle Library houses collections in the fine arts, humanities, social sciences, and mathematical and computer science as well as Special Collections. Special Collections and University Archives is home to unique material which includes rare books, sound recordings, films, slides, realia, manuscripts, campus publications, and local history. The Science Library contains materials in the fields of science, engineering, nursing, and psychology. The University Downtown Center Library serves the College of Community and Public Affairs. The Library Annex@Conklin currently houses important older but lesser used materials in a high-density, climate controlled environment. The L ibraries feature Information Commons facilities in three library locations offering 287 workstations with access to online research materials, productivity software, and scanning/video editing capabilities. In addition to our electronic and networked resources, we provide other web-accessible services and discovery technologies such as Ex Libris’s Primo discovery platform and a digital preservation system (Rosetta).

Benefits and Other Information

This is a tenure-track position. Salary and rank will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Binghamton University offers excellent benefits, including TIAA/CREF.

Send letter, resume, and contact information with three professional references to: https://binghamton.interviewexchange.com

Review of applications will begin on March 2, 2015 and continue until position is filled.

It is the policy of Binghamton University to provide for and promote equal opportunity employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or arrest and/or criminal conviction record unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.