Digital Collections Assistant Librarian

Description

The Digital Libraries Division supports the University of North Texas Libraries with guidance and digital services including imaging, digital preservation, metadata development, software development for digital collections, user interface development, and discovery system development. In total there are five units consisting of the Digital Projects Unit, Digital Newspaper Unit, Software Development Unit, Digital Curation Unit, and User Interfaces.  The division includes nineteen full time employees in both staff and librarian designations, and hires 20-30 student assistants to carry out essential work of the division.  The Digital Libraries Division is responsible for the development and operation of digital library collections such as The Portal to Texas History, the UNT Digital Library, and the Gateway to Oklahoma History in a partnership with the Oklahoma Historical Society.

The Digital Collections Librarian is a new role within the division that will be responsible for three key areas that have grown substantially in the past few years. These areas include metadata creation and quality control for strategic projects, reference and patron feedback coordination, and documentation activities.

• Metadata Activities (60%) include working in a team environment to manage controlled vocabularies added to the UNT Libraries Controlled Vocabularies system (https://digital2.library.unt.edu/vocabularies/), and name authority work in the UNT Name App (https://digital2.library.unt.edu/name/). Additionally the position will assist in the management of authority records for Serial Titles and Place Names for the Digital Collections. This position will work with others in the division to evaluate metadata quality and prioritizing metadata remediation activities. Finally they will assist internal and external partners in providing access to their digital resources through metadata projects.
   
• Feedback Activities (25%) The UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections maintains a feedback and reference system for interfacing with users.  This position will be responsible for coordinating that effort in collaboration with other librarians and staff. They will manage student assistants tasked with answering online feedback.
   
• Documentation Activities (15%) The UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections maintains help guides and an online frequently asked questions system to assist users in navigating the digital collections system and understanding how the different features work. This position will be responsible for developing that documentation and keeping it up-to-date with system changes and technology advancements. 

The librarian exercises broad independent judgment and authority under the direction of the Associate Dean for Digital Libraries. The librarian serves on library committees and work groups as assigned. Excellent citizenship is expected from the community of scholars at UNT and includes appropriate stewardship of resources; participation in governance; cooperation and collaboration toward department, college, and university goals; and the ability to compromise and work to benefit these units and their constituents.
 

Specific Position Responsibilities

• Responsible for leading the maintenance and updating of key metadata systems such as the UNT Controlled Vocabularies, the UNT Name App, UNT Libraries Digital Collections’ Partners and Collections descriptions , and the Serial Titles and Place Names databases.
   
• Works with stakeholders to identify metadata quality issues, and helps prioritize remediation activities.
   
• Coordinates the collaborative reference and feedback answering service that serves the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections.
   
• Supervises reference and feedback student assistants. 
   
• Develops documentation, help guides, and frequently asked questions sections of the UNT Libraries’ Digital Collections systems.
   
• Fosters positive relations with faculty, students, and staff and promotes the University’s and Libraries’ commitment to diversity.
   
• Remains active professionally and contributes to scholarship in the field.
   

Salary and Librarian Ranking

Salary and librarian ranking are commensurate with experience and professional contributions. Minimum salary for this position is $48,000.00. Librarian rank will be determined by the Library Personnel Affairs Committee through review of the selected candidate's education, experience, scholarly and professional involvement, and service. Complete information about Librarian rank can be found at http://www.library.unt.edu/administrativeoffice/employment/librarian/academic-ranks-for- librarians/.
 

Required Qualifications

• Education: ALA-accredited master’s degree in library or information sciences.
   
• Working knowledge of metadata or cataloging standards.
   
• Ability to build effective work relationships.
   
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with ability to establish positive and productive collaborations with Libraries’ departments and divisions.
   

Preferred Qualifications

• 1 year of supervisory experience (including student assistants), preferably in an academic environment.
   
• Knowledge of standards and best practices for digitization and metadata.
   
• Knowledge of current issues in digital libraries.
   
• Experience with batch processing related to image conversion and manipulation.
   
• Experience executing command-line scripts.
   

About UNT and the UNT Libraries

The University of North Texas is a student-centered public research university located in Denton, Texas—a college town situated in the northern part of the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex. A Carnegie-ranked Tier One public research university with over 42,000 students, UNT is one of the nation’s most diverse universities. UNT has been designated as both a Minority Serving Institution and Hispanic Serving Institution and stands committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in its pursuit of academic excellence.

A wide range of student- and faculty-centered services are the cornerstone of the Libraries' integral role in the University of North Texas community. As the most-used service on campus and an essential component of education and research at the University of North Texas, the Libraries offer access to an abundant collection of more than 6 million items (print and digital) along with expert personnel to assist patrons in achieving their academic and scholarly goals. We provide innovative and inclusive programs and support to enhance the intermingling of teaching, learning, and research at UNT.

In the UNT Libraries, we define diversity in the broadest terms because we recognize that the best solutions come from a diverse mix of perspectives and backgrounds. We value the qualities, both visible and invisible, that our colleagues bring to their work every day and understand that our differences are our greatest strength.

We recognize our responsibility to foster an open, welcoming environment where students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds can collaboratively learn, work, and serve. We are dedicated to creating a climate that values and actively promotes an equitable and inclusive environment that removes barriers to full participation.

The University of North Texas System and its component institutions are committed to equal opportunity and comply with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University of North Texas System and its component institutions do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its application and admission processes, educational programs and activities, and employment practices.