William and Susan Ouren Preservation Librarian

Description

Texas A&M University Libraries is seeking an experienced, creative, collaborative and dynamic professional to establish and lead its Preservation and Conservation program. The William and Susan Ouren Preservation Librarian will work in a collaborative environment, partner with colleagues throughout the Libraries to develop and implement a strategic, systematic program to preserve and provide access to Libraries assets in all formats, physical and digital. This is an academic appointment carrying clinical faculty status and responsibilities, including professional service, to meet both the Libraries’ and University’s requirements for promotion.

With over 4 million printed volumes, in addition to growing archival and digital collections, TAMU Libraries is committed to ensuring access to these materials for current and future generations of scholars.  The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the wide range of preservation and conservation issues and current trends, including digital preservation, at the national and international level.  Proactive advocacy and application of preservation principles and practices within TAMU community is core to the position. Reporting to the Associate Dean for Information Resources, this role is responsible for establishment and administration of the Texas A&M University Libraries preservation program for all material formats in all holding locations in support of the University’s academic and research programs.  The William and Susan Ouren Preservation Librarian, in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, will develop TAMU Libraries’ long-term preservation strategies for print, digital, audiovisual, and other analog library collection to ensure long-term access to all collections throughout their life-cycles.  The successful candidate must have strong demonstrated leadership and supervisory skills, as well as organizational planning, customer service, and problem-solving skills.

Position Description: The William and Susan Ouren Preservation Librarian duties include defining the staffing, space, equipment, and supply needs for a new preservation lab.  The librarian develops and coordinates collection life-cycle management best practices and policies in an environment of shared responsibility, as general and special collections are created, acquired, processed, reformatted, used and stored.  In collaboration with relevant stakeholders, the librarian investigates established techniques as well as new strategies and technologies to address the current challenges to long-term preservation and access to TAMU’s heterogeneous collections.  This assessment and consultation role includes responsibility for developing effective policies and coordinating them across library departments, in consultation with the head of collection development, curators, subject specialists as well as technical processing, facilities, technology and repository faculty/staff.  The librarian educates and raises awareness of preservation issues and concerns. The individual also participates in committees and administrative groups, as appropriate.

Required Qualifications:

• American Library Association (ALA) accredited Master’s degree (or equivalent)
• Specialized training in preservation and a minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience  in an academic/research library, museum, or archival center concerned with preservation of materials
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate workflows
• Ability to work effectively with a culturally diverse population
• Demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following is required:
• Book and paper preservation and conservation knowledge;
• Preservation of non-print materials, including audio, image and video through electronic formatting;
• Reformatting of print and manuscript materials into digital forms; or
• Preservation of electronic materials: born-digital as well as reformatted to digital forms.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Excellent organizational and management skills with a strong customer service orientation
• Engagement with professional service at national or international level

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a relevant field, certification or training with emphasis on preservation methods
• Demonstrated supervisory experience
• Experience in leading teams and fostering collaborative relationships
• Ability to develop critical capabilities throughout the organization through strategic hiring and staff development.

Benefits & Salary: This is a faculty position with the classification Clinical Associate Professor (non-tenure track).  Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Excellent benefits include choice of health plan options and paid life insurance; several retirement plans including TIAA-CREF; paid holidays and vacation; no state or local income tax.

Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, and initial review of applications will begin on March 12, 2013. The letter of application should address the responsibilities, qualifications, and experiences listed for the position. Your letter, vita, and the names, e-mail addresses and telephone numbers of three professional references* may be sent (1) via email to LibrarianJob@library.tamu.edu (preferred method of receipt) or (2) faxed to Pixey Mosley, 979-862-1086, or (3) mailed to Pixey Mosley, Associate Dean for Faculty Services, Texas A&M University Libraries, 5000 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-5000. An Equal Opportunity Employer, TAMU Libraries is committed to employing quality faculty who will enhance the rich diversity of our academic community. In that regard, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who are representative of the state’s diversity.