Director, Scholarly Communications and Copyright

Description

Located in culturally diverse, historic, and dynamic Richmond, 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 holdings exceeding 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 Director, Scholarly Communications and Copyright. The successful candidate for this newly created position will lead the Libraries’ developing programs to expand the university community’s awareness of issues related to copyright, author’s rights, mainstream and alternative publishing and emerging scholarly expression, and confident assertion of fair use and author rights in the use of digital and print materials for teaching and research. The Director will support staff throughout the library system engaged in teaching, supporting research, and developing digital publication and digital preservation programs. The successful candidate will join a culturally and academically diverse faculty of the highest caliber.

Responsibilities
Reporting to the University Librarian, the Director, Scholarly Communications and Copyright will collaborate with colleagues in the VCU Libraries and across the university to initiate and lead new programs that support and expand scholarly expression of all kinds. The Director also will assist faculty throughout the university in the appropriate use of scholarly materials in teaching and research, both in the classroom and online. As part of a new and growing program in the VCU Libraries, the Director will have a major role in designing and staffing scholarly communications initiatives in the Libraries. The Director will

• Serve as the university’s primary resource and advisor on issues pertaining to copyright (including the potential for violations and the potential for assertive use of materials), fair use, author’s rights, and related issues;
• Create and maintain education resources for faculty and students on copyright compliance within a framework of confident, well-informed decisions regarding fair use, and work closely with publication and technology specialists in the VCU Libraries to create appropriate print-based and web materials;
• Work closely with the Office of General Counsel, VCU Technology Services, the Office of Research, and other units on issues and programs related to scholarly expression and scholarly communication;
• Develop initiatives to help faculty use printed and digital materials for educational and research use, including use within course management systems such as BlackBoard, and to help faculty understand their responsibilities and rights in the development and use of their own scholarship;
• Educate and support VCU librarians regarding scholarly communications issues and empower librarians to act as a first point of contact for faculty seeking guidance on scholarly communications questions and concerns;
• Guide VCU Libraries staff to properly apply policy and legal guidance regarding copyright and intellectual property for initiatives in digital preservation and digital publication;
• Monitor national scholarly communication policy issues and legal developments, and inform and educate the VCU community about new developments as appropriate;
• Consult with faculty and librarians on the proper use of published materials, databases, and other materials;
• Lead the university in developing means to understand, assess, and advance alternative and emerging avenues for scholarly expression; consult with faculty and university leadership regarding existing and emerging modes for publication and scholarly expression;
• Assist the VCU Libraries’ senior leadership to develop a vision for policies, strategies, programs, and staffing that supports and advances emerging new modes of scholarly expression by faculty throughout the university, including the development of a VCU-supported publication system.

Qualifications
Required: ALA-accredited graduate degree or accredited graduate degree in an appropriate discipline, including ABA-accredited JD. 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: Demonstrated familiarity with the scholarly communications issues in large-scale academic research and scholarly enterprise and research libraries. Experience preparing and delivering instruction and guidance regarding scholarly communications, copyright, and fair use for different audiences in an academic setting. Demonstrated record of collaboration and teamwork with diverse constituencies. Ability to work with technologists to develop top-tier web-based educational materials on scholarly communications, copyright and fair use, and emerging and alternative avenues for scholarly expression. Demonstrated understanding of the evolving digital context for scholarship, research and creative expression, and teaching and learning, especially as it applies to the use and reuse of scholarly materials for those purposes. Excellent written and oral communication skills.