Digital Preservation Librarian

Description

The University of Michigan Library is seeking a dynamic and engaged Digital Preservation Librarian to provide leadership and coordinate the library’s activities to preserve our growing collections.  Who do you know that might be interested?  Questions may be directed to 734 764-2546.  And motivated individuals may attach a cover letter & resume to an email directed to libhumres@umich.edu    Thank you for assisting with our recruiting efforts!  

URL:  http://www.lib.umich.edu/library-human-resources/digital-preservation-librarian

 Posting:

DIGITAL PRESERVATION LIBRARIAN

PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LIBRARY

The University Library at the University of Michigan seeks a dynamic and engaged Digital Preservation Librarian to provide leadership and coordinate the library’s activities to preserve the library’s growing collections.

The University Library (http://www.lib.umich.edu/) has been actively building digital collections since 1997. The library’s Digital Library Production Service (http://www.lib.umich.edu/digital-library-production-service-dlps) was a pioneer in developing systems for capture and serving digitized information to the public and now hosts over a million items from the library’s Web site. Michigan’s partnership with Google to digitize the library’s entire print collection (http://www.lib.umich.edu/michigan-digitization-project), and more recently the formation of HathiTrust (http://www.hathitrust.org/), are transforming how scholars can search, find, and use information. Other major digital initiatives have been launched by MPublishing (http://www.lib.umich.edu/mpublishing) and the library’s institutional repository, Deep Blue (http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu). The digital collections receive support from the Library IT Core Services team (http://www.lib.umich.edu/library-information-technology/core-services), who design and manage the technical infrastructure to support these collections.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Digital Preservation Librarian will report to the head of the Department of Preservation and Conservation in the library’s Collections Division (http://www.lib.umich.edu/preservation-and-conservation). Working closely with staff in Library IT Core Services, Digital Library Production Services, MPublishing, Deep Blue, Preservation, and other library units as well as partners at other institutions, the Digital Preservation Librarian will:

Research, plan, and implement an ongoing preservation program for University Library collections of value in digital format. Review existing library practices, analyze and respond to needs. Advise library staff and digital content managers on all phases of the life cycle of digital content, with the aim of long-term retention and access. Assist in the development of requirements, specifications, and policies related to digital content the library solicits, accepts, purchases, or creates. Advise both library staff and external content creators on strategies and implementation of those specifications. Support the development of the preservation program for the HathiTrust shared digital repository. Develop and maintain disaster recovery planning and policy documents.

Stay current on developing technologies, standards, and practice in preservation of digital collections; recommend responses to these developments through periodic alerts, summaries, reports, and revisions to policies and procedures. Represent the University Library in forums on digital preservation at the campus, regional, national, or international level.

Prepare proposals for external funding for digital preservation projects. Prepare specifications for vended services that support the digital preservation program; evaluate responses to proposals for such services and make recommendations for selecting vendors; and act on behalf of the library as a technical liaison on preservation issues to vendors providing digital materials and services. Represent the University Library in cooperative projects or programs in digital preservation.

Perform public outreach by creating guides and other informative materials, giving talks, and maintaining the Digital Preservation web site. Orient, train, and supervise interns or other temporary staff during their participation on relevant projects.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required: ALA-accredited Master’s degree in library or information studies, or equivalent advanced degree and experience, plus a minimum of 2 years of progressive experience with digital resources in research collections. Demonstrated knowledge of the creation and use of digital objects, including an understanding of issues related to both digitized and born-digital formats, media, and migration is required, along with an aptitude for quickly mastering technical topics. Experience creating, reviewing, and editing metadata for digital objects, especially METS and PREMIS. Excellent oral and written communications skills and the ability to work collegially are essential.

BENEFITS, RANK, and SALARY

It is anticipated that the position will be filled at the Associate Librarian or Senior Associate Librarian level; final rank and salary are dependent on experience and qualifications.  Librarians receive 24 days of vacation a year and 15 days of sick leave a year, with provisions for extended benefits as well as opportunities for professional development and travel.

Further information regarding benefits can be found at http://benefits.umich.edu/benefitgroups/faculty.html.

RETIREMENT OPTIONS:  TIAA-CREF and Fidelity Investments options available.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Email a cover letter and CV as attachments to libhumres@umich.edu, addressed to:

Jane Havens

Head of Library Human Resources

404 Hatcher Graduate Library North

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1190

For further information, call 734-764-2546 between 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M., Monday-Friday. 

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Review of applications will begin February 20, 2012 and continue until the position is filled.

The University of Michigan is a non-discriminatory, affirmative action employer.