Collections & Content Management Librarian - University Libraries

The University of Denver Libraries, comprised of the Main Library at the Anderson Academic Commons and the Bonfils Stanton Music Library in the Newman Center, is a highly collaborative, team-based organization that serves a diverse population, ranging from our students, staff, and faculty to public and other academic patrons from the surrounding region. The Anderson Academic Commons is the campus centerpiece for collaborative teaching, learning, and engagement. The University of Denver Libraries are central to discovery and creative interaction among students and faculty, and provide collections, services, personnel, and systems that support the teaching and research programs of the University. The institution is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and inclusive faculty and staff committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment.

Position Summary

The University of Denver Libraries seeks a forward-thinking librarian for the position of Collections & Content Management Librarian. Reporting to the Associate Dean for Scholarly Communication & Collections Services, the person in this position plays a vital role in managing a collections budget of over $6M, institutional and special collections repository content, consortia memberships, and e-resource access technologies. Working closely with subject selectors, special collections curators, metadata and discovery librarians, and several professional staff members, this position requires collaboration, broad interest, and curiosity.

The Collections & Content Management Librarian creates and implements strategies for how the Libraries acquire, manage, and provide access to scholarly content (including licensed, purchased, open access publications, research data, and more). The successful candidate will think broadly about collections, content, discovery, and access models. As a direct supervisor of three exempt staff members with roles in acquisitions, e-resources, and institutional repository management, and as a colleague, the person in this position will provide effective guidance and help create a rewarding workplace.

This position works with administration to negotiate and manage licenses, and explores emerging areas of acquisition and access, including demand-driven, evidence-based, and access-to-own models. This librarian works collaboratively with subject selectors to build physical, digital, and open access collections, and to prioritize collections for access, purchase and/or subscription, as well as deselection and inclusion in shared print repository initiatives. In collaboration with Special Collections curators and the Metadata and Digitization Librarian, this librarian helps develop policies and procedures for building unique special collections in all formats. Working with the Metadata and Digitization Librarian, Design & Discovery Librarian, Electronic Resources Manager, and others, this librarian helps ensure access and discovery systems are optimally configured and managed. This position plays a crucial role in scholarly communications and open access, working with the liaison librarians and the Repository Manager to solicit content from the campus and position the institutional repository as a key platform that showcases and enhances access to DU scholarship.

This position will also work through various consortia and with other member library representatives, and assist in the negotiation of offers from publishers and vendors. This librarian also leads efforts in the assessment of collections, whether under consideration or already owned/licensed, and will work toward constructing a program for such activities, including building out the analytics capabilities of the library management system.

Essential Functions

• Play crucial role in the management of Libraries collection budget.
• Prioritize collections acquisitions in a team of subject selectors and curators.
• Work with stakeholders in negotiating and managing large collections acquisitions and license agreements.
• Work with acquisitions staff in exploring demand-driven, evidence-based, and access-to-own models.
• Directly supervise three exempt staff members with responsibilities in acquisitions, e-resources, and institutional repository management.
• Create, implement, and manage assessment cycle for collections.
• Serve, with Associate Dean, as representative to consortia for collection-related activities.
• Provide outreach and support for open access and related issues in scholarly communications.
• Serve on library and campus committees and fully participate as an active member of a highly collaborative, team-based organization and attend regular meetings.
• Work in accord with the promotion guidelines, and engage in scholarly activities through research and publication, as a library faculty member.
• Participate in national and regional professional organizations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices, issues, and trends in the development and assessment of library collections.
• Ability to supervise and create a rewarding workplace for staff members.
• Ability to analyze license agreements.
• Ability to actively engage in the library organization, including leadership and participation in teams, task forces, and committees, working professionally in support of colleagues, willingly stepping into other roles when needed, and sharing responsibility as a faculty member in the library’s mission, goals, programs, and plans.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate clearly and knowledgeably, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to use knowledge, experience, awareness, and skills to advance DU’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, and to engage effectively with a broad spectrum of culturally diverse groups.
• Ability to work independently and effectively, using tact and excellent judgment.
• Ability to organize work and set priorities, and demonstrated analytical skills for decision making.
• Evidence of commitment to professional development and scholarly activities through research, publication, and service to national and regional professional organizations.

Required Qualifications

• ALA accredited master’s degree in Library and Information Science.
• Two years’ experience in collection development.
• One year experience as a supervisor.
• A broad understanding of student and faculty collections needs in all disciplines.
• Familiarity with e-resource access and authentication systems.
• Familiarity with issues surrounding scholarly communications.
• Familiarity with assessment methodologies in collection development.
• The successful candidate will demonstrate a knowledge, ability, or potential to engage effectively with diverse communities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise in collection development and budgets.
• Experience leveraging data (preferably via Alma Analytics) for collections-related decision making.
• Demonstrated knowledge of licensing practices for electronic resources.
• Demonstrated expertise in open access and larger issues related to scholarly communications.
• Expertise in quantitative analytics (e.g. COUNTER and usage data) useful for collection assessment.

Work Schedule

Varying schedule depending on the needs of the job

Application Deadline 

For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00pm on Friday, September 29, 2017.

Special Instructions

Candidates must apply online through www.du.edu/jobs to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted. Once within the job description online, please scroll to the bottom of the page to apply. If you have questions regarding this position please contact Jessica Lovan at jessica.lovan@du.edu

Please include the following documents with your application:

1. CV
2. Cover Letter
3. 3-5 references
4. The University of Denver and University Libraries are committed to building a diverse and inclusive educational environment. Please provide a separate diversity and inclusion statement about how you will advance this commitment through your work.

The University of Denver is committed to enhancing the diversity of its faculty and staff and encourages applications from women, minorities, members of the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities and veterans. The University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. 

All offers of employment are based upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.