Digital Initiatives Librarian - 522556 - The University of Alabama
Alabama, AL
About the Job
Department/Organization
219101 - University Libraries
Rank
Assistant Professor
Position Summary
The University of Alabama Libraries seeks a creative, forward-thinking professional to serve as Digital Initiatives Librarian within Special Collections which includes the W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, the A.S. Williams III Americana Collection, and the Richard C. Shelby Congressional collection. Through its Strategic Plan, the University of Alabama Libraries is committed to providing leadership in the areas of digital preservation of rare and historical materials and the promotion of international research on Special Collections materials, as well as digital humanities scholarship and associated technologies.
Detailed Position Information
The University of Alabama Libraries seeks a creative, forward-thinking professional to serve as Digital Initiatives Librarian within Special Collections which includes the W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, the A.S. Williams III Americana Collection, and the Richard C. Shelby Congressional collection. Through its Strategic Plan, the University of Alabama Libraries is committed to providing leadership in the areas of digital preservation of rare and historical materials and the promotion of international research on Special Collections materials, as well as digital humanities scholarship and associated technologies. Reporting to the Head of Special Collections, the Digital Initiatives Librarian will oversee day-to-day digitization activities of staff and students to ensure accuracy and productivity with an emphasis on More Product, Less Process (MPLP) and continuous improvement, and they will collaborate with other stakeholders in the digitization and preservation of digital assets to expand access to the unique resources in University Libraries Special Collections. As part of University Libraries efforts to increase discoverability of Special Collections materials, the Digital Initiatives Librarian will support workflows to advance concurrent archival processing at the point of digitization. The Digital Initiatives Librarian will also create innovative online exhibits, as well as partner with the Alabama Digital Humanities Center on selected projects.
The successful candidate will be competent and comfortable communicating the importance and uses of the University Libraries digital platforms and applications to a wide variety of stakeholders and users. This position requires a librarian with a broad understanding of tools and workflows used for digital preservation and access, excellent attention to detail, and an aptitude to learn new skills and technologies. The person in this position may be asked to pursue grant writing opportunities and submission of projects relevant to the mission of University Libraries and the University of Alabama. We are seeking an information professional who has the oral and written communication skills to articulate the importance of the University Libraries digital assets, including CONTENTdm, large-scale scanners, and audio-visual conversion equipment and software.
The successful candidate must also possess the ability to deal with change and ambiguity in an academic setting. Responsibilities of the position will evolve as the library environment continues to change.
Major Responsibilities:
• Oversees digital services operations in Special Collections, including supervision of staff and students working on digitization projects to ensure accuracy and productivity.
• Designs and implements innovative online exhibits of resources in Special Collections.
• Collaborates with the Head of Special Collections to set priorities for the digitization queue and determine intellectual property rights of resources.
• Collaborates on joint projects between Special Collections and the Alabama Digital Humanities Center.
• Keeps apprised of current trends in digitization and digital preservation processes in research libraries.
• Tracks and reports on data related to digital projects, productivity, and exhibits, including use of data visualization tools.
• Job duties continue to change with the evolving research library environment.
Prior to employment the successful candidate must pass a pre-employment background investigation.
SALARY/BENEFITS: 12 month clinical faculty appointment at the Assistant Professor rank. Salary is $70,000.00 - $80,000.00, commensurate with qualifications, experience, and advanced degrees. Strong benefits, including professional development support, tuition fee waiver, and matching retirement contributions.
Minimum Qualifications
• Master’s degree in Library & Information Science from an ALA-accredited institution or a terminal graduate degree in a related field.
• Experience managing digitization workflows and digital assets in an academic library.
• Five or more years of experience working on digital projects including digitization and digital preservation.
• Ten or more years of work experience in an academic library.
• Experience managing student workers in areas related to digitization and digital preservation.
• Demonstrated knowledge of digital assets management systems, image editing software, and other advanced hardware and software used for digitization, including large-scale scanners and audio-visual conversion equipment and software.
• Demonstrated knowledge of digital preservation best practices.
• Demonstrated knowledge of metadata description standards such as Dublin Core, RDA, and/or MODS.
• Demonstrated knowledge of web design.
• Experience setting unit goals, managing projects, meeting deadlines, and analyzing outcomes.
• Experience working effectively both independently and as a member of a team.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal skills.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience using CONTENTdm. • Experience with markup (HTML), style sheet (CSS), and programming languages (Python, Pearl, Ruby, and SQL). • Experience with shell scripting in a Linux environment. • Experience working with digital content and metadata at scale, including process automation. • Experience with workflows for concurrent archival process at the point of digitization. • Demonstrated knowledge of advanced digital imaging software and complex digital object formats. • Experience working in a research library. • Experience hiring, supervising, and evaluating staff and students. • Experience curating online exhibits. • Demonstrated knowledge of archival arrangement and description, including finding aid creation, provenance, and More Product, Less Process (MPLP). • Demonstrated knowledge of U.S. history, particularly Southern history. • Demonstrated knowledge of digital humanities tools and standards, such as text mining and data visualization. • Familiarity with emerging tools and trends in digital collections management, such as AI technologies and APIs. • Knowledge of funding sources and organizations for grant revenues. • Experience submitting grant proposals.
Instructions and Required Materials for Application
Applications are accepted online only at https://careers.ua.edu. Click Faculty Jobs, then University Libraries. Please include your application, Curriculum Vitae, and names, addresses, phone numbers, and e- mail addresses of three references, including one current supervisor. Consideration of applications will begin immediately and will continue until position is filled. Applications received by May 17, 2024, are assured of receiving full consideration. For questions regarding the search, contact Michael Arthur, Senior Associate Dean, at maarthur@ua.edu.
About the Division/College/School
The University of Alabama Libraries, a system of four separate discipline-related libraries, is proud to support the research enterprise at the University of Alabama via a comprehensive and integrated network of resources, services, and technologies designed to meet the academic and research needs of students, faculty, and staff. We take pride in serving as a hub for innovation, knowledge creation and dissemination, research assistance, and collaborative learning.
Members of the University of Alabama family visited our physical and virtual spaces over 10 million times in 2022. Our print collections span over 6 million volumes, and we offer access to 2.5 million E-Books, 220,000 AV titles, and 98,000 E-Journals via our 685 databases.
University Libraries provides strong mentorship for faculty and staff, with ongoing collaborative opportunities, and administrative support for innovative services and ideas. We provide excellent support for needed technology and conference travel, and we are invested in academic freedom with teaching and research.
Our staff routinely update and maintain cutting edge programs of service in support of our stakeholders. Our faculty librarians have developed a robust instruction program, including a series of research data services and workshops, that consistently performs at the top of the SEC. We are heavily invested in performing the same high value research that our stakeholders produce, and that assists us in our data-driven strategic planning for the future. Our librarians have produced 75 peer reviewed journal articles in Tier 1 journals in the last 2 years.
If working with a talented group of professionals who value service, innovation, and high achievement, earning a nationally competitive starting salary, in a thriving college town, with a low cost of living, close to Birmingham, Atlanta, Nashville, New Orleans, and the Gulf Coast sounds interesting to you, start your application process with us to learn more!
About the University
The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state’s flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides an inclusive, forward-thinking environment and nearly 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus.
A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. The University of Alabama has R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity status by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and is among the top doctoral research universities in the United States.
As the state’s largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.
About Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa is so much more than a college town.
It's a vibrant community that’s filled with legendary history. Located along the Black Warrior River, the city features a walkable downtown that’s complete with live music, locally owned shops, outdoor spaces to explore and local restaurants to meet every palate. With a geography ranging from suburban to rural, the area offers a variety of housing options along with excellent public and private schools and a wealth of recreational and entertainment options.
With a metro area population of 235,000, the Druid City lies about an hour southwest of Birmingham, in west-central Alabama. It’s within a few hours’ drive of Gulf Coast beaches and major cities like Nashville, New Orleans and Atlanta, making it a great base for growing better acquainted with the South’s finest offerings.
Background Investigation and EEO Statement
Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.
The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants to and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. Follow the link below to find out more. "EEO is the Law" https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf