Residency Program Digitial Services Librarian

Program Purpose: The purpose of the University of Iowa Libraries' Residency Program is to interest entry-level librarians who are members of historically underrepresented groups in professional learning and service at the University of Iowa Libraries and, ultimately, in a career in academic librarianship. The program began more than fifteen years ago and is a keystone of the Libraries’ long-standing commitment to diversity. It is designed around an assignment in a professional position that is challenging, offers a solid foundation for a career in research librarianship, and provides significant opportunities for professional development. Placement assistance is provided and program participants are eligible and encouraged to apply for regular professional positions that may arise in the Libraries.

Please visit our Recruiting Librarians website for information about working at the UI Libraries and living in the diverse community of Iowa City.

Position Description: The Libraries seeks an entry-level, two-year Residency Program Librarian to serve in Digital Library Services (DLS), a department created in 2005 to provide a wide range of services in support of digital scholarship and data curation. This position offers the opportunity to learn about and work with new media and technologies used in academic research, teaching, and intellectual engagement and experimentation. The position reports to the head of DLS.

In addition to learning about and providing service in the department, the resident will learn about other departments in the Libraries, serve on general committees in the library system, receive mentoring, and initiate a program of professional development and contribution.

Specific Responsibilities (after training):

§  Plan and manage projects – define project goals; develop timelines; manage staff and technology resources; develop and administer project budgets; maintain vendor contacts; and work with designers, technology support personnel, and public relations staff.

§  Assist in engaging new cultural communities to participate in building and using the digital library as well as helping expand collection boundaries to include materials under-represented in traditional archives.

§  Assist with providing advice and consultation to the campus community and overseeing production development for digital initiatives.

§  Collaborate with technology and information science professionals to develop databases and portals for disseminating research.

§  Assist with digital library production work, including digitizing and batch processing images, assigning metadata and establishing processes for automated metadata creation, and performing testing and quality control.

§  Develop local expertise in an emerging area of digital library work.

§  Research current web technologies (e.g., Zotero, mashups, tagging, social networking) and promote them, as appropriate, to faculty and students.

§  Stay current about emerging technologies and forward recommendations as new software becomes available.

§  Participate in general DLS activities, as well as Libraries’ and campus task forces and committees related to the mission of DLS.

Mentoring: The department head, along with the Director, Human Resources and Diversity Programs, serve as mentors for residents. Opportunities for peer and informal mentoring are available, as well, and regular meetings are arranged with the University Librarian and appropriate Associate University Librarians.

Professional Development: Professional development is a strong component of the Residency Program. Participants are encouraged to give presentations, attend national and regional conferences, and/or write for professional publications. The Libraries provides significant financial support for attendance at relevant conferences and professional meetings. In addition, if accepted by the institute, residents receive support to participate in the Minnesota Institute for Early Career Librarians from Traditionally Underrepresented Groups.

Qualifications:

Please, in your cover letter or resume,

§  address each qualification;

§  provide a substantial paragraph describing what in your background has helped you develop the skills necessary to engage underrepresented communities in building and using the collection; and

§  describe your goals as a participant in the Libraries’ Residency Program.

Required:

• graduate degree from an ALA-accredited program in Library and Information Science
• demonstrated service orientation and interest in information users’ values and needs
• demonstrated commitment to diversity in the workplace or community
• excellent written and oral communication skills
• experience handling multiple projects and tasks simultaneously in a diverse and highly collaborative environment
• experience successfully balancing competing priorities and working with fixed deadlines
• demonstrated interest in professional development and contribution
• demonstrated interest in or experience with digital library services

Desired:

• demonstrated interest in and potential for developing a deep understanding of the research process and knowledge of the ways that new technologies are affecting the production of scholarship
• demonstrated interest in and ability to develop a working knowledge of some of the technologies used in research, such as web design and site management (including XHTML, CSS, graphics editing software), digital library technologies and standards (such as XML, EAD, and TEI), relational databases design and development, and server-side web-development (e.g., PERL, PHP, java, javascript, ASP or .Net

Salary and Appointment: The two-year appointment will be made at the Librarian I level with an annual salary of $41,000. The University of Iowa offers an attractive package of benefits including 24 days of paid vacation per year, TIAA/CREF retirement, and a flexible selection of medical, life, and dental insurance, childcare credit, and additional options. Residents are also provided with a generous allowance for moving expenses.

Application Procedure: To apply for this position, please visit the University of Iowa Jobs@UIOWA website at http://jobs.uiowa.edu. To help facilitate your application process, note the requisition number – 58921. Applications must be received by February 18, 2011.

THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER. WOMEN AND MINORITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.

For more information about the University of Iowa Libraries and community, please see http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/ and http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/about/employment/recruiting.html