User Experience and Emerging Technology Librarian

Columbia College Chicago is an urban institution of over 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students emphasizing arts, media, and communications in a liberal arts setting.

The Library is seeking applications for User Experience and Emerging Technology Librarian.

Job Summary
The User Experience and Emerging Technologies Librarian reports to the Head of Reference and Instruction. The position identifies, implements, and evaluates current and emerging technologies for the delivery of library services, with a special focus on reference and instructional services, including virtual reference, discovery tools, social networking applications, mobile services, and instructional technologies; plans, develops and evaluates the Columbia College Chicago Library website; and ensures that Library services and instructional products are easy and pleasurable to use.

This librarian tracks trends, assesses user needs and preferences, investigates new developments and applications, and incorporates appropriate technologies into the Library environment.

As a member of the Reference and Instruction Department, this librarian participates in a broad range of reference and instructional services.

The User Experience and Emerging Technologies Librarian collaborates to plan staff development opportunities for building technology awareness and supports Library staff in using and adopting technologies that improve user experience.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Planning, developing and evaluating the Columbia College Chicago Library website and serving as liaison between the Library and campus IT for Library website content management
• Building staff awareness of new and emerging technologies
• Encouraging the adoption of technologies that improve the Library's physical and virtual presence
• Creating widgets, apps and other products that embed resources and services into learning management systems such as Moodle
• Assessing the impact of technology-based services on Library users
• Collecting and reporting usage statistics and other user input and data
• Advising and assisting in efforts to use emerging technologies to build relationships with users and increase awareness of Library resources and services in the campus community
• Participating in reference and instruction, which may include occasional evening and weekend hours
• Performing other duties as assigned

Minimum Education & Experience:

• ALA-accredited MLIS degree or equivalent
• Minimum of two years of professional experience in an academic library with a thorough understanding of academic user needs
  
  Qualifications:
  
  Required:
  • Experience with usability studies and user feedback
  • Demonstrated knowledge of user experience literature
  • Demonstrated experience developing tutorials or other research/instructional tools
  • Awareness of current issues and trends in information technology and public services
  • Familiarity with standard practices in web development and usability
  • Experience using course management systems, online collaborative productivity tools, and content management systems
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to interact with diverse group of students, faculty, and staff
  • Enthusiastic public service orientation and commitment to providing user-centered services
  • Experience collaborating to find technological solutions to workflow and service challenges
  • Demonstrated competency in managing and troubleshooting access to electronic content including authentication via proxy server, OpenURL link resolution, discovery tools management and web browser requirements
  • Demonstrated skill in implementing HTML/CSS web content
  • Experience with JavaScript, PHP, XML/XSLT, or other development technologies
  • Familiarity with collection development principles and/or experience with faculty liaison programs
  • Demonstrated effective time management and organizational skills, including the ability to plan and implement projects
  • Active participation in state or national professional organizations.
  
  Preferred:
  • Proficiency with one or more programming languages
  • Proficiency with a content management system like Cascade Server or Drupal
  • Experience providing instructional technology support
  • Familiarity with XHTML, XML, or PHP, and relational databases
  • Knowledge of instructional methodologies and information literacy principles
  • Reference and instruction experience in an academic library
  
  Association Status: This is a union position.
  
  How to Apply
  To view the complete application and apply, please visit: employment.colum.edu (Job ID 100554).
  
  IMPORTANT: At the start of the online application please upload ONE document that combines your cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information for three professional references; do not upload each document separately. The title of your document should be less than 60 characters and saved as a .doc, .docx, or a PDF file. Once you have successfully submitted your application, an e-mail notification will be sent to the e-mail provided in your application.
  
  Visit www.colum.edu/EmploymentServices for application guidelines. If you experience technical difficulties please email careers@colum.edu. No phone calls or hard copy materials.
  
  Columbia College Chicago encourages qualified female, LGBTQ, disabled, and minority individuals to apply for all positions.
  
  For more information, please visit us at: www.COLUM.edu