Digital Initiatives Librarian

Butler University   Indianapolis, IN   Full-time     Administration / Clerical
Posted on April 21, 2024
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Position Description

Butler University Libraries seeks a Digital Initiatives Librarian to lead our efforts to create access to the University's unique collections and resources, ensuring that these materials are easily discoverable by the Butler University community and the public. This new position is the result of the Libraries' commitment to improving and broadening the scope of our digital collections which currently include resources from the Libraries' Special Collections and University Archives as well as departments across campus. The Digital Initiatives Librarian will provide expertise to the Libraries on evolving digital asset management and digital preservation best practices and will work collaboratively with library colleagues and others to help create and sustain digital collections, policies, and workflows.

Reporting to the Head of Special Collections, the Digital Initiatives Librarian will supervise one staff member, the Digital Scholarship Associate. The person in this position will oversee the digitization of materials in a variety of formats; the planning and execution of new digital collections and exhibits; and the maintenance and growth of existing digital projects. The Digital Initiatives Librarian will also join a team of librarians working to support students with course-assigned digital projects.

As expected of all library faculty, the Digital Initiatives Librarian participates in the Butler Libraries' liaison librarian program. This position has a liaison responsibility to the College of Education, focusing on information literacy instruction, outreach, and research support, and will be responsible for maintaining progress toward promotion through activities in librarianship, scholarship, professional activity, and University service. Key professional expectations include contributing to the growth and improvement of digital platforms provided by the PALNI consortium and to support InDiPres, our collaborative digital preservation organization.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
  • In collaboration with the Head of Special Collections and other library colleagues, set priorities for digital collections and exhibit projects.
  • Develop and refine policies and workflows surrounding digital collections, projects, and copyright.
  • Participate in Butler Libraries' liaison librarian program, providing information literacy instruction, outreach, and research support to the College of Education.
  • Maintain awareness of the Education Library collection and resources.
  • Using the appropriate digital asset management software, set up and add resources to digital collections and exhibits in collaboration with the Cataloging & Metadata Specialist and the Metadata Assistant.
  • Supervise the Digital Scholarship Associate, who manages activities in the Butler University Libraries' Digital Scholarship Lab.
  • Promote the Libraries' digital collections and exhibits both within and outside of Butler University.
  • Participate in migrations to new digital asset management software when needed.
  • Participate in the Libraries' digital preservation efforts and potentially lead local/statewide efforts, including with the Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI).
  • Apply knowledge of trends and issues in copyright, metadata, and controlled vocabularies in higher education and academic libraries settings.
  • Fulfill expectations for Butler Libraries' faculty in areas of librarianship, service, scholarship, and professional activity.
  • Exercise excellent planning, analytical, interpersonal, supervisory, project management, and organizational skills to complete job duties.
  • Communicate with technical and non-technical individuals verbally and in writing, including preparing project documentation to support training and best practice guidelines.
Required Qualifications
  • Master's degree from an ALA-accredited library science program conferred by start date.
  • Experience working with archival or special collection materials, including born digital materials.
  • Demonstrated knowledge with digital asset management systems, digital preservation, and workflows.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of established and emerging standards relating to descriptive, structural, and technical metadata and controlled vocabularies.
  • A strong service orientation and a demonstrated commitment to staff development and diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Preferred:

While not everyone may meet all preferred qualifications, the ideal candidate will bring many of the following:
  • Experience delivering information literacy instruction.
  • Capable of learning new systems and tools.
  • Experience with migrating existing digital collections to a new digital asset management system.
  • Experience with user testing and promotion of digital collections and exhibits.
  • Skills in customizing digital collection and exhibit displays.
  • Flexible and detail-oriented with good teamwork and public service skills.
Required Materials:

Applicants for the position should submit:
  • A letter of interest
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • The names and contact information for three professional references
  • Reflection on how you would approach information literacy instruction (one page or less)
About Butler

Butler University is a private, nationally recognized comprehensive university encompassing six colleges: Arts, Business, Communication, Education, Liberal Arts & Sciences, and Pharmacy & Health Sciences. Approximately 4,500 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate and doctoral students are enrolled at Butler, representing 46 states and 24 countries.

Join us at the crossroads of tradition & transformation. A career at Butler University means so much more than a job. Join the dedicated, innovative, and supportive community of faculty and staff that is moving Butler Beyond.

Butler University is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for all employees. We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of age, gender, gender identity, sex, race, religion, color, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, national origin, or any other legally protected category.

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