Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Assistant Professor or Clinical Assistant Professor/Technical Services Librarian


Position Title:
Assistant Professor or Clinical Assistant Professor/Technical Services Librarian
Hiring Range:
Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience + benefits package
Closing Date
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Work Schedule:
Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm.
One evening reference shift a week may be required.
General Description:
Pacific Lutheran University seeks an experienced and forward-thinking librarian with enthusiasm to lead our Technical Services unit. This individual will oversee the acquisition budget and take the lead on planning and evaluating Technical Services staff and operations. They will lead in the use of new digital and bibliographic technology as well as contribute to the library’s institutional repository initiative. The incumbent will also provide some reference service, and teach course-integrated instruction and perform collection development duties in one or more disciplines. This individual will also be engaged in scholarly and service activities expected of faculty librarians.
It is anticipated that the individual who fills this position will have the opportunity to lead the library in the selection of its next generation library system, take a lead role in developing processes and policies surrounding implementation, and serve as a key collaborator in the library’s ongoing development of digital collections and services.
The Technical Services Librarian is a member of the Library Services Team Leads and works in collaboration with the faculty librarians and the university archivist. Reports to the Director for Library Services.
The successful candidate will have the option of either tenure track or clinical faculty status, contingent on the candidate’s qualifications and interests. The librarian is expected to work as a peer with faculty, and to develop collegial relationships with faculty and others via research assistance and committee work. This is a full-time, twelve-month position.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
We are looking for a candidate who has demonstrated technical services experience and leadership skills, and who also possesses the desire to contribute in the public services arena. They will:
● Provide day-to-day support and direction to staff in cataloging, acquisitions, serials/continuations, processing, binding, and preservation, including staff development, training, and evaluation.
● Provide a vision for and take the lead in planning for the Technical Services unit with an aim toward creative use of staff and technology for maximum efficiency.
● Assist in the management of our Ex Libris Voyager library system.
● Collaborate with the Director for Library Services and collection development librarians to oversee the $1,000,000-plus acquisitions budget.
● Partner with University Archivist in keeping abreast of and participating in Northwest Digital Archives strategic initiatives.
● Collaborate with other librarians in strategic planning for and implementation of digital collections and services, including but not limited to online journals, e-books, online reference tools, and data sources.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
The successful candidate will demonstrate most, if not all, of the following skills and abilities: an outgoing, creative and entrepreneurial spirit; ability to work flexibly in a dynamic environment; ability to deal with and lead change in a rapidly developing digital library environment; to present, publish, or otherwise contribute to the library profession; ability to become an active participant in campus life at Pacific Lutheran University.
In addition, the following specific skills and abilities are strongly desired:
● Strong information gathering, analysis, and dissemination skills.
● Strong skills in library systems and standard productivity software.
● Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with standards and best practices for cataloging and metadata (e.g., MARC21, AACR2, LCSH, LC, Dublin Core).
● Experience with data reporting and analytical problem-solving.
● Ability to work both in collaboration with others and independently.
● Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
Required Qualifications:
● ALA-accredited master’s degree or equivalent in library/information science.
● Minimum of three years administrative and supervisory experience in Technical Services.
● Evidence of research, scholarly and/ or creative activity.
● Continuing commitment to professional development and service.
● Finalist candidates must satisfactorily complete pre-employment background check.
Preferred Qualifications:
● Technical Services experience at an academic library.
● Working experience with the Ex Libris Voyager library system or any cloud-based ILS.
● Experience in negotiating and managing vendor contracts and electronic licenses.
● Experience with OCLC, XML, EAD, Dublin Core, and Archivists Toolkit.
● Experience gathering, analyzing, and using usage and other statistics in order to make decisions about collections and services.
● Experience strategizing/planning for digital libraries.
Special Instructions to Applicants:
To apply, please submit letter of application, resume/vita, a 1/2 page statement on “the future of technical services in contemporary college/university settings,” and a list of three references online at https://employment.plu.edu/postings/1647.
Other Information:
Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) is a comprehensive university with an enrollment of about 3,500 students, including international students from two dozen countries. Located in a uniquely scenic region on the Pacific Rim, the university’s campus is 40 miles south of Seattle in suburban Tacoma, Washington. PLU’s academic program is an integration of the liberal arts and professional programs, and the university’s mission is to educate students for lives of thoughtful inquiry, service, leadership, and care. PLU enjoys a healthy and progressive relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The university is committed to exploring, affirming and enriching dignity and diversity in the campus community and endorses the goals of equal opportunity and affirmative action. PLU actively seeks applications from women and persons of color.

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