Reporting to the Assistant Director of Collection Strategies, the E-Resources Acquisitions Librarian is responsible for acquiring and integrating electronic resources content for the Columbia University Libraries, with a focus on acquiring Ebooks (firm orders, approval plans, and frontlists), databases, datasets, and media. This position works collaboratively with the Collection Strategies unit and staff in all areas of the library in the purchase and implementation of purchased electronic resource content. 

This position exhibits a knowledge of the acquisitions landscape for e-resource content of multiple types and formats; vendors and publishers of e-resource content; the quickly evolving ways of purchasing Ebooks including frontlists and evidence-based acquisitions; and the complexities of both purchased and leased Ebook collections. 

This position has the option to operate partially remotely and requires residency within a commutable distance.

This position is being hired simultaneously with another position in the Collection Strategies unit, the ‘Electronic Resources Discovery & Access Librarian.’ Applicants are encouraged to explore and apply to one or both relevant positions. 

Responsibilities

●      Manage acquisitions of purchased content, focusing on Ebook firm orders, approval plans, databases, datasets, frontlists, and streaming media. Manage tracking, processing, and invoice payment of purchased e-resource content. Advise and collaborate with the Assistant Director on effective workflow management for e-resource acquisitions. Assist selectors with the management of approval profiles. Coordinate with E-Resources Discovery & Access Librarian to ensure e-resource content is accessible to all users.

●      Liaise with vendors to facilitate e-resources acquisitions. Evaluate and enhance vendor record sets for e-resource packages. Coordinate new vendor setup and vendor maintenance of electronic resource platforms, including trials. Coordinate and implement vendor platform changes with the E-Resources Discovery & Access Librarian.

●      Participate in internal committees to represent issues relating to e-resource-purchased content and participate in consortial partnerships for e-resource-purchased content.

●      Supervise two bargaining unit employees with primary responsibility for purchased content acquisitions.

●      Stay abreast of emerging trends and best practices related to electronic resource acquisitions. Pursue professional development activities to improve knowledge, skills, and abilities

About the Columbia University Electronic Resources Collections

The Collections Strategies unit manages the purchasing, renewals, licensing, and maintenance of e-resource collections of more than 1,800 databases, 300,000 e-journals, 9 million e-books, and a growing number of streaming media collections and data sets.  The unit troubleshoots user access to e-resource collections and enhances the discovery of e-resource collections in its ILS and discovery platform. Improving the discovery and accessibility of e-resources collections, particularly e-books, is a continuing focus across the Libraries, especially as systems rapidly grow, expand, and change in the evolving electronic resources environment.

About Columbia University Libraries

We encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, identities, and abilities to apply for this unique opportunity to become a part of our evolving Libraries and University community. Columbia University Libraries is a globally-recognized academic research library system, serving one of the world’s most important centers of research and learning in the most exciting and dynamic city in the world. Talented Libraries staff build, sustain, and make discoverable collections that transcend traditional boundaries of format and domain, keeping pace with a dynamic and rapidly evolving information environment and creating opportunities for users to encounter 4,000 years of human thought.

Our decisions are informed by new curricula developed to meet the needs of a more diverse student body, new and emerging areas of research being conducted by a broad spectrum of researchers, including graduate students and newly-hired faculty, as well as by perspectives from the diminished or entirely lost voices of historically oppressed, marginalized, and underserved populations and communities. As an organization, the Libraries provides a supportive, connected environment where every employee’s perspective is valued and every employee is encouraged to grow. All staff members have an impact on Columbia’s mission to advance knowledge at the highest levels and make the results of research accessible to the world.

 

Columbia University has a longstanding commitment to diversity rooted in values of inclusion and social justice, a commitment reflected in the curriculum and throughout University life. Columbia welcomes applications from candidates who share these values and who will foster their contribution to the University’s educational mission. We invite applicants who have demonstrated creative approaches to empowering and mentoring staff, leading projects, solving problems, and developing user-centric programs, services, or collections.

Qualifications

Minimum Degree Required:

• MLS degree or equivalent degree in theory or practice 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Experience managing e-resources of acquisitions of purchased content.
• Knowledge of the complex, ever-changing academic library electronic resources environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of the MARC bibliographic and authorities formats for e-books, databases, and other purchased e-resource content.
• Experience with electronic resource management (ERM) systems, bibliographic records, Ebook vendors and resources and Integrated Library Systems.
• Understanding of best practices for tools and resources for electronic resource subscriptions and licensing.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering an environment of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Excellent supervision, teamwork and interpersonal skills; ability to communicate clearly, knowledgeably, and personably, orally and in writing.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience on use of major vendor acquisition e-book platforms.
• Experience working with Library vendors in regards to setup, trials and maintenance.
• Familiarity with accessibility standards and issues related to vendor/provider compliance for online/electronic resources.

Apply online here