Reporting to the Assistant Director of Collection Strategies, the E-Resources Discovery & Access Librarian is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of stable and consistent online access, development of local workflows, and maintenance of  effective discovery and retrieval of electronic resources. This position also ensures quality metadata of electronic resources through internal review and collaboration with staff in the collection Strategies unit, cataloging and acquisitions units, library information technology, selectors, and vendors. This position oversees electronic resource troubleshooting, focused on complex access problems.

This position exhibits: a knowledge of bibliographic records and a holistic view of the metadata workflow across e-resource lifecycle management; a thorough knowledge of openURL linking to improve the quality and workflow of data in knowledge bases and on public Web sites, knowledge of KBART, DOI, Z39.50 and other database cross-searching standards; knowledge of cataloging practices for electronic resources.

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

This position is being hired for at the same time as one other position in the Collection Strategies unit, the ‘Electronic Resources Acquisition Librarian.’ Applicants are encouraged to explore and apply to one or both relevant positions. 

Responsibilities

• Manage key Electronic Resource Management (ERM) systems, including knowledge base, openURL linking service, and article discovery service. Create and implement standards, best practices, and workflow for ERM tools and maintenance updates. Manage electronic resource customization and configuration, including uploading locally hosted streaming media. Develop, maintain, and document tools and workflows for the management of electronic resources.
• Lead and monitor metadata management (discovery) for records loaded into ERM system, ILS (CLIO), MARC record uploads, and non-MARC metadata.. Lead electronic resource maintenance projects incorporating global editing, record enhancement and batch processing of records. Collaborate across departments for efficient and effective discovery and access of electronic resource records. Optimize procedures for receiving, reviewing and processing of electronic records for all formats, including streaming video. Serve as metadata consultant for library-wide projects to document and develop solutions for manipulating data at scale.
• Maintain quality control of e-resource purchases and subscriptions in Library management systems, including but not limited to CLIO, Intota, GOBI, and other library management systems.
  • Conduct data clean-up projects using scripting tools
  • Maintain title records provided by vendors, shepherding them through the uploading process to library discovery platforms
  • Coordinate and implement vendor platform changes
  • Work with librarians and library staff via committee or working group on identifying, proposing and implementing solutions for improved discovery and access
  • Provide solutions to e-resource problem reports submitted by staff and users
• Supervise one bargaining unit employee with primary responsibility for problem reporting and resolution
• Stay abreast of emerging trends and best practices related to electronic resources, metadata discovery, and access. Pursue professional development activities to improve knowledge, skills, and abilities.

About the Columbia University Electronic Resources Unit 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:

• ALA Accredited MLS degree or equivalent in theory or practice 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Experience managing and coordinating the access and discovery of electronic resources utilizing ERM tools.
• Demonstrated understanding of principles of descriptive metadata in MARC and non-MARC environments. 
• Ability to apply the principles that guide the organization of bibliographic information to the organization of electronic resources (metadata).
• Knowledge of Electronic Resource Management systems and Integrated Library Systems. Knowledge of openURL and link resolvers. 
• Experience fostering a collaborative team environment with a focus on professional growth and development.
• 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 providing expert solutions to and troubleshooting for user e-resource problem reports
• Experience working with Library vendors in regard to metadata records
• Familiarity with accessibility standards and issues related to vendor/provider compliance for online/electronic resources

Apply online here