Columbia University’s Arthur W. Diamond Law Library seeks nominations and applications for a highly skilled, strategic, and  innovative professional to serve as the Head of Library Technology.

The Head of Library Technology leads the team responsible for law library technology, including evaluation, purchase, adoption, management, maintenance, security, and development of systems and tools.  Oversight encompasses, among other things, the integrated library system, library equipment, electronic collections, library servers, and in-house and vendor-supplied applications.

In addition, the Head of Library Technology supports the technology needs of the library’s staff and patrons, including troubleshooting, workflow development, and responding to systems and other technology-related requests as they arise.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

• Provide expert and welcoming support for library staff and patrons.
• Prioritize, manage, and assess short and long-term projects.
• Communicate effectively, clearly, and consistently.  Explain technical issues and provide instruction to individuals with varied technological proficiency.  Keep library staff updated on developments.
• Demonstrate leadership skills and innovative management techniques, with a strong commitment to fostering growth and development in others.
• Manage the integration, implementation, and maintenance of the integrated library system (ILS).  Evaluate use of the ILS, along with other library systems and equipment, to improve efficiency and overall experience for both patrons and staff.
• Liaise with library-related software and equipment vendors.
• Supervise personnel assigned to the department, ensuring that employees receive appropriate mentoring, training, supervision, and support to excel in their jobs.
• Determine the library’s needs for application development; perform, lead, or closely supervise the design and implementation of needed applications.
• Develop and implement policies, plans, and programs, coordinating with Columbia Law School IT and Columbia University IT (CUIT) as appropriate.
• Maintain an awareness of new and emerging technologies and standards and potential application in academic libraries. Provide recommendations and supports innovative local implementation.

Minimum Degree Required:

• Master’s Degree in Library Science or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Two years of experience with library technology, including with library systems.
• Knowledge of library electronic resource acquisition and management workflows, tools, troubleshooting, and challenges, including but not limited to data organization and record-keeping, proxy server administration, and license review and negotiation.
• Working knowledge of database and application design, development, implementation, and administration.
• Excellent interpersonal, analytic, and oral and written communication skills. Ability to make technical information accessible to non-technical colleagues, and to provide written documentation or proposals as needed.

Preferred:

• Knowledge of Linux server configuration and administration, Bash shell scripting, object-oriented programming, PHP, MySQL or equivalent technology, Apache, Javascript, HTML, and CSS.
• Ability to keep up with latest trends in library systems
• Familiarity with legal materials
• Experience with ILS migrations
• At least one year of management experience, especially in library technology

Submit specified application materials to elias.zambrano@columbia.edu.