Digital Projects Librarian at Yale Divinity Librarry

Digital Projects and Technology Librarian
Divinity Library
Yale University

New Haven, CT
Rank:  Librarian 2-3 (Grade 24-25)

www.yale.edu/jobs

DEPARTMENTAL FOCUS

The Yale University Library seeks an innovative specialist in digital library programs to serve the Yale Divinity Library.  The position reports to the Divinity Librarian.    With a thorough knowledge of Library software applications and academic resources, the successful candidate will help guide the design, implementation, and improvement of existing services and library technology applications in support of the mission of the Yale University Library.  Working in close collaboration with Library IT, the Director of Digital Initiatives, the Digital Preservation Librarian, and other library and campus stakeholders, the Digital Projects and Technology Librarian will develop a clear, comprehensive, and compelling strategic vision of the technological infrastructure, and the bibliographic and metadata organization necessary for the Divinity Library to participate in University-wide digital information management strategies and to ensure that current and prospective independent digital initiatives are maintained, upgraded, and successfully incorporated within the Library’s growing digital landscape.  Plays a role in creating, describing, and delivering digitized resources and in exploring, proposing, and developing innovative tools and services that improve the ability of scholars, students, and educators to make use of existing and emerging digital resources in the Divinity Library.  Provides instructional and technical support to faculty and students in all aspects related to the use of the Library’s digital collections. 

Schedule:   Full-time (37.5 hours per week); Standard Work Week (M-F, 8:30-5:00)

Yale University offers exciting opportunities for achievement and growth in New Haven, Connecticut.  Conveniently located between Boston and New York, New Haven is the creative capital of Connecticut with cultural resources that include two major art museums, a critically-acclaimed repertory theater, state-of-the-art concert hall, and world-renowned schools of Architecture, Art, Drama, and Music.

THE UNIVERSITY AND THE LIBRARY

The Yale University Library, as one of the world's leading research libraries, collects, organizes, preserves, and provides access to and services for a rich and unique record of human thought and creativity. It fosters intellectual growth and is a highly valued partner in the teaching and research missions of Yale University and scholarly communities worldwide. A distinctive strength is its rich spectrum of resources, including more than 12.5 million volumes and information in all media, ranging from ancient papyri to early printed books to electronic databases. The Library is engaged in numerous digital initiatives designed to provide access to a full array of scholarly information. Housed in the Sterling Memorial Library and fifteen school and departmental libraries, it employs a dynamic, diverse, and innovative staff of over 500 who have the opportunity to work with the highest caliber of faculty and students, participate on committees, and are involved in other areas of staff development.  For additional information on the Yale University Library, please visit the Library's web site at http://www.library.yale.edu/.

YALE DIVINITY LIBRARY

The Divinity Library has world-renowned collections documenting the history, thought, and life of Christianity. The primary strengths of the Library are in the history of missions, Christian doctrine, Biblical literature, and church history.  The Yale Divinity Library contains more than 500,000 volumes, 250,000 microforms, and 4,000 linear feet of manuscript and archival material. 

JOB SUMMARY

Yale University librarians work in libraries across the Central, West, Medical, and Science campuses, to build, manage, and provide access to a rich and unique record of human thought and creativity. They demonstrate flexibility, creativity, and imagination in their work and adapt to and help shape a continuously evolving work environment. Yale librarians provide consistently high quality service to the University, and help meet the needs of the local, national, and international teaching and research communities.

DEPARTMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Actively practices and advocates effective communication in all aspects of digital initiatives within the Divinity Library and throughout the YUL system.  Establishes productive relationships with individuals and organizations both at Yale and at other institutions in order to advance Library objectives.
2. Work closely with key staff to assess feasibility, propose, and develop plans for digital projects.
3. Work with Library IT and the Director of Digitization Initiatives to design and implement technical infrastructure and workflows.
4. Evaluate and make recommendations on digitization procedures for a wide range of collection materials considering issues of original format, productivity and preservation, as well as YUL standards.
5. Analyze faculty and student needs and develop programming in support of digital teaching.  Analyze the feasibility of new services or modifications to existing Divinity Library services.  Work independently or lead a project team to improve Divinity Library goals.
6. Work with usability staff to design and implement patron surveys to analyze faculty and student use of digital collections within the scope of the Library’s digital landscape.
7. Work with faculty to identify gaps in institutional collection content and facilitate the development of new digital content by coordinating requests for digitization or discovering sources of new material in the Library’s collections (print or digital).
8. Plan and conduct presentations, demonstrations, or workshops for students, faculty, or Library staff on any topic related to digital teaching using the Library’s collections.
9. Within a shared information environment, document software use, procedures, and services.
10. Contribute to best practices evaluation, development and documentation in digital library initiatives.  Remain alert to development sin digital library initiatives at peer institutions.
11. Assume full or partial responsibility in project management for Divinity Library digital initiatives, including assessment and evaluation of project scope, analysis, project proposals, quality assurance, workflows, staffing, budgeting, documentation, and reporting.
12. Contribute to preparation of project grant proposals for submission to the library administration and/or to external funding agencies.
13. Provides strategic and tactical analysis concerning the Divinity Library’s technology and digital production requirements, infrastructure, and goals, based on a strong understanding of technological trends of audio, video, and image formats and the higher education environment.
14. Evaluate, recommend, and assist with digitization equipment and software selection as well as facility oversight, including staff and patron workstations located in the Divinity Library.
15. Train staff on use of appropriate digital content creation and editing tools and software programs such as Adobe Creative Suite, audio and video editing software, and infrastructure programs developed locally by Library IT staff.
16. Creates and/or maintains selected Web sites using SHTML, ASP, PhP, or other scripting languages and with content management systems such as Drupal.
17. Fulfills requests for Divinity Library digital assets and oversees digital rights management.
18. Serves on various Divinity Library, Yale University Library, and Yale University committees in support of the Library and University’s mission relevant to digital initiatives.
19. Participates in professional activities outside of Yale and monitors developments and best practices elsewhere to help ensure the excellence of the Divinity Library’s technology activities.
20. May be required to assist with disaster recovery efforts.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Master’s degree in Library Science from an American Library Association accredited Library school and two years of related experience. In selected instances, a post-graduate degree in a related discipline may be required or substituted for an MLS. Appointment to this rank is limited to three years at which time it is expected that the individual will develop necessary requirements to meet expectations of performance at the Librarian 3 level.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES

1. Advanced degree from ALA-accredited program for library and information science, or information management, computer science, humanities computing, or a related field and a minimum of four years of relevant experience in information technology.
2. Demonstrated understanding of a wide range of digital library standards and practices, including standards for media content, metadata, controlled authorities, and digitization.
3. Project management skills, especially the ability to devise and achieve agreed-upon completion dates for technology based projects; ability to multitask and keep priorities aligned to objectives.
4. Excellent analytical, oral and written communication skills, especially the ability to convey and explain, to non-technical audiences, the importance and impact of technology trends and issues relevant to YUL’s operation and  mission.
5. Well-developed interpersonal skills and experience as a collegial leader and/or member of a multidisciplinary team.  Demonstrated ability to work collegially with staff, researchers, and colleagues.

Preferred Education, Experience and Skills

1. Appointment to the Librarian 3 rank requires a minimum of 5 years of professional experience and professional accomplishments appropriate to the rank.
2. Experience working in a library, academic institution, or other non-profit computing operation.
3. Advanced degree in theology or a related field.

Salary and Benefits

We invite you to discover the excitement, diversity, rewards and excellence of a career at Yale University. One of the country's great workplaces, Yale University offers exciting opportunities for meaningful accomplishment and true growth. Our benefits package is among the best anywhere, with a wide variety of insurance choices, liberal paid time off, fantastic family and educational benefits, a variety of retirement benefits, extensive recreational facilities, and much more.  Applications consisting of a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information of three professional references should be sent by creating an account and applying online at www.yale.edu/jobs for immediate consideration - the STARS req ID for this position is 17769BR.  Please be sure to reference 17769BR in your cover letter.

Background Check Requirements

All external candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent on successful completion of a background check. Please visit www.yale.edu/hronline/careers/screening/faqs.html for additional information on the background check requirements and process.

Yale University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.  Yale values diversity in its faculty, staff, and students and strongly encourages applications from women and members of underrepresented minority groups.