Systems Librarian

Title: Systems Librarian

Location: St. Paul

Job Description:

Founded in 1854, Hamline was the first university in Minnesota and among the first coeducational institutions in the nation. Hamline University provides a world-class education for undergraduate and graduate students. Our faculty, staff, and students cultivate an ethic of civic responsibility, social justice, and inclusive leadership and service.

Hamline University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Hamline University does not discriminate on the basis of race; color; religion; creed; sex; sexual orientation; gender identity; gender expression; national origin; marital status; familial status; status with regard to public assistance; membership or activity in a local human rights commission; disability; age; protected veteran status; or any other status protected by applicable law in its education or employment programs or activities. The University will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.

Founded in 1854, Hamline was the first university in Minnesota and among the first coeducational institutions in the nation. Hamline University provides a world-class education for undergraduate and graduate students. Our faculty, staff and students cultivate an ethic of civic responsibility, social justice and leadership and service.

JOB SUMMARY

The Systems Librarian (SL) supports HULA’s library systems and virtual presence. In this role, the SL assists with both: (a) effective use of technology for internal library processes, and (b) sustaining a comprehensive mix of digital content and technology services that collectively offers students and faculty the maximum possible access and convenience).

In addition to technical-focused duties, the SL coordinates recruiting, hiring, and scheduling of student workers.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Library Systems:

Administers and maintains research and discovery tools, proxy server, and other systems. Participates in the collection of metrics and usage trends across HULA's virtual services. 

Serves as library systems administrator. Serves as one of the main conduits of communication from Hamline to the MnPALS</u> office and other consortium libraries regarding Hamline systems. Coordinates new system releases. Serves on relevant consortial committees and subgroups. 

 Serves as HULA’s functional liaison to Information Technology Services (ITS). Works closely with other HULA staff—and with ITS colleagues—to integrate library information systems with other campus technology. Serves as HULA’s service management software (ServiceNow) liaison for ITS. Collaborates with others to create and curate knowledge article content, FAQs, training aids, and other library system documentation and support resources that are relevant, current, and accurate. Serves as consultant, teacher, trainer, and colleague to library employees on library systems. Models effective project management practices.

Web Presence:

 Improves, coordinates, and contributes to a cohesive, accessible, and standards-compliant user experience across HULA’s virtual services with the aim of sustaining an overall satisfying experience for library users who access library services and resources via the Internet. Contributes to the development of HULA’s virtual services–including the library’s website, the main library services platform and discovery tools, database access, and associated linked services. 

 

 Supports an engaging web presence that meets the instructional and research needs of students, faculty, and staff. Implements and maintains the overall architecture of HULA’s web presence. Coordinates website content management through tools such as LibGuides. 

 

Coordinates and maintains website graphical standards and guidelines. Oversees the collection and assessment of systems usage data and web analytics to support decision-making. Explores new methods for assessing the effectiveness of HULA virtual services. 

 

Integrates third-party products and services, including customization. Works collaboratively with the library’s Resource and Acquisition Management unit to support their electronic resource support needs.  Coordinates with the university’s marketing staff and ITS unit to integrate HULA’s virtual presence with that of the university as a whole. 

 

Consults on projects associated with the development, implementation, and support of virtual presence, particularly with colleagues in HULA’s Research & Instruction (R&I) and Resource and Acquisition Management (RaAM) departments, as well as the University Archives.

 

In collaboration with HULA leadership, formulates annual goals and objectives, sets and maintains standards of service and quality, establishes instruments for continuous assessment, and prepares annual and periodic reports. Contributes to the collection of relevant data, completion of surveys, and preparation of reports for benchmarking and program evaluation.

 

Student Employment Coordination:

 

Under broad direction from library and ITS senior leadership–and with contributions from other library and ITS staff–administers a system for recruiting, hiring, and scheduling student employees.

With contributions from other library and ITS staff, holds primary responsibility for developing and maintaining effective processes for recruiting, hiring, and scheduling student workers employed in the library and ITS. Day-to-day, functional  leadership of student workers assigned to ITS units is provided by ITS staff, and day-to-day functional leadership of student workers assigned to Library units is provided by Library staff at the CSD and in RaAM. Collaborates with library and ITS student supervisors to monitor student worker attendance and execution of job duties.

Core tasks in accomplishing duties described above:

• Defines, documents, and communicates work shifts and associated staffing plans to ensure adequate service coverage at all designated times

• Manages shift coverage requests, communicating with student workers and CSD/ITS functional team leads as appropriate to ensure high-quality service delivery

• Adheres to established policies/practices regarding timekeeping, review/approval of student worker timesheets for payroll

Additional Responsibilities:

 

• Participates in and occasionally leads HULA workgroups and project teams. Serves on relevant consortial (MnPALS) committees and workgroups.

• Serves as backup for various digital course support activities.

• Serves on university committees, elected and assigned.  

• Performs other duties as requested.

Physical Requirement and Working Conditions:

• Requires computer use for significant periods of time.

• Requires ability to support technologies remotely.

• Requires working outside of standard Monday-Friday 8:00-5:00 working hours to provide timely support and adjustments to student scheduling, and when running systems jobs during library maintenance windows.

• Work from home (WFH) is authorized by arrangement with supervisor.

• Must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or eligible for legally required exemption such as a medical or religious reason.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

The SL reports to the Associate University Librarian (AUL), although some of the daily work is done independently with limited direct supervision.

The SL requires daily contact with students, faculty, and staff at all levels. Particularly close collaboration is necessary with other HULA staff and ITS employees. This position also requires frequent interaction with vendors and representatives from other collaborative networks, user groups, consortia, and agencies.

This position reports to the:  Associate University Librarian (AUL)

This position supervises about a two dozen student employees

BUDGET MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

This position is not responsible for the management of a budget.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND KEY COMPETENCIES

Minimum Qualifications:

This position requires an academic degree, work experience, a core set of professional skills, and a repertoire of interpersonal workplace abilities, including:

Required Technical Experience and Skills:

•  Broad knowledge of the current and emerging virtual library environment commonly associated with academic libraries, and how that environment may be designed to enhance and optimize the library user’s experience

• Broad knowledge of established and emerging library technologies typically used in academic libraries, the educational and service potential of new library technologies, and the ability to support and contribute to their selection

• Previous management of library services platform (LSP) functionality (e.g., Alma/Primo)

• Knowledge of the principles of digital asset management and institutional repositories

• Knowledge of digital scholarship and services, including awareness of emerging trends

• Knowledge of one or more of the following: XML, XSLT, XHTML, CSS, and/or JavaScript, as well as other relevant web standards and technologies

• Knowledge of web content management tools (e.g., Drupal)

• Project management experience and demonstrated success for shepherding technological processes and services typical of a library environment

• Proficiency with personal productivity IT tools used in a typical academic environment, including virtual collaboration tools (e.g., Google Workspace) 

Core Workplace Skills/Abilities:

• Communication skills commensurate with a professional workplace–to communicate clearly and concisely, convey complex information in a manner that others can understand, as well as the ability to understand and interpret complex information from others

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, including demonstrated experience in facilitating teamwork and cross-unit collaboration. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and follow through on projects to completion, including accommodating multiple conflicting demands for commitment of effort

• Aptitude for working effectively with faculty, staff, students, and colleagues; enthusiasm for delivering high quality service to an academic community

• Outstanding attention to detail and thoroughness

• delivering high quality service to an academic community

• Commitment to a diverse academic community, and an understanding of the contributions a diverse workforce brings to the workplace

• Capacity to adjust and thrive in an ambiguous, future-oriented environment and to respond effectively to changing needs and priorities

• Ability to maintain a “can do” spirit

• Resilience of character and perspective

MINIMUM EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• American Library Association-accredited master’s degree in library science or equivalent, or master’s degree in information science, computer science, or related discipline with substantial library experience

• Professional experience administering library systems

PREFERRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/EXPECTATIONS

Experience/Familiarity—Desired or Helpful:

• Knowledge of database-driven web applications and systems, including open source, commercial, and locally-developed solutions

• Familiarity with some aspect(s) of acquisitions, cataloging, and serials control

• Knowledge of proxy access (e.g., EZProxy) and authentication functionality, as well as website optimization and statistical gathering tools

• Previous experience with digital resource management, and/or library digital repositories

• Knowledge of institutional repository administration (e.g., Digital Commons, CONTENTdm)

• Familiarity with MARC cataloging format, non-MARC metadata schema (e.g., RDA, Dublin Core, EAD, and other emerging data standards)

• Knowledge of usability and user experience (UX) principles for web publishing,including familiarity with universal design for learning (UDL) and accessibility principles

• Understanding of issues involved in developing, licensing, maintaining, and/or delivering digital collections of various types

• Professional experience working in a comprehensive university setting that includes both liberal arts and professional academic programs

• Professional experience working in a library consortium environment

• Familiarity with cybersecurity topics and other security assurance best practices to protect the university’s information resources from inappropriate alteration, physical destruction, and unauthorized access

WORKING CONDITIONS / EQUIPMENT

• Requires computer use for significant periods of time.

• Requires ability to support technologies remotely.

• Requires working occasionally outside of standard Monday-Friday 8:00-5:00 working hours, including the need to work during library maintenance windows.

• Work from home (WFH) is authorized by arrangement with supervisor.

• Must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or eligible for legally required exemption such as a medical or religious reason.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This is a full time, 1.0 FTE, exempt position, 12 months a year.

This is an Academic Librarian position that is considered a non-faculty academic support appointment. Academic Librarian positions are associated with one of three levels regarding rank and eligibility for promotion–depending upon qualifications, years of service at Hamline, and quality of service to the library: Academic Librarian I, II, and III.

Compensation and Benefits:

Pay Range: $ 60,000 - $63,000 annually

Full-Time Benefits:

We offer a comprehensive benefits package which may include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity
• 403(b)
• 403(b) matching
• Paid Time off, including vacation time, paid holidays and safe and sick leave time off
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account (FSA)
• Health savings account (HSA)
• Tuition waiver

All questions marked ‘Required’ need to be answered in order to submit the application. It is important that your application show all of the relevant education and experience you possess. Applications may be rejected if incomplete. If rejected, you must reapply for the position in order to be considered. A resume or curriculum vitae, a cover letter outlining your qualifications for and interest in the position, contact information for 3 current, professional references, as well as copies of transcripts (if required) must be uploaded with each application.