Vacancy Announcement
Digital Content Librarian
Located in historic and dynamic Richmond, Virginia, convenient to the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the recreation destinations of the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, and the cultural resources of Washington, D.C., Virginia Commonwealth University is Virginia’s largest university and one of the nation’s leading research institutions. The VCU Libraries advances the University’s teaching, research, service, and patient care mission with one of Virginia’s most outstanding research library systems, with holdings that exceed 1.97 million volumes, 17,500 serials, more than 3.18 million microforms, and nationally prominent collections in the health and biological sciences, social work, the arts, the history of medicine, and comic and book arts.
The Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries invites applications and nominations for the position of Digital Content Librarian at the Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences (TML). VCU Libraries seeks an energetic, creative, collaborative and technologically capable individual to coordinate and promote digital resources and services for the health sciences community. The incumbent will participate in a team approach with other library units to deliver a wide range of programs and services. The successful candidate will join a culturally and academically diverse faculty of the highest caliber.
Responsibilities
Reporting to the Head, TML Collections, the Digital Content Librarian will focus on effective management of electronic information resources for users and library staff. Responsibilities: create, maintain and improve the content and presentation of the TML web site; facilitate and strengthen access to electronic collections and services; assist in the evaluation, selection, implementation and promotion of digital resources and data sets; monitor technological trends, assess needs, and coordinate equipment and software planning; monitor and evaluate use statistics and related management reports; provide support for scholarly communications activities; assess and implement mobile technology applications; provide training and consultations with library staff and users; work collaboratively and cultivate team strategies with other key library operational units; serve as a liaison to assigned departments; provide reference support, instruction and outreach services. The Digital Content Librarian is expected to be active professionally and to contribute to developments in the field. Faculty with the VCU Libraries are evaluated, and promoted, on the basis of job performance, scholarship, and professional development and service.
Qualifications
Required: ALA-accredited graduate degree or accredited graduate degree in other appropriate disciplines. Preferred: Experience managing electronic information resources and services in an academic research library. Strong computer skills including working knowledge of automated library systems and experience with web site development and mobile technologies. Awareness of issues and trends in scholarly communications. Initiative and creativity, willingness to cooperate and share information, and the ability to meet deadlines and manage competing priorities under pressure. Ability to work independently as well as with a team. Strong service orientation. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Experience working in a culturally diverse environment highly preferred.
Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Libraries
Virginia Commonwealth University is Virginia’s largest research university, enrolling nearly 32,000 students. Classified by Carnegie as Research University (high research activity), VCU offers 31 doctoral, 69 masters, 3 professional and 62 baccalaureate degree programs. Twenty of VCU's graduate, professional programs are ranked by U.S. News & World Report as among the best in the nation, with 13 programs ranking in the top 25 and two programs — sculpture and nurse anesthesia — ranked number one. Over 1,700 faculty comprise the University's teaching force. Research strengths at the University include health and life sciences, education, engineering, social work, behavioral sciences, public affairs, and the fine arts. Sponsored research funding totaled over $225 million in FY07, placing VCU among the top 100 research institutions in the United States. VCU completed a new strategic plan to guide the University’s development though 2020 (http://www.vcu.edu/vcu2020/). The plan embraces an acceleration in the growth of VCU’s library system and includes a new Master Site Plan that envisions additions to both library facilities operated by the VCU Libraries.
Libraries at Virginia Commonwealth University (including the James Branch Cabell Library on the Monroe Park Campus and the Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences on the MCV Campus) employ 50 professionals and 94 support staff with an annual budget exceeding $14 million. VCU also operates programs in Doha, Qatar, including a library supporting the program there; Northern Virginia; and in various additional locations throughout the U.S. and the world. The VCU Libraries is a Resource Library in the National Network of Libraries of Medicine and a member of the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries, SPARC, CNI, BioMed Central, and the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA), a statewide networking consortium for shared access to electronic and print resources. The VCU Libraries uses ALEPH 500, SFX, MetaLib, and DSpace as the foundation of its system architecture to enhance access to its collections and services.
The VCU Medical Center is mainly located on the MCV Campus in historic Court End, near the government and financial centers of the city. The campus includes the schools of allied health professions, dentistry, medicine, nursing, and pharmacy as well as the VCU Health System (VCUHS). An independent school of public health is being formed; when complete, VCU will be one of only six universities nationally with a fully comprehensive health sciences campus. VCUHS includes an 820-bed hospital (MCV Hospitals), outpatient clinics, a 600-physician-faculty group practice and nearly 200 specialty areas, many of national and international renown. It also includes the Massey Cancer Center, Virginia's first NCI-designated cancer center. In addition to multidisciplinary centers for cancer, cardiology, neurosurgery, and transplantation, the VCUHS offers virtually every form of contemporary medical service.
Salary: $41,000 minimum annually. This is a full-time, non-tenured faculty position. Normal faculty benefits apply, including 24 vacation days annually and choice of retirement and annuity plans. For more information about benefits, see http://www.hr.vcu.edu/benefits/.
For more information about the VCU Libraries, please visit our home page at http://www.library.vcu.edu/. Review of applications will begin April 30, 2008, and will continue until the position is filled. Electronic submission is highly preferred. Submit cover letter, resume, and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three references to:
Kathleen McColgan
Personnel Administrator
VCU Libraries, Virginia Commonwealth University
901 Park Avenue
PO Box 842033
Richmond, VA 23284-2033
804-828-2730
804-828-0151 (fax)
mccolgankh@vcu.edu
Virginia Commonwealth University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.
Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.