Macalester College seeks Serials and E-Resources Librarian

Text courtesy of Katy Gabrio, Associate Library Director, DeWitt Wallace Library, Macalester College

The Dewitt-Wallace Library at Macalester College is seeking to hire an experienced Serials and E-Resources Librarian. This librarian provides expertise in and strategically plans for the future of the serials and electronic resources collections. This individual manages and oversees the serials collection and the serials portion of the budget as well as coordinates activities related to acquiring and providing access to electronic resources. This individual manages, develops and utilizes a number of systems and applications necessary for delivering our collections virtually to library researchers both on and off campus. They collaborate closely with technology staff in the library and throughout Macalester. In addition, the individual in this position participates in outreach activities and works closely with our academic community to ensure that the library collections most effectively and efficiently support college curricular needs and scholarly endeavors.  The Serials and Electronic Resources Librarian is a member of the Collection Development and Discovery team. 

About the Dewitt-Wallace Library

The Library supports the mission of the College by providing the scholarly information services and resources essential to Macalester’s educational program. Specifically, the Library:

• Educates and guides users in the research process.
• Enables users to identify and obtain needed information.
• Maintains a secure and supportive environment for the use and preservation of collections and delivery of services.
• Manages effectively the budget, processes, personnel and technology needed to accomplish Library goals.

Responsibilities

Collection Development & Discovery:

• Provides leadership and expertise in managing and strategically planning for the serials and electronic resources collection of 2,500+ titles and the $1,000,000 + serials budget. 
• Holds primary responsibility for electronic resources, coordinates activities related to acquiring and providing access to electronic resources, and strategically plans for future needs.  
• Shares administrative duties for our library discovery tool (currently WorldCat Discovery) and continually develops expertise with discovery technologies and monitors, assesses, and relays information about trends and innovations to others.  
• Provides a high level of personal contact and communicates on a daily basis with faculty, students, staff and external service providers including serial and electronic resource publishers, vendors and content providers.  
• Reviews, evaluates, and negotiates contracts and licenses for electronic resources in collaboration with Associate Library Director - Collection Development & Discovery and Library Director.
• Provides technical expertise in managing and developing several library online collection delivery systems,  including e-resource knowledge-base updates, use of the Acquisitions and License Manager modules of the Library's integrated library system, and authentication tools (e.g. OpenAthens).
• Troubleshoots issues relating to access and maintenance of electronic resources. Resolves problems with local systems, publishers, vendors or consortia which requires a high level of effective communication.  
• Oversees the development and operation of assessment tools for data related to e-resource and serials collections. Gathers, analyzes, and provides meaningful interpretation of data to assess current e-resource collections and inform future library decision making and provides annual COUNTER compliant usage statistics for reporting purposes.
• Maintains and shares current awareness of emerging trends in the acquisition and management of serials and electronic resources.
• Works closely with colleagues on issues related to maintenance of automated serials system records, subscription renewals, cancellations, new orders, invoices, claims and all related correspondence. 
• Consistently performs work with attention to detail and in a timely and accurate manner meeting the needs of the library as well as community demands. 

Departmental and campus liaison responsibilities:

• Engagement and Outreach: Takes initiative to identify and facilitate ongoing communication and build relationships with stakeholders (e.g. academic departments, administrative departments, programs, and organizations) within the Macalester community on matters related to the library, our services, trends in the profession, and other areas of expertise.
• Teaching and Research: Provides professional and contextually appropriate expertise to our community.
• Collection Management: Develops and manages collections that are diverse in format, perspective, and subject area in order to support our current curriculum and community’s needs and interests.
• Professional Development and Contributions to Library, College, and Profession: Continually considers and explores new ways to improve library services and collections. Participates in learning opportunities in order to stay informed of trends in academic libraries and higher education. Shares new knowledge and ideas with library staff, the Macalester community, and the broader library community.

Key responsibilities, leadership and professional development:

• Provides excellent customer service.
• Participates in cross-functional work groups according to interests, skills, and library needs.
• Helps foster teamwork throughout the organization on campus, and beyond.
• Helps maintain efficient workflow, procedures, and process improvements. 
• Contributes to assessment activities throughout the organization including report writing and data compilation and analysis.
• Contributes to fulfilling the mission of the library and the college.
• Provides service to the college through participation on campus groups or projects.
• Serves on professional committees to share our expertise and experience with others, and to serve as a representative of the college.
• Attends at least one professional conference per year.
• Stays abreast of developments in the field and is engaged in personal professional development

Annual goals:

• Contributes to completion of annual library & media services goals.
• Sets and attains annual personal performance goals.

Qualifications

• MS/MLS/MLIS from an ALA-accredited institution by the position start date.
• Minimum of 2 years in-depth experience with managing electronic resource collections, 3+ years preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity.
• Demonstrated skill in trouble-shooting and problem-solving electronic resources and related technical issues.
• Experience with authentication tools (OpenAthens preferred).
• Evidence of maintaining current awareness of trends, standards, and technologies related to acquiring, licensing and managing scholarly electronic resources.
• Excellent interpersonal, analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills, including evidence of ability to work collegially and collaboratively within and across organizations, as well as with vendors and publishers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership in strategically planning for the future of serials and electronic resource collections.
• Experience with budgeting methods and practices for electronic resources and serials.
• Experience with assessment methods and practices for electronic resources and serials.
• Demonstrated ability to review and negotiate license agreements pertaining to electronic resources, especially in an academic environment.
• Experience with setup and maintenance of knowledge base (e.g. OpenURL link resolvers) and discovery systems. 
• Demonstrated experience in serials management in an academic library.

Compensation & Benefits

This full time position includes an annual salary of $57000-62000 and includes Macalester’s esteemed benefits package.

Application Guidelines

To be considered, please submit your resume and cover letter in one combined PDF via Macalester’s Employment Opportunities page. Priority will be given to candidates who apply by May 9th and the position will be posted until filled. 

All inquiries regarding this position can be sent to: 

Jaclyn Howard
Talent Acquisition Manager 
jhoward3@macalester.edu

Macalester College - Institutional Overview

Since its founding in 1874, Macalester has provided students with the inspiration, insight, and experience to become successful and ethical leaders. Located in St. Paul, Minnesota, Macalester enrolls nearly 2,100 students who come from virtually every state and 91 countries. Macalester is committed to being a preeminent liberal arts college known for its high standards of scholarship and its special emphasis on internationalism, multiculturalism, and service to society.

Macalester is proud of its longstanding commitment to social justice and creating a safe environment for all people regardless of sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, gender, religion, age, or ability. Macalester is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic staff committed to working in a multicultural environment and strongly encourages applications from everyone who would add richness to our community, including people of color, individuals with disabilities and women.

Benefits

Macalester employees enjoy a fantastic benefits package and working environment that is second to none. Please visit http://www.macalester.edu/employmentservices/benefits for more information about benefits at Macalester College.

Our Commitment to Safety in response to COVID-19

For the safety of our community, Macalester requires all employees to have received a COVID-19 vaccine. Should a newly hired employee be unable to receive the vaccination for either medical or religious reasons we offer accommodations and assistance.

Questions or concerns about this process should be directed to Bob Graf, Director of Employment Services, at rgraf@macalester.edu