Institutional Repository Outreach Librarian

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Libraries seek an innovative and creative Institutional Repository Outreach Librarian to grow and maintain the libraries’ new Digital Commons repository, an open access digital repository platform for publishing and preserving the scholarly research and creative achievements of the UAB community.  The primary responsibilities for the position include developing and managing the UAB Digital Commons institutional repository in collaboration with faculty and staff from Technology and Technical Services, liaising with reference librarians and UAB faculty and staff regarding content deposit, and performing outreach to expand institutional repository services and awareness. The successful candidate will lead the UAB Libraries in promoting UAB Digital Commons throughout the campus.

This position falls within the UAB Libraries’ Office of Scholarly Communication (OSC) and will report to the Associate Dean for Research and Scholarly Communication. This person will work collaboratively with other library departments to promote the use and awareness of the institutional repository. This is a 12-month non-tenure track faculty position at the initial rank of Assistant or Associate Professor. 

Essential Functions

• Manage the daily operations of the Digital Commons repository, including adding and editing content;
• Identify and actively recruit content for the institutional repository from various entities and stakeholders across campus;
• Develop and provide training for library faculty and staff and campus stakeholders on use and workflows related to the institutional repository;
• Determine and implement metadata schemas, crosswalks, and workflows for ingesting and maintaining data in the institutional repository;
• Develop and update institutional repository procedures, policies, best practices, and other necessary documentation in collaboration with colleagues within the UAB Libraries and on campus.
• Outreach to faculty, students, programs, centers, and labs throughout the campus to promote awareness of and increase participation in the repository;
• Collect, analyze, and report institutional repository usage data.
• Monitor trends and developments in open access, scholarly communications, institutional repositories, and related topics in determine how they impact library and university stakeholders.

Required qualifications

• American Library Association (ALA) accredited master's degree or other advanced degree(s) appropriate to the position
• Knowledge of and experience with institutional repositories, metadata creation, and/or born-digital records processing
• Knowledge of metadata principles, schemas, and standards in a digital repository environment
• Demonstrated project management and workflow design skills
• Ability to prioritize tasks and balance work priorities
• Demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative team environment, and to develop and maintain cooperative and productive working relationships
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral skills, including presentation and teaching skills.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communications skills
• Strong public service philosophy

Preferred qualifications

• Experience working in a research or other academic library, and public service experience
• Knowledge of digital repository or digital asset management software platforms (e.g. bepress Digital Commons, DSpace. Rosetta) as well as an aptitude for, or strong interest in, engaging with other tools in the digital library environment
• Demonstrated competency within the fields of digital scholarship and institutional repositories.
• Experience working with naming conventions, transferring files, and best practices for file management and organization
• Experience cultivating and developing relationships with academic units and faculty.
• Experience in instruction in the use of digital resources and tools.
• Knowledge of Dublin Core, MODS, PREMIS, and other metadata standards.
• Knowledge of various data formats
• Knowledge of programming languages such as Python or Java.
• Experience in digital conversion, file transfer, and file management.
• Understanding of copyright, rights management, and digital preservation issues and considerations

Review of applicants is ongoing until filled.

UAB Libraries are committed to advancing equitable access to information, intellectual freedom, and the public good for the UAB community and the community at large. We recognize our social responsibility to advocate for marginalized voices and to inform and educate to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and mutual respect.

UAB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and family-friendly environment in which all faculty and staff can excel and achieve work/life balance irrespective of, race, national origin, age, genetic or family medical history, gender, faith, gender identity and expression as well as sexual orientation. UAB also encourages applications from individuals with disabilities and veterans.

A pre-employment background check investigation is performed on candidates selected for employment.

About UAB and Birmingham

UAB has been ranked as the top Young University in the United States for two consecutive years by Times Higher Education, and Forbes recently named UAB America’s No. 1 Best Large Employer, No. 4 in the nation among Best Employers for Diversity. UAB has been consistently recognized among a select few universities as a Diversity Champion by Insight into Diversity for the institution’s longstanding commitment to shared values that include diversity, inclusion and respect. UAB —among one of the most diverse campuses in the nation — is committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts and creating an environment that can serve as a model for the kind of society we strive to build. UAB is the first university in the United States to adopt the Okanagan Charter and become an internationally recognized Health Promoting University.

Downtown Birmingham has enjoyed a revitalization in recent years, with the development of Railroad Park — an award-winning urban park — and its adjacent Regions Field, home to the minor league Birmingham Barons — an award-winning stadium. The park and stadium projects have kickstarted major growth in surrounding districts, including craft breweries, boutique shops, restaurants, loft and apartment buildings, innovative workspaces, and hotels.

There are a host of attractions only a short walk from UAB’s campus, the Birmingham Civil Rights District National Monument, composed of sites such as Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, Kelly Ingram Park and the Civil Rights Institute — a major destination for visitors from around the world. Birmingham's cultural scene is thriving, with museums, numerous galleries, music and arts festivals, theaters and live music venues, a professional ballet company, a professional opera company, a School of Fine Arts, the Jazz Hall of Fame, and the recent restoration of the historic Lyric and Alabama theaters. Birmingham is in proximity to many state and national parks, lakes, urban greenspaces, and hiking and biking trails. The city has more green space per capita than any other major city in the United States.

To learn more about the University of Alabama at Birmingham click here. To learn more about the UAB Libraries click here.

Interested candidates should apply here: https://uab.peopleadmin.com/postings/11273