UX Design & Digital Scholarship Librarian

Middlebury College

Posting Number: S00856

Location: Middlebury Main Campus

Band/Level: SP4

Hiring Minimum: $57,851

Hourly/Salaried: Salaried

Typical hours per two week pay period: 38.75

Brief Position Summary:
The User Experience (UX) Design and Digital Scholarship Librarian supports and promotes the use of digital research methods within the library and across academic disciplines. The person in this position applies user-centered, universal design principles to digital projects, library web content and printed materials in a team-based work environment. Under the general direction of the Director of Research & Instruction, the UX Design & Digital Scholarship Librarian provides a wide range of library and academic technology services. A special focus of this position is user experience, especially in the context of digital scholarship, digital projects, and library web interfaces.

Working in close collaboration with colleagues, the UX Design & Digital Scholarship Librarian also teaches information skills, provides drop-in and scheduled research and technology assistance, and creates print and web-based instructional and publicity materials. As the academic librarian for assigned departments and programs, the person in this position maintains and develops subject-specific and cross-disciplinary areas of the library's collections. The UX Design & Digital Scholarship Librarian builds strong relationships with students, faculty and staff in order to ensure that the library continues to meet the needs of our community.

For full consideration, please apply by June 5
Position to begin Fall 2017

Essential Functions:
Digital Scholarship

• Advise faculty and students on the appropriate scoping of digital projects, applying knowledge of best practices in user-centered design.
• Teach workshops and provide one-on-one consultations on digital scholarship methods and technologies, especially in the area of user-centered design.
• Provide outreach to faculty, students and staff on support for digital scholarship activities and technology-rich projects.
• In close collaboration with colleagues across library, technology and academic groups, participate in ongoing efforts to establish a core infrastructure to support digital scholarship activities at the library and across academic departments and programs. Colleagues engaged in these efforts include, for example, the Digital Projects & Archives Librarian, the Science Data Librarian, and the Data Services Librarian. Digital scholarship activities include, for example, our institutional repository, our open access initiatives, and faculty and student research projects.
• Stay current on developments in the field of digital scholarship, and make significant contributions to digital scholarship initiatives at Middlebury through development of digital scholarship services within the library.

User Experience

• Produce and support the creation of inviting and accessible user-centered interfaces for digital projects and library web pages.
• Produce engaging graphics and and print publicity materials to connect researchers with library resources and services.
• Develop and support the creation of plans for understanding the user experience of digital projects and the library web presence, and use that information to regularly improve user experience.

Research and Instruction

• Serve as the academic librarian for assigned departments and programs.
• Develop strong working relationships with faculty and students through regular communication and outreach. Promote and seek feedback on library services and resources.
• Educate students and other researchers in library and information skills, for example through course-related workshops that incorporate learning outcomes, active learning exercises, and assessment. Conduct research consultations and provide research assistance at public service points. * Regularly consider how all of these services could be improved.
• Create and maintain research guides, library web pages and other online instruction materials in assigned subject areas. Make content and design decisions based on user needs.
• Align library collections with College curriculum through collaborative collection development in specific subject areas and for general research use.
• Assist faculty with the use of course web sites and related academic technology tools.
• Evening and weekend hours may be required.

General Responsibilities:

• Contribute expertise, enthusiasm and creative thinking to the Research & Instruction Workgroup, the library and Middlebury. Work cooperatively with others, and accept direction from supervisors.
• Provide positive representation of the library across Middlebury by attending relevant workshops, meetings and events.
• Maintain expertise in a rapidly evolving field through ongoing education, professional development, and scholarly activity.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education:

• Masters degree required. This could be either an MLS or MIS from an ALA-accredited program or its equivalent; or an MS/MA or PhD in a relevant subject.
• Undergraduate or graduate degree in at least one liberal arts academic subject, or significant discipline-specific experience in an academic setting, required.

Knowledge:

• Strong understanding of the field of digital scholarship, including platforms and associated methods required.
• Understanding of and experience in the application of user experience, usability, and universal design principles required.
• Excellent instruction and research skills, oral and written communication skills, and interpersonal skills required.
• Creativity, flexibility and a willingness to develop new competencies required.
• Ability to work in a team oriented environment required.
• Foreign language, especially, Italian, Russian, Chinese, or Japanese, preferred but not required.

Experience:

• Experience with developing digital projects , either on-the-job or through coursework, strongly preferred.
• Experience with web design, graphic design and user experience analysis, either on-the-job or through coursework, strongly preferred.
• Experience teaching workshops or courses required.
• At least 2 years of experience working in an academic library, including instruction, preferred.

Hire contingent upon successful completion of the following post-offer screening:
Criminal Background Check

Close Date:

Open Until Filled: Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants:
For full consideration, apply by June 5

At Middlebury, we strive to make our campus a respectful, engaged community that embraces difference, with all the complexity and individuality each person brings. In your application materials we encourage you to address how your education, experience, scholarship, mentorship and/or community service might support our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check.

To apply, visit: https://middlebury.peopleadmin.com/postings/15294

Middlebury is committed to hiring a diverse staff and faculty as we work to foster innovation in our curriculum and to provide a rich and varied educational experience to our increasingly diverse student body. EOE/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disability.

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