Collection Development & Acquisitions Librarian, Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Gordon Library (Worcester)

Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners; Massachusetts; On-site; USD 63,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Gordon Library) seeks a Collection Development & Acquisitions Librarian to lead assessment, development, and licensing of digital and print resources to support learning, teaching, and research.

Responsibilities include managing acquisitions, analyzing data, and coordinating with faculty and staff. The role requires MLS/Masters and 3–5 years in an academic library, with experience in PDA/DDA and vendor negotiations.

Qualifications

• MLS/Masters in Library and Information Science required.
• 3–5 years of professional experience in an academic library.
• Minimum of one year in library collection development/collection management.
• Knowledge of current issues and trends in library collections development, information delivery and access.
• Experience with online ILS, preferably FOLIO ILS.

Responsibilities

• Manage collections assessment and development.
• Oversee collection management and acquisitions procedures and activities.
• Collaborate with Research and Instruction teams and other library colleagues.
• Develop planning and budgetary recommendations for the library’s collections.
• Negotiate pricing and licensing terms for library e-resources.
• Administer the Library’s gift in kind program for materials.
• Support institutional accreditation reporting and external agencies.
• Engage in library and community engagement initiatives.

Skills

Collaboration

Communication

Analytical thinking

Project management

Decision making

FOLIO ILS

Education

MLS/Masters

Tools

FOLIO ILS

ILS

Job description

Collection Development & Acquisitions Librarian, Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Gordon Library (Worcester)

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

Working collaboratively with colleagues across all library departments, manages the assessment, selection and deselection, and licensing of digital and print resources by formulating, articulating, and managing policies and procedures to develop, shape, and balance the Library’s collections to support learning, teaching, and research.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Manage collections assessment and development

Analyze institutional data, bibliographic data, usage statistics, interlibrary loan data, and other metrics
Utilize collection development and assessment tools, such as Greenglass, Gold Rush, etc.
Establish and monitor title selection plans, such as PDA (Patron Driven Acquisitions), DDA (Demand-Driven Acquisitions), etc.
Monitor pricing and usage of ejournal packages and databases
Respond to requests for information resources made by faculty, students, and staff

Oversee collection management and acquisitions procedures and activities

Implement and utilize title selection and acquisition tools and software
Select and deselect information resources for the general collection, based on current and proposed academic curricula and discipline needs and practices
Manage and participate in the library’s resource acquisitions workflow, including ordering and receiving items and processing invoices
Document and train others as needed in use of vendor and library systems to acquire or deselect information resources
Participate in shared print initiatives (e.g. EAST)

Collaborate with library Research and Instruction team and other library colleagues regularly to ensure the WPI community is receiving an appropriate level of support for their academic work

Meet regularly to discuss the library resource needs of faculty, students, and other library users
Participate in gathering and analyzing community feedback from surveys, interviews, and focus groups

Develop planning and budgetary recommendations for the library’s collections

Allocate and expend the budget in the library management system
Monitor and ensure efficient expenditure of the budget in consultation with the University Librarian, Associate Library Director, and others

Negotiate pricing and licensing terms for library e-resources

In collaboration with the Associate Director, maintain working relationships with library vendors, publishers, and consortia to obtain the best possible pricing and terms of use
Administer digital licensing procedures and renewals in the library management system
Coordinate electronic resource trials
Monitor trends in the broader library resources community and scholarly publishing sphere

Administer the Library’s gift in kind program for materials

Identify and pursue potential gift opportunities
Select donations for the collection and send unwanted donations to appropriate vendors or organizations for resale, archiving, or recycling
Refer archival and special collections gift and donation offers to the University Archivist

Support institutional compliance with accreditation and external agencies

Provide data for reports and analyses related to collections development and maintenance as required by university offices and external agencies, including ACRL (Association of College & Research Libraries) and accreditation bodies

Participate in Library, professional, and community engagement

Participate in providing direct services to library users and customers, or providing informed referrals
Participate in collaborative library programs and activities including outreach events, strategic and annual planning, and collaborations with university community offices and student groups
Participate in and contribute to WPI committees, initiatives, and goals contributing to WPI and library strategic initiatives
Engage in and contribute to the profession through continuing learning, service, research, presentations, or professional communications

Performs all other duties and responsibilities as assigned or directed by the supervisor.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

Master’s degree in Library and Information Science or equivalent graduate degree in library and information studies
Three to five years of professional experience in an academic library
Minimum of one year of professional-level experience in library collection development/collection management, as the primary focus
Knowledge of current issues and trends in library collections development, information delivery and access, electronic and digital resources, and related copyright and licensing issues
Familiarity with current print and electronic acquisitions trends, as well as academic library metadata practices
Demonstrated operational experience with an online integrated library system (ILS), preferably experience or marked familiarity with FOLIO ILS
Demonstrated excellent collaboration and communication skills, including written and oral communications
Evidence of strong skills in decision making, problem solving, independent action, analytical and critical thinking, project/program or service management, and general office technical skills

Preferred qualifications and experience:

Familiarity with research and teaching in the STEM fields through education or prior work experience
Familiarity with open access publishing models

If you possess most of the skills and experience and a strong willingness to learn, we encourage you to apply.

Full/Part Time

Full Time

Education

MLS/Masters

Salary Range

$62,500.00- $78,000.00/year

Salary Notes

Based on related experience, expertise, internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint

Posted

2026-10-27| Quick link to this job