Digital Preservation and Collection Development Librarian

Georgia Southwestern State University; Americus (GA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university is seeking a Digital Preservation and Collection Development Librarian responsible for managing and preserving both physical and digital collections. The successful candidate will ensure long-term access to the library’s resources while collaborating across departments to support academic and community needs.

Qualifications

• Experience with digital preservation, collection development, or a related field.
• Familiarity with collection development practices in physical and digital formats.
• More than two years of related experience.

Responsibilities

• Manages and oversees the preservation of the library's digital collections.
• Leads the development of both physical and digital collections.
• May teach University 1000 class sections or host workshops.

Skills

Organizational skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Master’s degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS)

Tools

Digital preservation tools

Repository systems (e.g., DSpace, Fedora)

Metadata standards (e.g., Dublin Core)

Job description

Job Title: Digital Preservation and Collection Development Librarian
Location: Americus, Georgia
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Job ID: 285665
About Us

Georgia Southwestern State University is a state university serving a diverse population of students, offering a range of strong undergraduate and graduate programs in a vibrant learning environment. The University is a collegial community that values collaboration and community engagement with an emphasis on faculty, staff, and student interactions. An active student body and state-of-the-art amenities enhance the learning experience on a visually appealing campus located in historic Americus, Georgia.

Georgia Southwestern State University aspires to be an engaged, progressive, and inclusive university that serves as a vibrant center of learning, culture, and economic development for Southwest Georgia and beyond.

Job Summary

The Digital Preservation and Collection Development Librarian is responsible for leading the library's efforts to manage, preserve, and develop both physical and digital collections. This role combines expertise in digital preservation, collection management, and strategic acquisitions to ensure the long-term access and sustainability of the library¿s resources. The ideal candidate will work collaboratively across departments to support academic, research, and community needs while ensuring that digital materials are preserved and organized according to best practices.

Responsibilities

• Digital Preservation. (60%)
• Manages and oversees the preservation of the library's digital collections, ensuring adherence to digital preservation standards and protocols.
• Implements and maintains digital preservation strategies, tools, and workflows to safeguard the library¿s digital assets for long-term access.
• Curates and maintains the library¿s digital repository, ensuring efficient ingestion, storage, and metadata creation for diverse digital formats.
• Regularly assess the digital collection to identify preservation risks and plan for ongoing access and sustainability.
• Works closely with faculty, researchers, and staff to identify digital content for preservation and inclusion in the digital repository.
• Provides guidance and training to library staff, faculty, and students on digital preservation best practices, repository tools, and metadata standards.
• Promotes the library¿s digital collections and services to the wider academic and local community through outreach, presentations, and publications.
• Monitors and evaluates emerging trends and technologies related to digital preservation
• Conducts ongoing assessments of the digital collection, ensuring that it remains relevant, accessible, and of high quality.
• Implements improvements based on user feedback, technological advancements, and best practices in the field.
• Collection Development. (30%)
• Leads the development of both physical and digital collections in alignment with the library¿s mission and community needs.
• Archives and displays Carter artifacts and other Carter related materials.
• Determines what donated books to add to the collection
• Analyzes usage patterns and gaps in the collection to guide acquisition decisions, ensuring a diverse and comprehensive range of materials.
• Establishes and maintains policies for collection development, including criteria for selecting digital and print resources.
• Stays informed about emerging trends in library acquisitions, including open access, data repositories, and evolving digital formats.
• Performs a variety of related duties. (10%)
• May teach University 1000 class sections, Fundamentals of Information literacy, A.I. courses, or host workshops as needed.
• Other duties as needed

Required Qualifications

• Master¿s degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS) from an accredited institution, or equivalent professional experience in digital preservation, collection development, or a related field.
• Experience with digital preservation tools, repository systems (e.g., DSpace, Fedora, CONTENTdm), and metadata standards (e.g., Dublin Core, MODS).
• Familiarity with collection development practices in both physical and digital formats, including selection criteria, acquisitions, and resource management.
• More than two years of related experience.
• Additional certifications or training in digital preservation, archival studies, or data management is preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with scripting languages (e.g., Python, XML) for automating workflows and repository management tasks.
• Understanding of archival standards, such as OAIS (Open Archival Information System) and ISO 14721.
• Familiarity with open access initiatives, data repositories, and scholarly communication practices.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of digital preservation methods and tools, as well as emerging trends in digital archives and collections.
• Knowledge of collection development principles.
• Familiarity with metadata standards and digital asset management systems.
• Knowledge of copyright, intellectual property, and digital rights management as it applies to digital collections.
• Knowledge of library operations and procedures.
• Knowledge of university policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of patron service principles and practices.
• Knowledge of computers and job-related software programs.

SKILLS

• Excellent organizational and analytical skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Effective communication skills for collaboration with staff, faculty, and external partners.
• Skill in interpersonal relations and in dealing with the public.
• Skill in oral and written communication.
• Skill in providing quality customer service.

Contact Information

For more information or questions about a job posting, please contact the Department of Human Resources by phone at 229-931-2000 or by email at [e-mail].

For technical support, please call the USG Service Desk at 877-251-2644 or [e-mail].

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Conditions of Employment

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including a criminal background check demonstrating eligibility for employment with Georgia Southwestern State University, as determined by Georgia Southwestern State University in its sole discretion, confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in application materials and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check and drug screen.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Georgia Southwestern State University is an equal opportunity employer. As such, the University takes affirmative action to preclude discrimination in recruiting, transferring, training and terminating of employees because of race, color, creed, age, sex, national origin, veterans status, disability or any other reason in accordance with applicable state and federal statutes, executive orders and other regulations which prohibit discriminatory employment practices.