Discovery Librarian – Library

University of California Berkeley; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 76,000 - 93,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Discovery Librarian to enhance user engagement through innovative library services. This role involves collaborating with diverse stakeholders to improve access to resources, applying expertise in user behavior, and managing library discovery tools. The position offers an opportunity to contribute to a vibrant academic community while supporting a commitment to diversity and inclusion. If you are passionate about enhancing user experiences in a library setting and have a strong background in library systems, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree required; experience in academic libraries preferred.
• Strong communication and analytical skills essential for user experience.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with stakeholders to enhance library access and user experience.
• Conduct usability testing and integrate accessibility best practices.

Skills

User Experience Testing

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Problem-Solving Skills

Knowledge of Library Discovery Platforms

Education

Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited institution

Advanced degree or enrolled in an advanced degree program

Tools

Integrated Library Systems (ILS)

Primo VE

Alma

Job description

Discovery Librarian – Library

Position overview

Position title: Associate Librarian, Career Status or Potential Career Status

Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and salary point at appointment. A reasonable estimate for this position is $76,631-$92,345.

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start: As soon as December 1, 2024. Start date is flexible.

Position duration: This is a full-time potential career appointment.

Application Window

Open date: September 5, 2024

Next review date: Thursday, Sep 26, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Final date: Friday, Oct 25, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The University of California, Berkeley Library seeks a creative, collaborative, and user-centered Librarian to support world-class research and teaching through the management of the Library’s discovery services. The Discovery Librarian will design ways to make the Library’s discovery platform, services, and tools more accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to the campus community. They will apply product knowledge, provide expertise in user behavior, identify usage patterns in the Library’s discovery products, and recommend and deploy improvements to the user experience.

The UC Berkeley Library is an internationally renowned teaching and research facility at one of the nation’s premier public universities. A highly diverse and intellectually rich environment, Berkeley serves a campus community of 30,000 undergraduate students, over 11,000 graduate students, and 1,500 faculty.

The Library Information Technology (Library IT) Division is charged with the design, development, management, and maintenance of flexible and reliable technology environments for the Library. The Systems and Discovery Services Department, within the Library IT Division, provides Library-wide support for Berkeley’s Integrated Library System (ILS) Alma, and Primo VE discovery service (branded as UC Library Search).

Responsibilities

In partnership with the Head of Systems and Discovery Services, the Discovery Librarian will collaborate with stakeholders across the Library to ensure seamless access to the Library’s collections for all users. Responsibilities include identifying pain points, contributing to user-centered access practices, overseeing configurations related to Discovery in Alma, troubleshooting issues, and reviewing ongoing monthly release notes.

The incumbent will develop and maintain an ongoing practice of usability testing for UC Library Search and will integrate web accessibility best practices into user experience decisions. They will also test and prioritize feature releases for UC Library Search and partner with the Web Team in Library IT as needed.

As the lead for UC Library Search at Berkeley, the Discovery Librarian will participate in the UC-Berkeley local SILS governance and steering, facilitate the UC Berkeley Library Discovery Working Group, and represent the Library in relevant communities of practice.

The Discovery Librarian will regularly create and share Primo VE analytics reports to support data-driven decisions for the Library.

UC Berkeley librarians are expected to participate in library-wide planning and governance and work effectively in a shared decision-making environment.

The UC Berkeley Library is committed to supporting and encouraging a multicultural environment and seeks candidates who can make positive contributions in a context of ethnic and cultural diversity.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

Advanced degree or enrolled in an advanced degree program.

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

Advanced degree

Preferred qualifications

1. Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited institution or equivalent international degree
2. Minimum of two years of experience working in an academic research library
3. Experience with one or more library discovery platforms
4. Experience with or knowledge of integrated library systems
5. Ability to work effectively in a matrix-based and shared decision-making environment
6. Knowledge of developing trends in library discovery platforms
7. Experience with usability and/or user experience testing
8. Ability to distill and communicate technical concepts to non-technical staff
9. Strong verbal and written communication skills
10. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
11. Demonstrated commitment to diversity and an understanding of inclusive environments

The Library encourages candidates from less traditional backgrounds to apply.

Other

This position requires participation in a mix of in-person and all-virtual meetings. The incumbent will be required to obtain Primo VE Administrator certification from ExLibris within nine months of being hired.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Cover Letter
3. Statement on Contributions to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Reference requirements

3-5 required (contact information only)

Job location

Berkeley, CA

To apply, visit this link.

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.