Electronic Resources Access Librarian

Ohio University; Athens (OH); On-site; USD 45,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ohio University Libraries invites applications for the position of Electronic Resources Access Librarian in the Acquisitions & Content Services department. This role manages the lifecycle of OU Libraries’ electronic resources and ensures seamless access for the university community.

Reporting to Acquisitions & Content Services, you will coordinate licenses, renewals and access tools such as Alma, Primo and AtoZ, supervise staff, and contribute to data-driven decision making within the

Qualifications

• Requires a Master’s degree accredited by the American Library Association or equivalent national or international body and 1+ years of related professional experience, or equivalent education and experience.
• Experience managing e-resources in a library setting.
• Experience with library services platforms such as Alma, FOLIO, or WorldShare Management Services (WMS).
• Experience troubleshooting and resolving technical issues.
• Familiarity with COUNTER usage statistics and SUSHI protocol.
• Familiarity with electronic resource licensing.

Responsibilities

• Manage the lifecycle of electronic resources: Investigate and identify purchase options on behalf of selectors.
• Organize, participate in and oversee the acquisition process for new electronic resources, including placing new orders and activation.
• Oversee license agreements, renewals and access maintenance; communicate changes to stakeholders.

Skills

E-resource management experience

Troubleshooting technical issues

COUNTER usage statistics

SUSHI protocol familiarity

Electronic resource licensing

Education

MLS or equivalent professional experience

Tools

Alma

Primo

AtoZ Database

Job description

The Ohio University Libraries invites applications and nominations for the position of Electronic Resource Access Librarian in the Acquisitions & Content Services department.

The Electronic Resources Access Librarian will support Ohio University teaching, learning, and research activities by effectively managing the lifecycle of the Libraries’ electronic resources collections, which include subscription databases, online journals, eBooks, streaming media and open access content. Managing the e-resources lifecycle includes leading the investigation, acquisition, activation, evaluation, and maintenance of those collections. The position maintains seamless access for OU community members using the library’s Primo discovery service, AtoZ database listing, and various partner search platforms. The E-Resources Access Librarian also coordinates the integration and management of access services such as LibKey, EZproxy, and the Alma resource knowledge base. The position will lead e-resource management projects and access troubleshooting processes within the Libraries’ Acquisitions department. The position is located on the campus of Ohio University and relocation assistance to Athens is available.

Specifically, the Electronic Resources Access Librarian will:

• Manage the lifecycle of electronic resources: Investigate and identify purchase options on behalf of selectors. Organize, participate in and oversee the acquisition process for new electronic resources, including placing new orders and activation. Participate in negotiating license agreements with vendors that meet university requirements, improve equity of access for users, and comply with state law. Maintain records of license agreement terms. Organize, participate in and oversee processes for renewals and cancellations. Communicate changes in collections and access to relevant stakeholders, including subject liaisons. Participate in interdepartmental teams to manage projects and develop new methods of acquiring and maintaining electronic resources.
• Collaborate with staff in the Libraries and other University units to develop and maintain high-quality, seamless access to electronic resource collections by actively managing access points available online through the Libraries. Serve as the primary electronic resource administrator within the Alma library services platform for the Libraries’ Primo discovery service. Manage the integration of third-party services enabling full-text linking and discovery. Coordinate with vendor partners and the Office of Information Technology to maintain user authentication methods and support accessibility evaluations. Oversee management and accuracy of the Libraries AtoZ Database listing for searchable resource records.
• Without direct supervisory responsibility, oversee and guide the work of up to two Library Support Specialists who each devote 40-50% of their time to assisting with managing electronic resources, including troubleshooting, arranging trials, obtaining quotes and access maintenance. Manages electronic forms and ticketing queue used for addressing internal problem reports and user-generated broken link reports. Organize projects, set goals, and oversee day-to-day processes for electronic resources management.
• Organize the acquisitions process for gathering, analyzing, and presenting electronic resource data to stakeholders for evaluation and collection decisions. Use tools and systems utilizing the SUSHI protocol to gather COUNTER usage reports. Provides data and analysis to stakeholders within the library, including usage statistics, cost-per-use calculations, and title overlap analysis.
• Engage in regular professional development through research, publications, presentations, and participation in regional, national and/or international professional bodies as part of the continuing commitment to bringing best practices and innovative services to the Libraries. Collaborate with colleagues to develop or improve library services and processes that benefit the University community and meet the strategic goals of the Libraries and the University.
• Provide outreach and collaboration with the University community.

About the Ohio University Libraries

The Ohio University Libraries system consists of the Alden Library, the Music and Dance Library, the Hwa-Wei Lee Library Annex, as well as five regional campus libraries. With a staff of nearly 60 FTE, the Libraries has more than 2.7 million volumes in its collection and has a total annual budget of over $11 million. The Libraries also hosts the Ohio University Press, an award-winning publisher of books about Africa, Appalachia, Southeast Asia, and the Midwest.

The Libraries is a member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI), the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC), the Center for Research Libraries (CRL), OhioLINK, and Lyrasis, a national consortium of libraries.

The Libraries Strategic Plan can be found here.

Position Profile

Provides specialized expertise in a particular function of information management.

Example functions include, but are not limited to: preservation, archives, cataloging/metadata analyses, acquisitions, etc. Provides outreach and collaboration with the University community.

Level Summary

Provides professional expertise to the University community. Serves as a resource and guide to others in the department and/or university. Completes operational tasks essential for the daily functioning of the University. Additionally, contributes to larger projects or initiatives that align with department or University goals, often collaborating across teams.

Supervisory Responsibilities

May assist in mentoring or training new employees.

Fiscal Responsibilities

No budgetary responsibility. May be responsible for validating transactions.

Problem Solving

Handles a variety of problems with some independence.

Independence of Action

Some supervision; able to work independently on routine tasks.

Communication and Collaboration

Collaborates with team members and shares knowledge.

Physical Requirements

This role is primarily desk-based and involves extensive use of desktop computers. Occasionally, the job may require travel to attend meetings and programs. May be required to regularly lift up to 50 pounds.

Minimum Qualifications

Requires a Master’s degree accredited by the American Library Association or equivalent national or international body and 1 or more years of related professional experience, or equivalent education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing e-resources in a library setting
• Experience with library services platforms such as Alma, FOLIO, or WorldShare Management Services (WMS)
• Experience troubleshooting and resolving technical issues
• Familiarity with COUNTER usage statistics and SUSHI protocol
• Familiarity with electronic resource licensing.

Compensation

The pay range for this position is $44,592.00-$74,196.00. The target salary for this position is $52,000 to $59,000 and is commensurate with the selected candidate’s education and experience while considering internal equity.

Ohio University is proud to offer a robust healthcare plan that includes maternity care, counseling and mental healthcare, prescription coverage, vision, dental, orthodontia care, and more. Our robust benefits package also includes paid holidays, sick time, personal time, a tuition waiver up to 100% for self and dependents, an excellent retirement plan with up to a 14% employer contribution, a 12-week parental leave program, adoption reimbursement, flextime and flexplace policies, an employee assistance program, access to professional development programs, and additional employee resources. Additional information is available at https://www.ohio.edu/hr/benefits.

Discover the full value of joining Ohio University by clicking this link:

https://www.ohio.edu/hr/compensation/total-compensation-estimator

Our Total Compensation Estimator shows your offer package in dollars: salary plus university paid benefits including health coverage, retirement contributions, paid time off, tuition benefits, and more.

See details on what we offer in one place and compare different options for retirement and insurance.

Estimates are informational only; exact coverage is determined by eligibility policies and official plan documents.

Work Schedule

Typical work expectations are Monday – Friday, 8:00 – 5:00; however, candidates must be willing to work evenings and/or weekends if necessary. Ohio University Libraries do offer hybrid and flexible work options. The role is on campus in Athens, OH and expected workload is 40 hours per week.

Non-discrimination Statement

Ohio University is proud of its rich history and as part of our ongoing efforts to provide and support a transformative learning experience, we affirm our commitment to fostering a welcoming and respectful workforce and community. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration free from discrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military service or veteran status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, status as a parent or foster parent, or any other bases under the law. Ohio University is an equal access/equal opportunity employer.