Mercator Geospatial Information and Maps Librarian

David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

The UCLA Library seeks a Geospatial Information and Maps Librarian to support faculty, researchers, and students in utilizing geospatial data, tools, and methods, while also managing print map collections. The role emphasizes collaboration across divisions and with UC system partners to align services campus-wide.

The successful candidate will promote diversity through UCLA values, engage with teaching and research initiatives, and contribute to data services, digital scholarship, and open

Qualifications

• ALA-accredited Master’s Degree in Library or Information Science required at hire.
• Experience with geospatial data creation, processing, and usage.
• Experience with GIS and mapping software (ArcGIS, QGIS) and print maps.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and collaborate across units.

Responsibilities

• Support UCLA researchers in identifying and using geospatial tools, platforms, and resources.
• Assist instructors and students with course-integrated use of geospatial tools.
• Partner with Library and campus colleagues on platform access and usage.
• Collaborate to develop sustainable geospatial services and open science initiatives.
• Manage print map collections, enabling discovery and digitization efforts.
• Provide training and patron support through consultations, workshops, and research help.
• Collaborate with UC system colleagues to align geospatial support and maps access.
• Work with Library Development to steward donors, collections, and endowed funds.

Skills

Geospatial data literacy

Collaborative teamwork

Research support

Education

MLS / MLIS or equivalent

Tools

ArcGIS

QGIS

Print maps handling

Job description

The UCLA Library seeks a highly collaborative, user-focused professional for the position of Mercator Geospatial Information and Maps Librarian. Reporting to the Director of Research Services, the incumbent will provide support to UCLA faculty, researchers, students, and other stakeholders in utilizing geospatial data, tools, and methods. In addition, this position will be responsible for the Library’s print map collections.

Position Duties

Reporting to the AUL for Teaching, Learning, and Research. The incumbent is responsible for the following

Specific duties and responsibilities include:

• Support researchers in identifying and utilizing appropriate geospatial tools, platforms, methods, and resources.
• Provide assistance to instructors and students for course integrated usage of geospatial tools.
• Partner with Library and campus colleagues on managing geospatial platform access and usage.
• Collaborate with colleagues in the Teaching, Learning, and Research Division around data services, digital scholarship, and open science to develop a sustainable suite of services for campus researchers and students.
• Work with colleagues from across the Library on managing print map collections, enabling discovery and utilization, and facilitating map digitization.
• Support skill development and training for colleagues related to geospatial information and maps.
• Provide general patron support through consultations, workshops, research help, and instruction.
• Collaborate with colleagues across the UC system to align UCLA geospatial support services and maps access and approaches.
• Work closely with Library Development to identify and steward donors, collections, and endowed gift funds.

The successful candidate will be committed to promoting and enhancing diversity through engagement with and promotion of UCLA True Bruin values and UCLA Principles of Community; and will be able to collaborate across departments and divisions.

General Information

Professional librarians at UCLA are academic appointees. Librarians at UCLA are represented by an exclusive bargaining agent, University Council – American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT). This is a represented position. Represented librarians are entitled to appropriate professional leave, two days per month of vacation leave, one day per month of sick leave, and all other benefits bargained in the collective bargaining agreement. The University has an excellent retirement system and sponsors a variety of group health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans in addition to other benefits. Relocation assistance may be provided.

Appointees to the librarian series at UC shall have professional backgrounds that demonstrate a high degree of creativity, teamwork, and flexibility. Such background will normally include a professional degree from an ALA-accredited library and information science graduate program. In addition to professional competence and quality of service within the library in the primary job, advancement in the librarian series requires professional involvement and contributions outside of the library, and/or university and community service, and/or scholarly activities. Candidates must show evidence or promise of such contributions.

Description of Unit

The Research Services department supports students, faculty, and staff looking to utilize advanced research methodologies, tools, and techniques. The department provides services and support for the following areas of emphasis: expert searching, which includes complex literature and information searching and evidence-based decision making; data services, including data use and reuse; digital and open scholarship, including open science, technical information (including standards and patents), mapping and geospatial tools, and advanced citation management; and research assessment and impact., data use and reuse, digital scholarship, open science, As a part of the Teaching, Learning, and Research division, the department supports core Library services and collaborates across the Library to ensure areas of emphasis are aligned with expertise and strategic Library goals. In addition, the department develops and maintains strategic relationships with other research aligned units on campus to ensure Library services complement other campus expertise.

Description of Institution and Library

As one of the world's great public research universities, UCLA integrates education, research, and public service so that each enriches and extends the others. From its beautiful neighborhood campus in a uniquely diverse and vibrant city on the Pacific Rim, teaching and research extend beyond the classroom, office, and lab through active engagement with communities, organizations, projects, and partnerships throughout the region and around the world.

UCLA’s diverse community of scholars encompasses nearly 30,000 undergraduates pursuing 125 majors, 13,000 graduate students in fifty-nine research programs, and 4,000 faculty members including Nobel Laureates; Rhodes Scholars; MacArthur Fellows; winners of the Fields Medal, National Medal of Science, Pritzker Prize, and Pulitzer Prize; and recipients of Oscars, Emmys, Tonys, and Golden Globes. UCLA ranks tenth in the Times of London Higher Education World Reputation Rankings, twelfth in the Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and fifth in the U.S. by Washington Monthly. The National Research Council ranks forty of its graduate and doctoral research programs among its top ten.

To enable our accomplished students, faculty, and staff to create, disseminate, and apply knowledge for the benefit of global society, the UCLA Library is re-envisioning how it acquires, synthesizes, and shares knowledge and information across academic audiences and with the public. The services and expertise we provide via our collections connect users to their learning needs, their research, or their creative efforts. We do this by ensuring discoverability; engaging in curricular support and advancing information literacy for our students; by offering scaled support asynchronously, through online training modules, and research support. We offer targeted services for our graduate and undergraduate students trying to solve a problem, understand a system, or learning how to use a new tool to responsibly manage and explore data. We develop public programming, exhibitions, curated experiences, and other engagement opportunities to connect our unique collections, cultural materials, research resources, and services with the campus and greater LA communities fostering discovery, dialogue, and access to collections for visitors, researchers and lifelong learners alike.

The Library serves UCLA students, faculty, and staff whenever and wherever they need its resources and expertise. Reconfigured, high-tech spaces and services in its ten campus libraries enable users and librarians to explore and work with print and digital materials collaboratively or individually, pursue new lines of inquiry, and develop new pedagogical approaches as well as novel forms of scholarship. More than 3.5 million people visit annually, while an additional 3.4 million visitors enter online through its virtual front doors.

Whether on campus or online, the Library forms the intellectual heart of UCLA, a hub for cutting-edge discovery, scholarship, and instruction.

Qualifications

• ALA-accredited Master’s Degree in Library or Information Science required at the time of hire; OR Master’s degree (or other advanced degree) in Information Sciences or related field at the time of hire and work experience in a library setting.
• Experience working with or interest in learning how geospatial data are created, processed, organized, and used
• Experience working with or interest in learning GIS and mapping software such as ArcGIS and QGIS
• Experience working with or interest in learning about print maps
• Ability to work collaboratively and manage multiple concurrent projects