Librarian: Special & Digital Collections

University of the Western Cape; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of the Western Cape invites applications for a Librarian: Special & Digital Collections (Digital Scholarship Focus). The role develops and maintains special/digital collections, digitised archival materials and grey literature within the Library Services unit, bridging digital technologies with scholarly communication.

Working in the Research Support Team, the Librarian will advance digital research practices, support researchers in digital humanities, and expand access through

Qualifications

• Requires a B.Bibl. at NQF 8 or PGDip in LIS or equivalent.
• Minimum three years in an academic digital library environment.
• Experience with VLEs (Sakai, Moodle) and with digital repositories.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain special and digital collections and grey literature.
• Advance digital scholarship and access through digitisation and digital platforms.
• Support researchers and students in using special/digital collections.
• Curate exhibitions (physical and online) to raise visibility.
• Contribute to research data management and preservation.
• Collaborate with teams across Library Services.

Skills

Metadata standards

Digital Humanities

Omeka S / DSpace

AI-enhanced platforms

Research support

Verbal & written communication

Team collaboration

Education

B.Bibl./Postgraduate Diploma in Library & Information Science

Academic library experience

Tools

Omeka S

DSpace

AI tools in research

Job description

Librarian: Special & Digital Collections - (2338)

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Title of Position

Librarian: Special & Digital Collections

Post Number

2046

Faculty/Department

University of the Western Cape -> Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research & Innovation -> Library Services

Type of Position

Permanent - Full Time

Closing Date

13/9/2026

Role Clarification & Key Performance Areas

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) Library invites applications for Special and Digital Collections Librarian (Digital Scholarship Focus) to contribute to innovation in digital scholarship, research support, and open knowledge initiatives.

This strategic position advances digital research practices, supports researchers engaged in digital humanities and data-driven research, and expands access to unique collections through digital platforms. The successful candidate will bridge special collections, digital technologies and scholarly communication.

Working within the Research Support Team, the primary role of the Librarian: Special & Digital Collections is to develop and maintain the special and digital collections as well as the grey literature at the UWC Library. This position supports the University's efforts to develop digital collections, including digital images, digitised archival materials, cultural heritage artefacts and research data collections.

The key performance areas include the following:

• Build national and internationally recognized collections which focuses on the University niche areas.
• Develop and preserve special collections, including manuscripts and institutional heritage materials.
• Support digitisation initiatives and coordinate the creation and maintenance of digital collections
• Implement best practices for digital preservation, metadata standards, and content management.
• Support researchers and students in accessing and using special and digital collections.
• Curate exhibitions (physical and online) to promote collections and enhance visibility.
• Support research data management (RDM) practices, including data curation and preservation.
• Contribute to the research capacity building programmes.

Minimum Requirements (Qualification and Experience)

• A B.Bibl. degree at NQF Level 8 OR a Postgraduate Diploma in Library & Information Science at NQF Level 8 or any equivalent degree
• At least three year’s work experience in an academic digital library or similar environment
• Experience with virtual learning environments i.e., Sakai; Moodle etc.
• Experience with digital repositories and content management systems

Required competencies (skills, knowledge and behavioural attributes):

• Knowledge of metadata standards (e.g., Dublin Core, MARC, EAD)
• Demonstrable knowledge of Digital Humanities activities
• Demonstrable knowledge of tools such as Omeka S, DSpace and AI-enhanced platforms
• Ability to translate AI technologies into practical research support services
• Understanding of digitisation workflows and digital preservation practices
• Familiarity with South African legislation: POPIA, PAIA
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently in a team environment
• Verbal and written communication skills that include presentation and report writing

DISCLAIMER: By applying for the position, you consent to the University sharing your application, including curriculum vitae, with University stakeholders to process the application. In line with the University’s commitment to diversifying its workforce, preference will be given to suitably qualified applicants in line with our Employment Equity Targets. The official retirement age at UWC is 65 years. The University reserves the right to not make an appointment, make an appointment at a different level, seek additional candidates and may conduct competency assessments.