Systems Librarian and Head of Library Technology Services – Tenure Track Faculty Position Library Technology Services Unit, California State Polytechnic University, (San Luis Obispo, CA)
Posted January 5, 2023
Description
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona invites applications for a tenure track faculty position in the University Library. Cal Poly Pomona is one of three polytechnic universities in the 23-campus California State University system and among 12 such institutions nationwide. Since its founding in 1938, Cal Poly Pomona students participate in an integrative experiential learning education that is inclusive, relevant, and values diverse perspectives and experiences. With a variety of degree programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, engineering, and professional disciplines, the university is well known for its learn-by-doing approach and Teacher-Scholar.
The university is noted for its scenic and historic 1,400-acre campus, which was once the winter ranch of cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg. We acknowledge that Cal Poly Pomona resides on the territorial and homelands of the Tongva and Tataavium people who are the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar. The university’s nearly 30,000 students are taught and mentored by the campus’s more than 1,400 faculty as part of 54 baccalaureate and 29 master’s degree programs, 11 credential, and certificate programs, and a doctorate in educational leadership.
Highly regarded among its peer institutions, Cal Poly Pomona is No. 3 in the U.S. News and World Report rankings of top public regional universities in the west and was named the No. 28 best-value college in the nation by Money Magazine. Cal Poly Pomona, a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, stands as a national leader in promoting social mobility and was placed among the 25 top institutions in the country in awarding bachelor’s degrees to minoritized students by Diverse Issues in Higher Education.
The Cal Poly Pomona campus is located less than 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles at the intersection of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. It is within an hour’s drive of beaches, mountains, and deserts. For additional information about the university, please visit www.cpp.edu, and for more about faculty life, please see YourLife@CPP.
Student Population. California residents comprise the majority (96%) of applicants to undergraduate programs at Cal Poly Pomona – nearly half (49%) of new students were transfers in Fall 2020. 58% of Cal Poly Pomona students are first-generation, 70% receive financial aid, and 44% qualify as Pell-eligible. The university enrolls a diverse student body that identifies as 49% Latinx, 21% Asian, 15% White, 3% Black, 5% International 3% two or more races, 3% unknown, and less than 1% Native Hawaiian or Native Pacific Islander and less than 1% Native American Indigenous. Thirty-nine percent of the student body were STEM majors with the top enrolled programs including psychology, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, biology, and computer science.
Inclusive Excellence Criteria. We aspire to be the model inclusive polytechnic university in the nation. We have a strong commitment to inclusive excellence and to educational experiences that leverage the diverse perspectives and experiences needed to succeed and thrive in a diverse society.
Tenure track faculty hires will demonstrate a commitment and record of contributions through their teaching, scholarship, or service to these inclusive excellence criteria (a minimum of two must be addressed in the Student Success Statement):
1. Integrates the values of equity and inclusivity into their teaching, scholarship, and/or service contributions with diverse student populations;
2. Incorporates the contributions and struggles of historic ethnic minority groups and communities into their teaching, scholarly work, and/or service contributions;
3. Adopts teaching strategies that support the learning and success of students from diverse student populations;
4. Mentors and engages diverse student populations in discovery, scholarship, and creative activities;
5. Engages students in problem-based projects and learning that address the needs of diverse communities;
6. Possesses knowledge of challenges and barriers for underrepresented students and faculty within the discipline;
7. Mentors and assists diverse student populations interested in pursuing graduate education;
8. Engages in community-responsive action research or service with diverse student populations and communities;
9. Has experience in or demonstrates a commitment to adopting experiential learning activities and pedagogy with diverse student populations and communities; and
10. Has expertise in or demonstrated commitment to teaching, scholarship, and/or service that contributes to access diversity, and equal opportunity in higher education.
University Library
As an essential department within the Division of Academic Affairs, the University Library supports student learning and success and fosters faculty productivity by providing efficient access to resources, information, and data and offers a full suite of public services including research support, instructional services, and public programming for students, faculty, staff, and the general community in support of the University’s instruction, research, and public service missions. The library serves as one of the key public spaces on campus for students to work, study, and collaborate. The library faculty and staff strive to create a welcoming, inclusive, and innovative learning environment that fosters exploration, discovery, research, and scholarship while offering students a variety of study spaces and technology to support their academic studies.
Library Technology Services Unit
Library Technology Services (LTS) is a key unit within the University Library and is responsible for supporting and enhancing key systems used by library employees, campus faculty, students, and designated campus affiliates. The LTS team (which currently consists of one additional librarian, three staff, and student employees) works collaboratively to adapt library systems to the ever-changing technological environment, develop tools and experiences that are user-centered, lead ongoing development of the infrastructure, and maintain flexible and appropriate technologies, data, and workflows. The LTS department includes two permanent library faculty, three full-time staff, and up to four part-time student assistants.
Along with Collections, Acquisitions, and Resource Discovery Services (CARDS), LTS oversees local administration of the Unified Library Management System (ULMS), Cal Poly Pomona’s institutional repository (Bronco ScholarWorks), the University Library website, the digital signage, and room reservation systems (among other local systems), while also acting as the official liaison between the library and campus IT. Additionally, the Affordable Learning Solutions (AL$) Initiative, a program designed to guide faculty and students toward low-cost and no-cost course materials, is partially managed under LTS.
Position Details
Reporting to the University Library Dean, the Systems Librarian and Head of Library Technology Services (Head/LTS) provides leadership and direction for library systems, information technology services, and digital initiatives for the University Library at Cal Poly Pomona.
The Systems Librarian serves as the University Library’s primary technology manager and ensures the effective discovery and delivery of library resources across multiple systems and platforms to the entire campus community. Through ongoing collaboration with colleagues throughout the University Library, across Cal Poly Pomona, and in the California State University System, the Systems Librarian is also responsible for the ongoing management of digitization, digital collection storage and presentation, and scholarly publishing systems, as well as additional applications and sites maintained by the University Library.
As the Head/LTS, the incumbent serves and collaborates with all departments within the University Library, oversees the work of LTS staff, and acts as the primary liaison with the Division of Information Technology and Institutional Planning (Campus IT). The incumbent will also serve as the scholarly communications officer for the library and works with other library faculty to support relevant initiatives. Additionally, in working with the University Bookstore, the incumbent will serve as the campus co-coordinator for the CSU system-wide Affordable Learning Solutions initiative focusing on increasing the adoption of Open Educational Resources.
Responsibilities
§ Serves as the head of the Library Technology Services Unit and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the unit, the coordination of annual unit planning in alignment with the Library and Campus strategic plans, as well as the development and maintenance of policies, procedures, workflows, and best practices that ensure services are responsive, user-focused, and engagement-centric.
§ Serves as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council and attends council meetings, participates in strategic planning, engages in topical discussions, provides feedback, serves on appointed task forces, and supports initiatives as needed.
§ Serves as the systems administrator and advisor for the following services and platforms:
o integrated library service and discovery platform (Ex Libris Alma/Primo VE) and related systems and equipment (Bibliotheca);
o library applications for interlibrary loan (Rapido and ILLiad);
o campus applications (PeopleSoft, EZProxy, MyCPP, FWI);
o library website (Cascade);
o online research guides and related virtual services (SpringShare);
o digitization and archival/digital collections management (Preservica and ArchivesSpace); and
o institutional repository (Samvera Hyrax).
§ Responsible for identifying, evaluating, and making recommendations on the adoption, implementation, and training of new and emerging technologies, hardware, software, and equipment available to support the delivery of library services and resources.
§ Develops, plans, and coordinates regular usability testing of library website and library systems to enhance and improve user experience.
§ Works collaboratively across campus with various departments including but not limited to the Division of Information Technology & Institutional Planning (Campus IT), the University Bookstore, Student Innovation Ideas Lab, and others to facilitate communication, planning, technical troubleshooting, service coordination, and delivery of library and information technology services to the university community.
§ Serves on relevant campus committees and working groups as they relate to library systems, information technology, campus or system-wide technology governance, and more.
In consultation with their HEERA Manager and keeping with the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, the incumbent may be asked to perform additional duties based on operational/service needs, staffing levels, and the incumbent’s professional growth.
Minimum Qualifications:
· ALA-accredited Master of Library & Information Science (MLIS) or equivalent degree in a field relevant to information technology (computer science, information management systems, etc.).
· Knowledge of, coursework in, and/or professional experience working with or overseeing library systems and information technology services in an academic or educational setting, or large public library.
· Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues across multiple departments in support of user-centered discovery and access.
· Ability to develop written policies, detailed procedures, workflows, and other related documentation to support systems and technology projects.
· Ability to research, investigate, and evaluate systems, hardware, software, and applications and make informed recommendations to administrators.
· Ability to set priorities for system development and enhancement by using system data, user research, feedback, and analytics.
· Potential to meet expectations for retention, tenure, and promotion.
· A commitment and a record of contributions to student success through the applicant’s teaching, scholarship, or service. This will be described in the Student Success Statement, which must address at least two of the inclusive excellence criteria listed above.
Preferred Qualifications:
· Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of current trends in library and educational technology in higher education and/or understanding of current library vendor marketplace.
· Familiarity or experience with ExLibris Alma/Primo VE or other integrated library systems that facilitate discovery and resource management.
· Familiarity or experience with relevant programming languages, analytics tools, and other related library technology like Python, XML, SQL/MySQL, Alma Analytics, JavaScript, and/or HTML/CSS.
· Familiarity or experience with user experience and graphic design principles.
· Previous supervisory experience.
Conditions of Employment:
The person offered this position is required to pass a background check.
Application Process:
A completed application will consist of:
· Cover letter in which you describe your interest in the position, relevant experience, and how you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications;
· A Student Success Statement (up to 2 pages, single-spaced) about your teaching or other experiences, successes, and challenges in working with a diverse student population. Please address at least two of the inclusive excellence criteria listed above;
· Curriculum vitae.
Finalists for the position will:
· be required to provide official transcripts for highest degree before the on-campus interview;
· be required to provide three letters of reference;
· be required to give a presentation on a relevant topic related to the position.
The position is open until filled. First consideration will be given to completed applications received no later than February 12, 2023.
How to Apply
Please direct inquiries to Paul Hottinger; Search Committee Chair; at [email protected]
Applications are accepted only via PageUp—an online application portal—for University hires.