Electronic Resources Librarian, Boston University, Boston, MA

Posted October 6, 2023

Description:

The Boston University Libraries seek an experienced, forward-thinking, and creative professional to oversee the acquisition, licensing, maintenance, and assessment of the library’s electronic resources, including e-books, journals, databases, and other digital materials. The Electronic Resources Librarian works collaboratively with other librarians and university staff to promote the library’s online resources from acquisition to discovery and delivery. The individual in this role will have a strong understanding of the full cycle of electronic resources management as well as experience in vendor communication, and in the development and use of evaluative criteria to support licensing and renewal. Reporting to the Head of Technical Services, the Electronic Resources Librarian will have primary responsibility for coordinating the sourcing, licensing, purchasing, and renewal of electronic resources working in close collaboration with subject librarians and consortia partners.

This position is critical to the effective operation of the Boston University Libraries and represents an opportunity to rethink and realign workflows and electronic resources management. This librarian in this position performs original and complex copy cataloging for all resource formats, including print, digital, and electronic.

The Electronic Resources Librarian will:

Advance and implement the library’s approach to acquiring and licensing of scholarly electronic resources (i.e., e-books, journals, databases, and other digital materials), ensuring alignment with university practices for procurement and working within budgetary constraints.
Coordinate the selection, evaluation, and negotiation of electronic resource subscriptions and licenses in collaboration with subject specialists and library liaisons.
Collaborate with library staff to support reliable access to electronic resources through the library’s discovery systems, which include the catalog and the library web site. Troubleshoot access issues and work with vendors and technical staff to resolve problems promptly.
Provide leadership and expertise in the management of electronic resources configuration for Alma, Primo, EZProxy, and other ERM-related applications.
Provide expert assistance to library colleagues who prepare and deliver support to users for electronic resources, including techniques for database searching.
In collaboration with subject librarians and other library units, support electronic collection development by creating and analyzing usage reports.
Monitor trends and developments in scholarly electronic resources and recommend acquisitions and cancellations based on user needs, usage data, and budget considerations, and other relevant criteria.
Collaborate with and represent the BU Libraries to library consortia, vendors, and other institutions to leverage shared resources, negotiate consortium agreements, and stay informed about emerging trends in electronic resource management.
Stay abreast of best practices, emerging technologies, and evolving standards in electronic resource management – including open access and open educational resources, data ethics, copyright law, and publishing systems – through professional development activities, conferences, and engagement with relevant professional organizations.
Participate in library committees, working groups, and projects.

Required Skills:

Master’s degree in library and information science or related field.
3-5 years of experience in electronic resources management.
Strong understanding of scholarly electronic resources, including online journals, databases, and e-books.
Experience in license review and vendor negotiation.
Experience with or working knowledge of relevant standards, initiatives, tools, and services, such as COUNTER, SUSHI, OpenURL resolvers, and proxy servers such as EZProxy and SSO.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

Demonstrated ability to collect, analyze, and provide meaningful interpretation of electronic resource usage statistics in support of collection development.
Experience using Ex Libris’ Alma and Primo applications.

For consideration, please submit a cover letter, CV, and list of professional references. Applications received by October 30, 2023, will receive priority consideration. This position will remain open until filled.

Working at Boston University Libraries

Boston University Libraries is a learning organization that supports BU librarians, archivists, and information and subject specialists seeking and sharing knowledge, practices, and perspectives that advance library collections and services, and their own professional development and growth. In a collaborative, supportive, and engaging work environment, BU Libraries expert staff assist multidisciplinary research and exploration, build distinctive collections and archives of enduring research value, and empower users to thrive amid an ever-changing information environment.

Recognizing the central role the library system plays in its robust research and learning agendas, Boston University has made the BU Libraries a focal point of its BU2030 Strategic Plan, investing in core services, innovative programs, and plans for significant renovations of its central branch.

The BU Libraries are at the heart of BU’s vibrant academic experience, serving as a community connector, provider of vital research and instructional services for faculty and students, and the access point to a wealth of timely scholarly resources.

Located in the heart of Boston, the BU Libraries are embedded in numerous vibrant regional and national library and information specialist networks. The BU Libraries are active members within the Boston Library Consortium, the Association of Research Libraries, and the Coalition for Networked Information, and library staff at BU serve as engaged thought-leaders on a wide breadth of library management and service areas across diverse communities. Through the Libraries, BU also is a member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI), the Northeast Research Libraries Consortium (NERL), HathiTrust, the Boston Library Consortium (BLC), the Eastern Academic Scholars’ Trust (EAST), the OCLC Research Library Partnership, the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC), and the Higher Education Leadership Initiative for Open Scholarship (HELIOS).

Boston University, a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), is one of the leading private research and teaching institutions in the world, with three primary campuses in the heart of Boston and programs around the globe. Chartered in 1869, the University is home to more than 33,000 students from more than 130 countries, 375,000 living alumni, 10,000 faculty and staff, and 17 schools and colleges.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.