Collection Assessment and Development Librarian, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Worcester, MA
Posted December 5, 2023
The George C. Gordon Library at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is seeking candidates for a position leading collection development for a community of 7000 undergraduate and graduate students and over 500 research and teaching faculty, supporting a uniquely interdisciplinary STEM-focused curriculum and growing purpose-driven research programs and initiatives.
This position will join the Scholarly Communication and Open Strategies department, a team committed to collaborative, user-centered, and progressive directions in managing a deep portfolio of digital resources and developing modern and effective print and shared print collection strategies. To view the full description or apply, please visit WPI’s career site.
Job Description: Provides leadership in the assessment, title selection, and licensing of digital and print resources by formulating, articulating, and managing policies and procedures to develop, shape and balance the Library’s collections to support learning, teaching, and research.
1. Lead and manage collections assessment and development:
• Analyze institutional data, bibliographic data, usage statistics, interlibrary loan data, and other metrics.
• Utilize collection development and assessment tools, such as Alma Analytics, Greenglass, Gold Rush, etc.
• Establish and monitors title selection plans, such as PDA (Patron Driven
• Acquisitions), DDA (Demand-Driven Acquisitions), etc.
• Monitor pricing and usage of ejournal packages and databases.
• Respond to requests for information resources made by faculty, students and staff.
2. Oversee collection management procedures and activities:
• Implement and utilize title selection and acquisition tools and software.
• Select and deselect information resources for the general collection, based on current and proposed academic curricula.
• Manage and participate in the library’s resource acquisitions workflow, including ordering and receiving items and processing invoices.
• Document and train others as needed in use of vendor and library systems to acquire or deselect information resources.
3. Develop planning and budgetary recommendations for the library’s collections:
• Allocate and expend the budget in the Alma library management system and Workday.
• Monitor and ensure efficient expenditure of the budget in consultation with the University Librarian, Associate Library Director, and others.
4. Negotiate pricing and licensing terms for library e-resources:
• Maintain working relationships with library vendors, publishers, and consortia to obtain best possible pricing and terms of use.
• Administer digital licensing procedures and renewals in the Alma library management system.
• Coordinate electronic resource trials.
• Monitor trends in the broader library resources community and scholarly publishing sphere, such as Open Access.
5. Administer the Library’s gift in kind program for materials:
• Identify and pursue potential gift opportunities.
• Select donations for the collection and send unwanted donations to appropriate vendors or organizations for resale, archiving or recycling.
• Refer archival and special collections gift and donation offers to the University Archivist.
6. Collaborate with library Research and Instruction team and other library colleagues regularly to ensure WPI community is receiving appropriate level of support for their academic work:
• Meet regularly to discuss the library resource needs of faculty, students, and other library users.
• Participate in gathering and analyzing community feedback from surveys, interviews, focus groups.
7. Ensure institutional compliance with accreditation and external agencies:
• Provides data for reports and analyses related to collections development and
maintenance as required by university offices and external agencies, including
ACRL (Association of College & Research Libraries), IPEDs (Integrated
Postsecondary Education Data Systems) and accreditation bodies.
8. Participate in Library, professional, and community engagement:
• Participate in providing direct services to library users and customers, or providing informed referrals.
• Participate in collaborative library programs and activities including outreach events, strategic and annual planning, and collaborations with university community offices and student groups.
• Participate in and contribute to WPI committees, initiatives, and goals contributing to WPI and library strategic initiatives.
• Engage in and contribute to the profession through continuing learning, service, research, presentations, or professional communications.
Required qualifications and experience:
• Master’s degree in Library and Information Science.
• Minimum of three years of experience in academic library collection development and assessment.
• Knowledge of current issues and trends in library collections development, information delivery and access, electronic and digital resources and related copyright and licensing issues.
• Familiarity with current print and electronic acquisitions trends, as well as academic library metadata practices.
• Demonstrated operational experience with an online library management system.
• Evidence of strong skills in:
o decision making
o problem solving
o independent action
o communication and collaboration, including written and oral communications
o analytical and critical thinking
o project/program or service management
o general office technical skills
Preferred qualifications and experience:
• ExLibris Alma Library Management certified administrator.
• Background in the STEM fields through education or prior work experience.
Salary: Anticipated hiring range: $68,000-$74,000; salary will be based on qualifications and experience.
Location: Worcester, MA (some remote work possible)
To apply, please visit: https://wpi.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/WPI_External_Career_Site/job/Collection-Assessment—Development-Librarian_R0002561