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DISCOVERY & USER EXPERIENCE LIBRARIAN, Indiana University Libraries, (Bloomington, IN)

Posted July 18, 2024

Indiana University Libraries seeks a forward-thinking and collaborative Discovery & User Experience Librarian to join its Discovery and User Experience department (DUX) to lead efforts to ensure the effective functioning of Indiana University’s collections discovery interfaces through a focus on user experience.

At the IU Libraries, we are committed to facilitating the discovery of our collections through improving and enhancing tools such as IUCAT, Indiana University’s online catalog; Bento, the library website federated search tool; and OneSearch@IU, another discovery interface that enables a single search across citation data from thousands of publishers as well as IU’s local collections. The implementation and development of these discovery interfaces are part of an overall effort to unify our web presence and present the IU Libraries’ collections, services, and resources to enable a more holistic approach to supporting teaching, learning, and research in the IU community.

The work of this position primarily serves the Bloomington campus, but activities and responsibilities also benefit IU Libraries statewide. Working in a collaborative team environment, the position will participate in library-wide efforts to optimize the operation of a suite of discovery and retrieval systems designed to help expose the IU Libraries’ investment in collections and leveraging relevant technologies to provide user-centric services for information access and discovery.

This position will also oversee various projects from initiation to completion. Through their leadership of the multicampus Discovery Layer Advisory Group (DLAG), they establish development priorities for IUCAT in cooperation with the University Information Technology Services (UITS) Enterprise Library Systems (ELS) team.  They also coordinate with DUX colleagues, other library staff, and the ELS team on Bento’s development priorities. Through user testing, they identify unmet needs for discovery and research tools and collaborate on possible solutions. They also collaborate with library public services staff within DUX and other departments to create documentation for end users and library staff and to develop and assist with staff training for discovery applications and systems.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Support the discovery of library resources through the online catalog and other discovery interfaces
  • Collaborating closely with library and UITS staff as appropriate, assist with maintenance and management of the library catalog discovery interface, and oversee the management of OneSearch@IU, the Bloomington libraries’ web-scale discovery interface, currently based on EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS).
  • Maintain awareness of enhancements and changes to interfaces and configurations of systems.
  • Work across library departments to plan, coordinate, facilitate, and accomplish projects that improve and enhance discovery services.
  • Lead the department in an ongoing review of products and local quality assurance activities to constantly improve the user experience.
  • Focus on building better relationships between resources aligning with the broader context of the IU Libraries’ discovery strategy.
  • Document recommendations and decisions made by existing library groups, task forces, and departments to configure discovery interfaces.
  • Create documentation for discovery systems suitable for end-users and library staff statewide and develop and present training for discovery applications and systems.
  • Serve as liaison between software engineers, internal customers, and end-users, working with software engineers to solve problems, resolve “bugs,” and communicate with library staff about fixes and workarounds.
  • Participate in an ongoing review of website content and functionality and local quality assurance activities to constantly improve the user experience.
  • Identify concrete objectives for IU Libraries’ discovery resources and plan methods for evaluating their effectiveness.
  • Collaborate with the User Experience Designer to identify research needs of internal and external users, gather and analyze feedback, and interpret user feedback to recommend changes that will better meet user needs.
  • Maintain connections with users of the library website and with library public services staff by providing reference services to all levels of library users
  • Work effectively in a collegial, multi-disciplinary team environment to explore and promote the application of new technologies
  • Contribute to IU Libraries’ participation in consortium and open-source efforts such as the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) and Blacklight
  • Engage in professional development opportunities–memberships, conferences, training, and certification–to stay current on new programs, standards, and developments in the field
  • Promote the Libraries’ culture of diversity and inclusion and support the values outlined in the IU Libraries’ Diversity Strategic Plan (https://libraries.indiana.edu/libraries-diversity-resources). 

QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants are encouraged to think broadly and communicate how their skills and experiences transfer to the qualifications in ways that may not be obvious.

Required

  • ALA-accredited graduate degree in library or information science; candidates with an advanced degree in a relevant subject area and appropriate experience in an academic setting will also be considered.
  • Experience working with and assisting library users in finding information (preferably both face-to-face and remotely) in an academic library setting
  • Basic knowledge of MARC
  • Experience with one or more library enterprise systems such as library management systems (e.g., Symphony, Alma, FOLIO) and discovery interfaces (e.g., EBSCO Discovery Service, Summon, Primo, Blacklight, VuFind)
  • Familiarity with the theory and practice of usability testing and information architecture.
  • Demonstrated ability to discuss technical information with users, discern their needs, and collaboratively develop programs, systems, and screens that meet those needs
  • Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills
  • Demonstrated ability to work as a member of a team
  • Demonstrated ability to work with a diverse community and communicate with users at all levels of technical expertise; ability to communicate technical and complex information to non-technical users
  • Strong customer service attitude as well as a positive, proactive approach to problem-solving
  • Commitment to understanding and valuing diversity and the importance of inclusion as demonstrated through a commitment to apply and incorporate the differences, complexities, and opportunities that diversity brings to an organization
  • Ability to meet the requirements of a tenure-track position at the IU Libraries (https://libraries.indiana.edu/bloomington-library-faculty#panel-about)

Preferred

Candidates do not need to meet all preferred qualifications to be considered for this position.

  • Teaching experience and experience working with discovery systems
  • Previous experience working in an academic library setting
  • Project management experience
  • Knowledge of website design, development, implementation, standards, and accessibility and usability guidelines
  • Experience with search/indexing technologies (e.g., Solr, Elasticsearch) and learning management systems (e.g., Canvas, Blackboard)

TO APPLY

Review of applications will begin immediately. Applications received by August 28, 2024 will receive full consideration, but the search will remain open until filled. Interested candidates should review the application requirements and submit their application at https://indiana.peopleadmin.com. Questions regarding the position or application process can be directed to: Jennifer Chaffin, Director of Human Resources, Libraries Human Resources, Herman B Wells Library 205, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405 – Phone: 812-855-8196 – Fax: 812-855- 2576 – Email: [email protected].  Expected start date: October 1, 2024. Please note that this date is flexible.

For more information about Indiana University Bloomington, go to https://www.indiana.edu/. For information about working and living in Bloomington, Indiana: https://vpfaa.indiana.edu/work-life/index.html

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