LibraryJobline

Job Description

Digital Services Coordinator – Will You Join Us? Deeper within this position advertisement, you’ll find the formal “institutional” language describing this position’s responsibilities and the required/preferred qualifications. But what are we really expecting of this position? The Next-Generation Colorado Virtual Library is a vision. It represents an exciting opportunity to intuitively integrate valuable Colorado resources and systems in a way that makes them easily discoverable and useful. The challenge is broad in scale: how to deliver an online experience that provides tangible benefits for K-12 students, students in higher education settings, and Colorado residents of all ages, hungry for information to feed their lifelong learning needs. The kinds of Colorado-focused sources and Colorado services to make available for through a Next-Gen CVL could range from: - Information about libraries themselves - Resources held by libraries (discoverable through various library systems) - Digital resources available through libraries (collections, repositories, hidden web “stuff”) - Primary source content (in libraries and beyond) - Other sources and online services (the catch-all) Realizing this vision will require collaboration and the will of our unified library community. A variety of stakeholders will inform the development of a Next-Generation CVL product. We are not looking to compete with Google or pre-existing library services, but instead create an online experience that borrows from the best practices of ALL types of online services, from niche social networking sites to the broadest discovery tools. The result: an enhanced online library experience uniquely Coloradan. We need someone with diverse skills, including the ability to seamlessly transition between the nitty gritty and the big picture. This is the Digital Services Coordinator position. The person hired for this position will: - During a transitional time for libraries, lead the development and establishment of an engaging Next-Generation Colorado Virtual Library. - Draw connections within a spectrum of user needs and envision the structure of an integrated web presence that addresses a majority of those needs. - Work with a group of like-minded library enthusiasts in an innovative environment. - Flex her/his project management and creative muscles. - Fulfill a vision for effecting high-impact service throughout a state primed and hungry for point-of-need resources. - Communicate by email, phone, chat, text message, web conference, blog, snail mail, telepathy and emerging technologies. - Enjoy herding cats, cajoling others to collaborate, and facilitating project teams. This position offers fantastic leadership opportunities and experiences. - Work on a shoestring budget and occasionally encounter government bureaucracy. However, with a supportive set of colleagues and pre-established paths of least resistance, this work IS possible (and actually mandated by state statute). Here are the kinds of things we’ll be looking for in strong candidate application packets: Demonstrated project management experience - Tangible evidence of strategies and processes used Experience providing high-value public and client service - Examples of direct or front-line service provided in various modes (live, online, in-person, other) - Examples of clients / users served, including organizations - Evidence of roles played in such public service settings Nimble ability to communicate in various settings with diverse groups, from end users to administrators - Tangible examples of situations where consensus building occurred - Practical examples of meetings facilitated, with strategies and outcomes Consistent work experience with information systems and web-based systems during the past five years - Examples of work involving such systems - Evidence of roles played involving such systems General experience with technology, including web, mobile, other - Tangible examples of technologies mastered - Tangible examples of technologies explored - Tangible examples of technologies desired to master or explore, but not yet tackled due to constraints in the time/space continuum of your life A portfolio of technology development and production work - Tangible examples of projects completed - Examples of web sites and systems developed and completed (with role played in that process) - Examples of development work planned, started and not-yet completed Specific technology expertise and skills - Demonstrated knowledge of HTML & CSS - Library ILS and library resource discovery systems or resource sharing systems - Content management systems - Information data structures, metadata standards in the library industry or related industry - Interest in digitization and digitization best practices Yes, this is a lot to ask. We don’t expect candidates will have experience with every single element—that’s unrealistic. What we DO want to see are candidates with good experience, even deep experience in one or more areas AND a demonstrated capacity for learning, exploring and doing. If you’ve become stunted in your growth as a professional and don’t have much interest in tackling new challenges, this probably isn’t the job for you. But if you’re the type of library enthusiast excited about the potential beyond Library 3.0 technologies and services, this may be a good fit for you. If you should decide to apply (we sincerely hope you’ll consider throwing your hat in the ring!), don’t hold back on detail. If you try to summarize everything you’ve accomplished in your career to date in just one or two pages, it only reduces your chances of catching our attention. If you have a portfolio, please share it, but do so thoughtfully and professionally; a generic e-mail message with a list of URLs probably won't suffice as a portfolio and won’t generate much buzz with us. Bottom line: if this is a position that sounds intriguing to you, has you dreaming (perhaps salivating?) and feels like such a great fit for where you want to evolve your career, share that excitement with us in your application packet. Here is some background and context for the position, along with links to explore: The current Colorado Virtual Library can be found at http://www.coloradovirtuallibrary.org/ where you will find links to a variety of services managed, operated or hosted by the Networking and Resource Sharing Unit of the Colorado State Library. These include CVL (the union catalog), CVL for Kids, SWIFT (ILL), AskColorado, the Colorado Historic Newspaper Collection, Plinkit, the Library Directory and a sprinkling of others. Sites with related content that could enjoy integration with a Next-Gen CVL include the Library Jobline, resources available from a rich web site like LRS.org, State Publications resources and systems, the Colorado Talking Book Library, and the Colorado State Library web site itself. Last, but not least, there is a comprehensive landscape of Colorado library web sites and systems that can and should serve as data targets for a Next-Gen CVL. Now, for the bureaucratic side… This position is employed by the Colorado State Library, a division within the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). It reports to the Director of Networking and Resource Sharing. Formal CDE position description and related information links below... Please visit the formal position posting at http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdemgmt/download/9055-SrConsultant.pdf While the application procedure itself is outlined in the formal position posted by our HR department, here’s the “Cliffs Notes” version: You will need to submit a CDE Employment Application form along with your letter and accompanying material to the HR department. Bring your best!

HR Info

Formal application procedure and posting at: http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdemgmt/HR/jobs.htm and http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdemgmt/download/9055-SrConsultant.pdf