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Job Description

Cataloging and Discovery Librarian (Assistant Professor)

Murphy Library at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse seeks an innovative and collaborative librarian to lead the library’s cataloging operations and discovery service. As the Cataloging and Discovery Librarian, you will provide direction, vision, and expertise in the cataloging of library materials, enhance the discoverability of library collections, and contribute to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in the library catalog through metadata projects. This position serves as the UWL campus contact with the UW Shared Library System. As a member of the Library Department, you will also have the opportunity to participate in reference services and information literacy instruction. This is a 9-month, tenure-track faculty position in an environment that supports and encourages librarianship, scholarship, and service. 

Responsibilities Include:

• Engage in an active program of scholarship and professional and community service as outlined in the University’s Faculty Handbook and the Library’s Departmental Guidelines. 
• Serve on Murphy Library, university, UW System, and professional committees as elected or appointed. 
• Participate in information literacy instruction activities. 
• Participate in reference services, including occasional evening and weekend desk shifts. 
• Follow current national standards and best practices as well as those specific to the University of Wisconsin System and UW-La Crosse. 
• Generate reports to assist the library in data-driven decision making, external reporting, and data cleanup.
• Represent UWL as the Campus Contact within the UW Shared Library System.
• Partner with other library units to evaluate and refine workflows for metadata creation and discovery.
• Monitor and maintain integrity of information discovery within the shared library system.
• Supervise staff and maintain policies for cataloging and interlibrary loan units.
• Identify, prioritize, and implement metadata projects, including bibliographic database maintenance and authority control oversight.
• Administer the Library's Ex Libris Alma/Primo VE Integrated Discovery and Library System, as well as ILLiad and EZproxy.
• Perform original and complex copy cataloging in various formats, including maps, scores, and archival materials. 

Murphy Library supports and values diversity in its faculty, staff, and students. We seek a colleague who shares the department's commitment to diversity and who will be a dedicated teacher, active scholar, and effective mentor for students with diverse backgrounds, preparation, and career goals.

Murphy Library is integral to student success at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Located in the heart of campus, the library provides a dynamic and diverse learning environment centered on the core principles of service, stewardship, information literacy and equity of access. Librarians have faculty status and are members of the library department, which is a peer-reviewed academic department. Murphy Library is administered by the library director who functions as an academic dean.

Required Qualifications: 

• Demonstrated proficiency with cataloging and metadata tools and standards
• ALA-accredited MLS/MLIS or equivalent international degree in library or information science 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Evidence of professional growth potential through publication, professional activities, or other contributions to the field 
• Experience working in a peer-governed academic department 
• Demonstrated teaching and/or reference experience
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively collaborate with faculty/staff, colleagues, and students 
• Experience collaborating with other libraries as part of a library system or consortium
• Supervisory experience
• Professional experience working in an academic library environment 
• Awareness of how commonly used controlled vocabularies negatively impact diversity, equity, and inclusion at the library
• Experience with metadata tools such as MARCEdit, OpenRefine, scripting languages, batch record processing, and metadata crosswalks
• Experience with original cataloging of maps, scores, archival materials, and special collection materials
• Alma Administrator Certification
• Experience working with an integrated library system such as Alma
• Experience working with a discovery service such as Primo

Degrees from international institutions will be accepted under the following conditions:

• The degree has been evaluated at the candidate’s expense by a U.S. credentialing service recommended by the ALA and received by the Search & Screen chair by August 31, 2021.

Salary and Rank: Competitive salary for a full-time, 9-month tenure track position at the rank of Assistant Professor. Partial summer contracts may also be available.

Earliest Starting Date: December 6, 2021.

First consideration will be given to applications received by August 31, 2021.

Note: Electronic submission of application materials is required. For additional information about this position and to apply, please visit https://employment.uwlax.edu

Please contact the Search and Screen Chair if you have a special need/accommodation to aid your participation in our hiring process.

The Community

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UW–La Crosse) provides a challenging, dynamic, and diverse learning environment in which the entire university community is fully engaged in supporting student success. Grounded in the liberal arts, UW-La Crosse fosters curiosity and life-long learning through collaboration, innovation, and the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge. Acknowledging and respecting the contributions of all, UW-La Crosse is a regional academic and cultural center that prepares students to take their place in a constantly changing world community.

UW-La Crosse's diversity and inclusion efforts are guided by our adherence to Inclusive Excellence.  We define Inclusive Excellence as “... our active, intentional and ongoing commitment to bridge differences with understanding and respect so all can thrive."   The goals of Inclusive Excellence are to increase the retention of diverse faculty, staff and students while encouraging a campus climate that is inviting and welcoming to all.   UW-La Crosse strives to promote acceptance of all facets of diversity from racial/ethnic diversity to diversity of thought and experience.  UW-La Crosse ranks 6th nationally among the Top LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges for 2018-19 by AffordableCollegesOnline.org (ACO).

For more than a decade UW-La Crosse has been named one of Kiplinger’s 100 Best Values in Public Universities and has appeared prominently on the U.S. News & World Report list of “America’s Best Colleges” for more than 15 years, and is ranked #4 on its list of the Best Regional Public Universities in the Midwest.  

With a student population of roughly 10,500, the university offers 102 undergraduate programs, 30 graduate programs, and 2 doctoral programs in the following colleges: Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities; Science and Health; and Business Administration. Additionally, the university includes the School of Visual and Performing Arts and the School of Education, Professional and Continuing Education.  There are over 600 full-time faculty and instructional academic staff, 75 percent of whom hold terminal degrees.  UW-La Crosse boasts a retention rate (freshmen returning as sophomores) of 83 percent, graduation rate (degree within six years) of 70 percent, and is among only 12 institutions cited nationally by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities for its success in linking campus culture and university leadership to outstanding graduation rates. 

UW-La Crosse’s strategic plan Sustaining Excellence continues to move our community forward through its four pillars: increasing community engagement, achieving excellence through equity and diversity, investing in our people, and advancing transformational education. More information about the ongoing work of Sustaining Excellence is available at www.uwlax.edu/info/strategic-plan.

The UW-La Crosse campus is nestled in a residential area of the City of La Crosse (pop. 52,000) located in western Wisconsin.  The area, known as the 7 Rivers Region, is famous for its exceptional natural beauty which includes the Mississippi River on one side, majestic bluffs on the other, and views of rolling farmland and forested valleys in between.  Abundant water, woodlands and varying terrain provide ample opportunities for year-round outdoor recreation.  Only a couple of hours from Minneapolis or Madison, La Crosse enjoys the affordability and charm of small town living with larger city benefits.  Three colleges, two world-class medical institutions, the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, a restored nineteenth century downtown business district, and a number of galleries and art centers have made La Crosse a regional center for culture, entertainment, medical care, shopping, sports and recreation. 

UW-La Crosse is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.  We strive to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool, and we encourage applications from persons with varied backgrounds and perspectives.  In support of the Wisconsin Veteran Employment Initiative we encourage veterans and veterans with disabilities to explore employment opportunities at UW-La Crosse. 

As a prospective UW-La Crosse employee, you have a right to obtain a copy of campus safety and security information (Clery Act) for this institution. You may review this information at http://www.uwlax.edu/Police/Annual-Security-Report/.

Employment will require a criminal background check. It will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment. A pending criminal charge or conviction will not necessarily disqualify an applicant. In compliance with the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act, UW-La Crosse does not discriminate on the basis of arrest or conviction record.