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Job Description

Digital User Experience Librarian | [460030)]

Job Summary

Position Level

• Library Faculty (academic faculty; non-tenure track)
• Starting level: Assistant Librarian or Associate Librarian, commensurate with skills, experience, and record of scholarship and service

Position Summary
 

The Digital User Experience Librarian provides cross-functional, collaborative leadership for the design, development, implementation, documentation, establishment of policies, assessment, and maintenance of user interfaces in support of all departments of the Library. Responsible for the overall information architecture of the Library’s multiple platforms and systems, this librarian ensures a fully integrated information environment that optimally supports and advances the mission of the Library and the University. Serving as a key member of the Library’s Technology & Systems section, the Digital User Experience Librarian works closely with the Systems Discovery Librarian to ensure systems integrate seamlessly with one another to support the effective storage, retrieval, and access to library resources. This faculty member performs scholarship and is involved in professional development, activities, and service to Colorado School of Mines and the wider profession.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

A.    Professional Responsibilities (Essential – 80%)
 

Digital User Experience: Lead Researcher and Designer

• Conduct systematic UX research and usability testing to ensure library websites and platforms contribute to a signature student experience.       Maintain a continuous improvement cycle to address issues and enhancements for digital platforms and service points.
• Validate content, design, and information architecture of library websites to ensure continuity and ease of access between collections and services.
• Collect and analyze usage data across library systems, including vendor-supplied statistics and cross-domain web analytics, to inform development and project planning.
• Follow UX design processes, standards, and best practices. Produces design artifacts to structure communication and decision making.
• Via usability testing and other protocols, ensure that the Library websites meet and exceed requirements for usability and accessibility.
• Lead the Library’s Digital User Experience working group to engage librarians from multiple areas in UX research, design, and decision making.
• Keep current with trends and standards for DUX design to inform further research, planning and development.

Web Services

• Serve as lead developer for the library website.
• Apply campus and industry standards for digital design, branding, and content strategy to digital library platforms.
• Responsible for content development and maintenance of the Library website in close collaboration with the Systems Discovery Librarian, the Library’s Digital DUX Team, the Research Team, and the University Web Support Team.
• Consult with, assist, train, and develop procedures as needed for library faculty and staff to create and maintain web pages and sections as appropriate. Recommend appropriate platforms, channels, and solutions to support library initiatives.
• Evaluate, recommend, develop, and implement new website content and web systems functionality.
• Keep current with trends and standards for web application development and digital user experience to inform ongoing development and planning.

Systems Administration

• Serve as product administrator of key platforms supporting content delivery, digital services, and systems integration.
  • Coordinates with vendors and library stakeholders to keep digital platforms current and optimized for use in teaching and research.
  • Documents and administers integration points between both library and enterprise systems.
  • Maintains project backlog incorporating vendor development roadmaps, known issues, and future enhancements.
• Ensure that library platforms, systems, and applications are functional, current, and optimized to perform as an integrated information environment.
  • Oversee the conceptualization, design, project management, active development, configuration, assessment, documentation, and maintenance of the overall architecture of the Library’s multiple platforms and systems.
  • Implement systems-level enhancements, automation processes, and core systems integrations.
  • Develop, execute, monitor, and assess a long-term strategic technological infrastructure plan that accounts for library trends and incorporates growing or changing Library requirements, to ensure a leading-edge standard of service.
  • Collaborate closely with the Systems Discovery Librarian to ensure the Library’s underlying systems architecture functions to optimally support the storage, discovery, and retrieval of information.
  • Conduct business analysis to identify objectives and requirements for the Library’s systems architecture plan.
  • Formulate and recommend policies and procedures for use of library platforms and recommend changes where appropriate.
  • Ensure that library systems software is properly licensed and documented.

B.     Scholarship (10%)

Engage in and disseminate the output of scholarly research that advances library and information science. 

C.     Service (10%)

Participate as an active member of the Mines library faculty, serving on Library and university committees. Interact with the professional community on a regional, state, national and/or international level, both formally and informally.

Additional responsibilities

• Performs other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

Experience

• Demonstrated experience with web design and management focused on user-centered design and accessibility
• Demonstrated experience with web authoring languages, content management frameworks, and design systems (e.g., HTML, CSS, WordPress, etc.)
• Demonstrated experience with scripting and programming languages (e.g., APIs, PHP, JavaScript, Python, etc.)

Education

• Master’s degree in Library and Information Science. Alternate educational qualifications such as an undergraduate or graduate degree in a relevant field may be considered in conjunction with requisite experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Experience working in an academic library environment
• Knowledge of database fundamentals (e.g., SQL, etc.)
• Demonstrated experience in library systems administration and current library technologies (e.g., library services platforms, link resolvers, proxy servers, VPNs, etc.)
• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) degree and/or professional experience

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent communication skills
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Ability to work well in a wide range of project environments from independent initiatives to collaborative committee undertakings
• Ability to learn new technical skills quickly and independently, adapting to changing environments
• Ability to work in multiple operating systems environments
• Ability to research issues, troubleshoot and solve problems

JOB DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Physical Requirements:                              

• Commensurate with typical office environment

Potential Environmental Conditions/Hazards:

• Commensurate with typical office environment
  

Colorado School of Mines is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to achieving excellence and strength through diversity. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance requires Colorado School of Mines to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations. The School of Mines enforces a drug-free workplace. Successful applicants may be required to submit to drug testing. Applicants must pass a criminal background check in order to be eligible for employment.

Benefits & Additional Compensation Info

Mines is proud to provide exceptional benefits that include pay, health & wellness and work/life balance offerings.  Our portfolio of benefits includes medical, dental, vision, disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, and retirement savings plans. Additionally, Mines employees are eligible for tuition benefits (for employees and dependents), generous paid holidays and leaves and discount programs.  For more information, visit Mines benefits.

Additional Info & Requirements

The Community

The Arthur Lakes Library of the Colorado School of Mines (Mines) invites applications for the position of Digital User Experience Librarian. We are seeking collaborative, passionate, and innovative candidates to provide leadership in advancing digital user experience projects, web services, and systems administration that will enhance and improve with Library’s digital presence. This person provides cross-functional, collaborative leadership for the design, development, implementation, documentation, establishment of policies, assessment, and maintenance of user interfaces in support of all departments of the Library. Working in a highly collaborative, small team environment, the candidate’s leadership responsibilities will intersect with many of the Library’s key strategic initiatives. This academic faculty member (full-time, non-tenure track) engages in scholarship and is involved in professional development, activities, and service to Colorado School of Mines and the wider profession. Come join our team at the heart of a world-class STEM research institution!

Mines is consistently ranked among the top engineering colleges in the United States and ranks number one as the best public school in the state for best value colleges. Mines is located in the heart of Golden, Colorado, a western suburb of Denver.  The campus location offers a small-town ambiance with close proximity to all that the Denver metropolitan area has to offer with an abundance of cultural events, museums, theaters and sporting venues. A sunny, high-altitude climate with outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities make the Denver area an ideal place to live, work and play. We seek individuals who value a diverse and inclusive community – offering different perspectives, experiences, and cultures that enrich the educational and work experience. 

Please apply by 02/13/2023 for full consideration.

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