Emerging Technologies & Systems Librarian

Bridgewater State University’s Library Services is located in the Clement C. Maxwell Library and is open an average of 94 hours each week during the academic year. It is a busy, dynamic place with classrooms, academic and administrative offices throughout the building. The library serves all BSU students, faculty, staff, and researchers from across the country and world.

Library Services is dedicated to meeting the needs of its communities, to updating its service models as pedagogies and librarianship evolve, to renewing the knowledge and skills of librarians and staff as practices change, to deploying new technologies to improve interactions with library users and to enhance user experiences.

Library Services seeks an innovative, creative and service-oriented professional for the position of Emerging Technologies & Systems Librarian. This is a tenure-track librarian position reporting to the Director of Library Services. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with others to identify, develop, deploy, and manage new and existing technologies (hardware, software, virtual and cloud-based) to support library services, teaching and learning, and research.

This position:

• Administers and maintains the integrated library system (currently Koha), electronic resources access, and discovery platforms. Troubleshoots issues that may arise with these tools.

• Provides technical expertise, day-to-day administration, and broad support for traditional and emerging library hardware and software solutions and standards, including but not limited to IoT and SaaS. 

• Manages library systems and platforms and their performances, often in conjunction with the university’s IT division. Serves as liaison between Library Services and Information Technology. 

• Serves as point of contact to library systems and emerging technology vendors. 

• Administers Springshare platform and tools, including library website, in collaboration with the Digital Services Librarian. 

• Adapts and/or adopts technologies in support of evolving library reference, instruction, and access services models. 

• Works collaboratively with others, both within the library and across campus, on systems-related, technology-related, and digitally-based services and projects. 

• Provides written reports, assessments, analyses, and documentation as needed and upon request.

• Understands, reports, and responds to library systems-related needs across library units.

• Advises, trains, and teaches staff, faculty, and students in new library technologies.

• Provides library systems support to library colleagues.

• Serves as liaison to academic departments.

• Participates in library and campus committees as appropriate.

• Participates in responsibilities for library policy decisions and project planning through committee and work group assignments.

• Contributes to the profession and maintains professional knowledge through participation in appropriate state, regional and national library (and related) organizations.

• Stays current with developments in library and educational technologies; stays current with developments in librarianship and higher education generally.

• Master’s degree in Library or Information Science from an ALA-accredited institution. 

• Relevant experience in an academic, large public, or special library, or in a related field.

• Demonstrated experience using a wide variety of platforms, applications, hardware, and software.

• Experience with web-scale discovery layers and metasearch technologies.

• Experience managing EZProxy or another client-based server; understanding of networking, including cloud-based technology.

• Experience with Koha or other integrated library management system.

• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.

• Strong analytical skills and knowledge of various research methodologies.

• Ability to work effectively in a team setting and independently in a changing work environment.

• Broad familiarity with library operations, procedures, and best practices, especially but not exclusively in relation to systems and technology issues.

• Evidence of ability to successfully engage in professional activities and disciplinary scholarship to satisfy promotion and tenure requirements of the Massachusetts State College Association (MSCA) contract. http://mscaunion.org/contract/.

• Second Master’s degree in a related discipline (second master’s degree required for promotion beyond Associate Librarian rank).

• Programming experience including but not limited to HTML, XML, CSS, and Javascript.

• At least two years relevant experience in an academic or research library.

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.

• Demonstrated commitment to supporting a diverse educational and work environment, working effectively with a diverse faculty and student population.

Please be aware that employment at Bridgewater State University is contingent upon completion of a successful background check.

Bridgewater State University (BSU) is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer which actively seeks to increase the diversity of its workforce. We are dedicated to providing educational, working and living environments that value the diverse backgrounds of all people.