IT Specialist for DTS Libraries

Job Summary

The IT Specialist (IT Spec) is responsible for managing and supporting information technology products and services used by DTS Libraries. The IT Spec also designs, develops, and maintains software applications for the libraries.

Some Abbreviations

DTS = Dallas Theological Seminary

WMS = OCLC WorldShare Management Systems, a SaaS product that enables library functions including acquisitions, cataloging, circulation, discovery, etc.

Mosaic/GOBI = the main print book and ebook ordering system we use

PSL = Public Services Librarian

Duties/Responsibilities

• Evaluate, recommend, implement, support and maintain technology products and services used by the libraries. Document key configuration choices and processes.
• Serve as lead contact with DTS IT and with various technology vendors. (Most systems used by the libraries are vendor-hosted. DTS IT is responsible for DTS servers, network services, authentication, and staff computers.) The IT Spec deals with library-specific products).
• Configure, support and maintain WMS, EZProxy, and databases from many vendors and publishers. Configuration of WMS is a special case. The IT Spec makes most configuration changes to WMS. However, the PSL maintains the calendar (among other things), and Metadata Services Librarian maintains holdings locations (among other things). The IT Spec must ensure members of the team work in harmony and discuss non-trivial changes.
• Work with DTS IT to deal with security, privacy, and authentication issues. (We use Azure/SAML SSO authentication as well as WMS native authentication.)
• Work with DTS and vendors to deal with interoperability and data exchange issues. Example one: verify data extracted from Student Information System, and securely transfer that data to WMS daily. Example two: configure Mosaic/GOBI to query WMS by API so Mosaic can instantly verify our bibliographic holdings to prevent duplicate orders.
• Troubleshoot technology problems for staff and students. Solve problems if possible; otherwise report problems to campus IT or vendors as needed. Devise workarounds while waiting for vendor solutions.
• Help PSL to help students use databases. Help maintain instructional documentation about databases.
• Design and maintain the library website. Work with campus IT to configure, update, maintain and backup website infrastructure (operating system, webserver, WordPress, DBMS). Markup content using HTML and CSS. Work with library staff to create/update content.
• Design, develop, test, document, and deploy software. This might include writing javascript code for the website, writing and managing plugins and PHP functions for WordPress, and writing bash/python scripts.
• Submit an annual report. Throughout the year, generate reports based on data analytics.
• Stay current on IT, library, and educational trends.
• Perform other duties as assigned. We are small enough that staff must occasionally assist outside their specialties.

Knowledge, education and experience

• We require applicants able to design, develop, and maintain websites and simple software scripts. For examples of what we mean by "simple scripts" see Appendix below.
• We require applicants able to markup and code from scratch without AI assistance, but on the job we will allow disciplined use of AI to generate code.
• We prefer applicants with a degree in software engineering, but we are willing to consider self-taught applicants who can prove competency with a software portfolio.
• We prefer applicants with a library degree (e.g., MLS).
• We prefer applicants with a work history of successful teamwork, customer service, and vendor relations. This work history does not have to be in a library environment.
• We prefer applicants with excellent oral and written communication skills.

Physical Requirements

• Must work on Dallas campus, not remotely
• Must be able to work prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift a 30 pound box (but very rarely)

Requirements for all DTS Employees

Support the mission of the Seminary and affirm the Seven Essential Doctrinal Commitments and the Community Covenant .

APPENDIX: Examples of Some Specific Tasks:

Managing Systems

• Gather and interpret usage data. For example, tabulate use of each page of library.dts.edu website. Tabulate EZProxy logins based on user home location. Become expert with WMS analytics module.
• Keep track of major changes in software, and update staff and/or students. Update configuration options. Work with Public Services Librarian concerning changes that affect students (e.g., the switch to new eBook reader apps for DRM protected eBooks on both ProQuest and EBSCO platforms).
• Work with IT to include custom fields in data loaded into WMS. Examples are degree program, user home region, and expected year of graduation. Work with OCLC so the custom fields are reportable.
• Develop a better way to send batch email to all various groups of students (e.g., new students).
• Work with staff to evaluate SpringShare's LibGuides and deploy if approved. Evaluation requires cost benefit analysis, and benefit analysis requires documenting how much LibGuides are actually used by students at peer institutions.
• Work with staff to evaluate 1) archival repository software (supports hierarchical organization of collections) and 2) institutional repository software (supports textual documents like books and dissertations) and 3) EZProxy Analytics and 4) Discovery Web Analytics. Base evaluation on cost benefit analysis as for LibGuides.
• With staff, explore ways AI might be useful in the library, and describe library AI products. Study how seminary students are using AI for searching, researching, and writing. Assess quality of AI translation from English into Chinese, Spanish and Arabic. Investigate legal issues related to translation of copyrighted materials. Assess AI products made for pastors.

Website

Design, develop, and deploy a new version of the library.dts.edu website, using WordPress.

1. Working with all library staff, explore what information and links should be included in the new website.
2. Working with Director and Public Services Librarian (D&PSL), generate a list of all pages to be included in the new website, along with website organization and menu hierarchies. List a minimum number of pages to be translated and adapted for Chinese, Spanish and Arabic language students.
3. Working with D&PSL, specify overall page layout. Specify menu appearance and behavior. Specify colors and fonts.Use fluid layout techniques to minimize media queries and accommodate everything from phones to large monitors. Define and use sitewide styles as much as possible.
4. Create template for typical page and home page. Using template, create test page with subheadings, rows, columns, images, tables, bullet lists, etc. Using template, create home page. Test test-page and home-page. Test and evaluate.
5. Create placeholder stubs for every page on website, with working menus and meaningful page titles and slugs. Supply images for most pages.
6. Train staff to use WordPress to populate new pages with template, and to edit pages, with nearly all formatting achieved by preset styles. Working with trained staff, add content to all pages.
7. Deploy new website. Track use of website and suggest changes.

Coding & Migrating Data

This consumes only a small portion of work-time, but it is the most technical aspect of the job. Here are some examples.

• Write a script to dedup all the WMS Knowledge Base collections and report statistics. This involves reading a few million rows from a few hundred KBART collections to identify duplicates based on ISBN and OCLC number.
• Write a script which will 1) identify theses and books that have been digitized but are not listed in our Knowledge Base collections, and 2) generate properly formatted KBART entries. This involves matching Linux filenames with URLs in KBART files, and then generating KBART entries as needed.
• Identify long-expired user records in WMS that don't have a reason for retention. Create a deletion file for WMS.
• Write a script which will 1) validate incoming user data from Student Information System; 2) write output file and then securely copy it to OCLC to be imported into WMS. Schedule for automatic daily operation.
• Working with Public Services Librarian, write a script to identify probable duplicates in the WMS user database. This involves matching email fields, barcodes, names, phones, etc.
• Use AI to compose abstracts for a few thousand theses and dissertations we've digitized. Working with Metadata Librarian, develop a script/process to batch insert abstracts in MARC records if AI generates good results.
• Update EBSCOHOST databases with our holdings. This can be done without coding. It involves extracting ISSN and ISBN and links from WMS. This will tell EBSCO when and how to point to the open URL resolver for content we own/lease that is not hosted on the EBSCO platform.