Electronic Resources Librarian

Job Description

Position Summary:

The Electronic Resources Librarian is part of the Eresources Team, a unit within the Collection Strategy Department at Vanderbilt University and is a key contributor to the work required in the lifecycle of Vanderbilt University's licensed scholarly electronic resources. This position will help ensure ongoing access through existing and newly envisioned technologies in support of teaching, learning, and research, as well as provide critical collaboration to support open access initiatives through publisher agreements.

This position will assist in the daily tasks associated with acquiring and managing electronic resources, support open access research output, and contribute efforts to create efficiencies and improve service to library users. Reporting directly to the Eresources Manager, the Electronic Resources Librarian will collaborate daily with others throughout the library system, the University, and with publishers and technology providers.

About the Work Unit:

The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries at Vanderbilt University is comprised of nine libraries, as well as service departments in collections, IT infrastructure, and digital scholarship. We seek to create a welcoming environment and serve as a partner in research and scholarship. The libraries are dynamic places for faculty, staff, students, and alumni to reflect and discover. We also strive to be a workplace in which staff at every level continuously grow in knowledge and skills, staying abreast of advances and trends in librarianship to power relevant, vibrant research libraries.

The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries are fundamental to the university's goal of advancing scholarship and learning. We collect, preserve, and make accessible a wide variety of resources, we partner with faculty and students to shape research, and we encourage the development of informed scholars and engaged citizens. Within Collections Strategy, the Eresources unit is responsible for purchasing, license negotiation, providing access to library materials in online formats, and managing the workflow necessary for authors to publish open access.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

• Acquire new and manage existing collections ensuring consistent electronic resource access.
• Diagnose and resolve user-reported electronic resource access issues.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to maintain access to licensed resources.
• Monitor trends in educational technology, open access, and eresource standards.
• Help develop procedures, documentation, and training for efficient internal workflows.
• Evaluate, recommend, and implement improvements to eresource management systems, user access and open access eligibility tools.
• Review and negotiate publisher license agreements, amendments, and resource renewals.
• Represent the library at local, regional, and national levels.
• Actively contribute to the information science profession focusing on Electronic Resource Management and its intersection with Scholarly Communications.

Supervisory Relationships:

This position does not have supervisory responsibility; this position reports administratively and functionally to the Eresources Manager.

Education and Certifications

• Education - Required: Master's of Library and Information Science degree (MLIS) from an ALA-accredited program or international equivalent.

Experience and Skills:

• 1 to 3 years of professional experience is preferred with 1 year in a field directly related to the position
• Familiarity with eresource access, licensing, acquisition, usage, and management of workflows and tools is preferred.
• Familiarity with eresource standards and protocols (e.g., eresource license terms, KBART, SUSHI, COUNTER, Project Transfer, OpenURL) is preferred.
• Awareness of scholarly communications practices and publisher workflows is preferred
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, troubleshoot effectively, and manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment is necessary.
• Basic awareness with contract and license interpretation and review is preferred.
• Proficiency with office productivity tools and adaptability to evolving technologies is necessary.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills is necessary.

About Us

At Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of "America's Best Large Employers" as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice.

We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.

Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.