Careers

POSITION DESCRIPTION
Associate Librarian
Library and Information Management Coordinator
Waite Library, Department of Applied Economics
College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences

University of Minnesota

TITLE AND APPOINTMENT TERMS
Library and Information Management Coordinator. Waite Library is located in the Department of Applied Economics, St. Paul Campus, University of Minnesota. This is a 12-month, 100% time, annually-renewable appointment. The position supports the department’s teaching, research, outreach, and administrative functions by directing the library and archival services in Waite Library, including management of the AgEcon Search repository. Waite Library is considered the central source of information on the Department's research and outreach activities. Although this is a department-based library, this position serves as a liaison with the University of Minnesota Libraries.

PROGRAM / UNIT DESCRIPTION
The Department of Applied Economics offers highly ranked programs of study at the undergraduate, M.S., and Ph.D. levels. The department also has several centers that strengthen the academic programs and provide opportunities for students and faculty in research, policy and industry outreach. The Department has a distinguished faculty, many of whom have won University and national awards for outstanding teaching, outreach, and published research. The faculty work in a variety of fields broadly defined as Environmental and Resource Economics; Food Systems; Growth, Development and Trade; and Public Sector Economics. Please visit the Department website at http://apec.umn.edu for further information.

Waite Library provides reference services and research materials for the faculty and graduate students in the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota. The collection includes materials on topics such as agricultural and food marketing, agricultural finance, agricultural prices, community development, consumption economics, economic development, economics of public service, farm and agribusiness management, international trade, human resources, labor economics, land use planning, production economics, public policy, regional economics, resource and environmental economics, and state and local organization and finance.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Data and Information Management (60-80%)

Repository Management: Co-manage (with University Libraries applied economics librarian) the activities associated with AgEcon Search (http://ageconsearch.umn.edu), an international disciplinary repository (digital library) of publications jointly sponsored by the Department, the University of Minnesota Libraries, and the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.  Responsibilities include:

• Initiating and coordinating design and functionality improvements;
• Management and oversight of digitization projects, including ongoing identification of new content;
• Reporting and statistics gathering;
• Updating and maintenance of metadata;
• Timely/daily communications with (and problem solving for) AgEcon Search community members;
• Development of batch processes and tools;
• Continual innovation of services and functionality in collaboration with users/researchers and programmers;
• Development of strategic direction;
• Promotion and public relations including travel and participation in international conferences;
• Fundraising, grant proposal writing and grant management.

Library catalog: Design and maintain Waite Library’s online catalog (DBText) and web interface (Presto) to display library collections. Catalog all print and online Library content, including departmental research output/publications (articles, working papers, conference papers, theses & dissertations).

Reporting: Collect and enter data and generate reports on publishing activities of the departmental faculty. Examples of expected activity are the provision of reports for the department’s decennial review for the University, annual compilations of the departmental publication performance e.g. for collegiate review, and provision of theses and dissertation lists (and documents) for award nomination reviews.

APEC website: Assist in the review, design, and maintenance of the departmental website – specifically faculty publication links and the Research and Outreach section.

Library Services and Bibliographic Metrics (20-40%)

• Oversee the operations of Waite Library and develop strategies for continually meeting the long-term research needs of students and faculty.
• Maintain a collection of print and digital reference and archival materials for the Department: select, purchase, catalog and circulate new materials.
• Provide reference assistance, information, and instruction on request to both internal and external users.
• Maintain a current awareness of new literature, reference tools, and scholarly intellectual property issues (e.g. Open Access models and developments, copyright, ORCIDs, DOIs, grey literature), and share that knowledge.
• Assist with bibliographic searches, identify data sources, and perform citation analyses.
• Manage the Waite Library and AgEcon Search budgets, including grants, endowment funds, professional society contributions, and travel budgets/expenses.
• Facilitate educational programs and materials to teach (e.g. library research methods, citation management, and data management) in guest lectures to faculty and students in-person, online, and via Canvas modules.
• Compile periodic reports of new publications added to the collection. Establish and disseminate > 100 journal article TOC alerts to faculty and graduate students.
• Serve as liaison between the department and the University Libraries, national and international libraries and professional associations, AgEcon Search programmers, and the RePEc index.
• Direct the work of support staff assisting with library activities. Hire, supervise and direct work assignments of Waite Library student employees.

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• ALA-accredited Masters degree in Library / Information Science or foreign equivalent or an advanced degree with five years of relevant library experience.
• Demonstrated evidence of good interpersonal skills and strong written and oral communication skills for engaging professional and nonprofessional audiences.
• Demonstrated knowledge of metadata usage and application (e.g. MARC, MODS, Dublin Core).

Desired

• Demonstrated experience with repositories and database management and development.
• Demonstrated experience working in a higher education institution for a minimum of five years.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience.
• Degree or course work in Applied Economics, Agricultural Economics, Economics or other related field.

SALARY AND BENEFITS
Salary is competitive and commensurate with the professional experience and qualifications. Fringe benefits include employee health, dental, and faculty life/disability insurance, social security, faculty retirement and opportunities for professional development.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Review of applications will begin on June 7, 2023 and will remain open until the position is filled.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Apply online at: http://employment.umn.edu and search for Requisition #355332. Cover letter, CV, and reference contact information must be attached online. A COMPLETE application must include:

1) Letter of application that explains your vision for this position and how your career goals, training and experience support your candidacy;
2) A complete curriculum vitae;
3) Names and contact information of three individuals who can comment on your abilities and experience.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-UOHR (8647).  Email inquiries about the position are welcome, but formal application process is required. Search committee email is apecsearch@umn.edu.

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

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