Digital Collections and Emerging Formats Librarian

Job Description

This position is responsible for managing Virginia Tech's digital library of cultural heritage, natural history, and scientific materials, placing a special emphasis on integrating emerging digital formats such as 3D imagery, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR).

Responsibilities include developing, managing, and innovating digital collections that encompass digitized archival materials, cultural artifacts, audiovisual formats, and biodiversity specimens. The role demands advanced skill in managing digital collections, indepth

knowledge of metadata standards, and proficiency in digital preservation technologies to ensure broad accessibility and longterm preservation of diverse materials. Interdisciplinary collaboration across various library and university departments is crucial to effectively manage and enhance the accessibility and utility of digital collections through a range of evolving technologies. The librarian will play a leadership role in digital librarianship, demonstrating innovation in collection management, strategic budget management, and staying current with evolving trends in the field to continuously enhance the library's digital offerings, while also engaging actively with the broader academic and library communities.

Responsibilities:

The Digital Collections and Emerging Formats Librarian manages digital collections for Virginia Tech University Libraries’ digital libraries and preservation program by accomplishing the following:

• Digital Collections Management: Overseeing digital collections for Virginia Tech’s digital libraries and preservation program, enhancing access to digitized heritage and scientific collections, including emerging digital formats such as AR, VR, and 3D objects, using
• content management systems and metadata editors.
• Metadata Remediation and Transformation: Coordinating metadata remediation for digital objects in cultural and scientific collections. Ensuring compatibility with external aggregators like DPLA and developing new metadata schemas for emerging formats.
• Workflow Optimization: Collaborating with the Digital Library Development team to optimize workflows for ingest and management. Implementing new technologies and systems that enhance digital asset management, especially for novel and emerging
• formats.
• Supervision and Quality Control: Supervising staff and student workers, overseeing quality control, metadata enhancement, and authority control for collections. Fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within the team.
• Collection Organization: Ensuring collections are organized and described according to local standards and best practices in digital librarianship. Leading initiatives to digitize and make accessible physical collections, focusing on unique or rare items.
• Emerging Technologies and Formats: Staying abreast of and experimenting with emerging technologies and formats in digital librarianship. Piloting projects, evaluating new tools, and collaborating with tech companies and academic departments to advance
• the library's digital offerings.
• Community Engagement and Collaboration: Engaging with the broader academic and library communities. Participating in consortia, contributing to professional communities, and building partnerships to enhance the library's digital collections and services.
• Professional Development and Leadership: Pursuing continuous learning and professional development in the field of digital librarianship. Attending and contributing to conferences, workshops, and webinars, and engaging in scholarly writing and presentations.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Information Science or related field from a graduate program accredited by the American Library Association.
• Completion of graduatelevel coursework in information architecture or related field, evidenced by transcripts or course descriptions. This should include practical application aspects, such as real website redesigns, with a focus on enhancing accessibility.
• A minimum of one year of experience in managing and cataloging digital collections, substantiated by a portfolio of managed collections.
• At least one year of documented experience in managing archival and digital collections in cultural heritage and bioscience, with evidence of specific projects or initiatives led.
• One year of professional experience using batch processing methodologies for digital curation, evidenced by advanced technical skills and efficiency. This includes capabilities in creating and executing commandline scripts, as well as batch remediating and transforming metadata using Python, Oxygen, or similar technologies.
• Minimum of one year of professional experience in a scholarly communication or similar library department, that involved debugging and managing digital repositories.
• At least one year of technical experience in both frontend and backend operations of digital systems such as Omeka, DSpace, Open Journal System, or Fedora.
• Demonstrable expertise with metadata standards, evidenced by projects or implementations using Dublin Core, Darwin Core, and Encoded Archival Description.
• Proven expertise in digital formats for various media types, validated through project examples focusing on web accessibility.
• Demonstrated application of OCR and HTR processes in workflows, evidenced by project examples or process integration.
• Three years of experience in advanced Excel and database functionalities, evidenced by examples of crafting complex formulas and functions for indepth data analysis.

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