Librarian Emeritus

POSITION:
Electronic Resources Access Librarian

UNIT:
Acquisitions & Metadata Services

REPORTS TO:

Director of Acquisitions & Metadata Services

Northwestern University Libraries seek an innovative and collaborative librarian to oversee and enhance access to electronic resources and digital research materials. Under the direction of the Licensing and E-Resources Acquisitions Librarian, this position develops solutions and implements processes related to discovery and access for the University's $11 million electronic-collections portfolio. This role provides specialized expertise and technical skills to ensure seamless access to owned, subscribed, on-demand, and open access resources, working closely and actively with e-resource teammates and others across the department, the Libraries, the University, and consortial networks.

This position also has a crucial part in evaluating and implementing AI-enabled tools and other emerging technologies to facilitate access to e-resources essential for evolving digital research methods. This is a significant opportunity to play an influential part in developing forward-looking solutions that support students, faculty, and staff in a dynamic and rapidly changing research, teaching, and learning environment.

• Oversees and supports electronic resource access and discovery, including the management of holdings within the Libraries' knowledge bases, discovery systems, and integrated library system (Alma)
• Improves user access and discovery of e-resources by anticipating and resolving issues with remote access and authentication products
• Updates and manages metadata for electronic resources, in close collaboration with colleagues in Acquisitions & Metadata Services
• Explores, evaluates, and implements new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) tools that enhance electronic resource access and improve workflows; shares findings and recommendations across the organization to promote cross-functional understanding
• Communicates with vendors and publishers to resolve and prevent access issues
• Works closely with other members of the unit to manage the electronic resources life-cycle and identify ways in which the unit can improve processes related to electronic resources
• Manages authentication mechanisms (EZproxy) to facilitate seamless access to e-resources and ensure IP ranges, link resolver settings, and branding are up to date with content providers
• Develops strategies for proactively identifying and resolving access issues
• Serves as a primary point of contact for access problems from library staff and Northwestern students, faculty, and staff
• Creates and maintains workflows, best practices, and documentation to manage electronic and subscription resources
• Designs and leads training sessions for staff to address emergent problems and ongoing needs related to electronic resource access, authentication, authorization, and patron privacy
• Identifies and supports metadata and access cleanup projects to ensure up-to-date and accurate records
• Develops expertise on current and emerging access practices and trends, including developments related to e-resource standards, research methods, and access
• Participates in the library-wide re-envisioning of digital scholarship and library services with interest in ongoing innovation, new technologies, and evolving responsibilities in a dynamic digital research environment
• Collaborates with colleagues throughout the library by leading the effort to support seamless electronic resource access and discovery, including licensed and open access resources
• Coordinates multi-site access with other Northwestern University Libraries
• Engages in appropriate professional development, continuing…