Systems & Data Services Librarian 

Introduction 

The Angus L. Macdonald Library, St. Francis Xavier University, seeks a collaborative and innovative  librarian to provide technological leadership, oversight and support for library information systems,  research data management, and web services.  

This permanent track position will be filled at the rank of Librarian I or II depending on experience. The  Angus L. Macdonald Library serves one of Canada’s top-ranked undergraduate educational institutions  and sees its role as a proactive one of service and support for the academic success of its students and  faculty. 

The Angus L. Macdonald Library is a member of Novanet, a consortium of Nova Scotia academic libraries  sharing a common library management system, the Council of Atlantic University Libraries (CAUL) and  the Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN), among other collaborative initiatives.  

Position Description 

Reporting to the University Librarian, the successful candidate will be responsible for implementing and  maintaining library systems which enhance discovery and access of library materials and services. In  addition to assuming academic library liaison duties with assigned departments, this position will  assume leadership for the library’s systems and data services programs and support digitization  initiatives. Specific responsibilities will primarily lay within the following areas: 

General library systems: 

∙ Leads the planning, development, and implementation of the Library’s current and future  systems and technical infrastructure 

∙ Collaborates with Novanet staff and local team members to plan for, implement, and administer  core library systems, including, but not limited to the Library Services Platform (LSP) and any  ancillary systems. 

∙ Leads the local migration to the new integrated library system (ALMA)/library services platform ∙ Leads the ongoing development and improvement of the library’s website 

∙ Communicates with internal and external stakeholders on significant system issues  ∙ Researches, recommends, and implements emerging applications and systems to enhance  student learning, faculty research, and access to library resources

Data Services: 

∙ Develops and provides pedagogical support for data discovery, analysis, and management ∙ As the Library’s representative for the Data Liberation Initiative, provides in-depth consultation  and information services in the discovery and use of Canadian statistical resources, survey data,  and data access resources and tools  

∙ Liaises with regional and national data access and preservation initiatives to support researchers  in data management best practices.  

Web-based information services and systems: 

∙ Provides creative and technical expertise to design, develop, manage, and support innovative  web-based information services and systems 

∙ Leads and coordinates the development and enhancement of the Web site and associated web  services and is responsible for Web site documentation and staff training as required ∙ Responsible for the overall assessment, evaluation, and continual improvement of the website  and information architecture 

Support for Digital Initiatives: 

∙ Provides technical expertise in the investigation and application of methods used to build and  further develop digital collections utilizing established and emerging mechanisms, systems, and  metadata standards  

∙ Partners with colleagues to support digitization initiatives, including management of digital  assets, metadata creation, ingestion into systems, and preservation of digital materials 

Liaison Responsibilities: 

∙ Participates in general library services, including regularly scheduled reference desk and Live  Help shifts; and serves as Liaison Librarian to designated departments and/or programs,  providing specialized information literacy instruction, research assistance, and support for  library resource selection and evaluation to those departments  

∙ Other duties include, but are not limited to, outreach to students and faculty, participation in  library initiatives and projects, and the creation and maintenance of subject research guides  ∙ In addition to professional practice, Librarians at StFX are expected to provide academic service  and engage in research, scholarly activity or other creative activities 

Required Qualifications 

∙ A Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) degree or equivalent from an ALA-accredited  program and a minimum of 2 years professional experience, preferably in an academic library ∙ Experience providing online and in-person reference support, information literacy instruction and  collection development, preferably in an academic library environment  

∙ Demonstrated knowledge of working with integrated library systems (ILS) and/or library services  platforms (LSP)  

∙ Knowledge of metadata standards related to the organization and discovery of data resources,  such as Dublin Core, MODS, DDI, XML, RAD, MARC, OpenURL/z39.50, OAI-PMH

∙ Knowledge of library authentication processes, including OpenAthens and EZproxy ∙ Knowledge of web design tools (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, XML and familiarity with extensions such  as Angular JS, JSON, Ajax, etc.) 

∙ Knowledge of web accessibility standards and user-centered design principles  ∙ Familiarity with digital repository software, such as Islandora or DSpace 

∙ Proven ability to document workflow and use project management software such as Redmine or  JIRA, to track projects effectively 

∙ Availability for occasional evening and weekend work  

∙ Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Springshare products 

Preferred Qualifications 

∙ Additional training or education in computer science 

∙ Familiarity with campus information systems and their integration points with library systems,  including: central authentication, finance, registrar, and learning management 

∙ Awareness of research data management services, best practices, and relevant infrastructure  such as the Scholars Portal Dataverse, DMP Assistant, and the Portage Network ∙ Knowledge of and experience using statistical software such as SPSS, SAS, STATA or R  ∙ Knowledge of or experience with data cleaning software such as OpenRefine ∙ Experience programming in one or more of the following: Perl, Python, Ruby, PHP, Java ∙ Experience with the following web management systems: LibApps, Drupal 

∙ Familiarity with maintaining SSL web certificates ∙ Strong interpersonal skills, a collegial attitude, and enthusiasm for innovation ∙ Supervisory experience 

Deadline for application submission is March 15, 2021. To express interest in this role, please send a  cover letter and resume in confidence to: 

Sandy Iverson 
University Librarian 
StFX University 
liboffice@stfx.ca 

Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply;  however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. StFX respects diversity and welcomes  applications from visible minority group members, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities  and members of a sexual minority group