Assistant Or Associate Professor - Digital Stewardship Librarian

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Libraries is looking for a professional to provide leadership for our Digital Stewardship and preservation efforts. The Digital Stewardship Librarian will provide expertise to the Libraries on evolving digital asset management and digital preservation best practices and will work collaboratively with our Systems Librarian, Digital Archivist, Research Data Librarians, members of the Digital Strategies department, and others to help design and sustain Digital Stewardship policies and workflows. Additionally, they will participate in campus and consortial networks, such as the University of Nebraska Consortium of Libraries (UNCL) and the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA), to support related initiatives.

The Digital Stewardship Librarian joins the UNL Libraries at a time of change and renewal. The Libraries has completed a strategic planning process, implemented a broad reorganization, and created several new internal leadership positions. We are currently in the midst of an ambitious faculty hiring plan; our Digital Stewardship Librarian will join a cohort of several new faculty members who have recently joined the Libraries. Reporting to the Chair of Digital Strategies, the Digital Stewardship Librarian will actively participate in this organizational transformation as the Libraries works to build a more equitable, accessible, and sustainable information ecosystem.

We are looking for applicants with knowledge of Digital Stewardship and preservation concepts and practices and an ability to engage with them effectively and critically, and we welcome applicants at the beginning of their library careers who are willing to learn and grow on the job. We are prepared to provide the support, time, and mentoring necessary for such growth.

The Digital Stewardship Librarian will have the opportunity to engage with ongoing digital projects and initiatives in the UNL Libraries like those in the Center for Digital Research in the Humanities (CDRH) and our institutional repository. Additionally, the Libraries is growing its digitization activity and its stewardship capacity for born-digital materials in Archives & Special Collections and has an active research data management program. The Digital Stewardship Librarian will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with a range of staff and faculty on stewardship approaches related to these initiatives.

The UNL Libraries is broadly interested in deepening our engagements with the important cultural work happening through the efforts of individuals and organizations in our Lincoln and greater Nebraska communities. The Digital Stewardship Librarian will likely have opportunities to engage with members of these communities to provide guidance and support in stewarding their digital assets, building upon ongoing research and outreach work of Libraries faculty and staff.

The Digital Stewardship Librarian will undertake their efforts with attention to how social and structural biases and inequalities are manifest in information resources, access to information, and the management of information. UNL Libraries creates and fosters inclusive environments for teaching, learning, scholarship, creative expression, and civic engagement. The ability to find, access, evaluate, utilize, and create reliable information resources is central to higher education, the public good, and equity and justice. Libraries faculty are empowered to provide an array of library services, collections, and spaces to meet the diverse needs of students, faculty, and researchers. The Libraries is committed to providing financial and administrative support for faculty professional development and travel.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and contribute to the collaborative development of digitization, digital asset management, and digital preservation policies, strategies, and actions to ensure compliance with standards and best practices for responsible stewardship of digital information. Collaborate with the Systems Librarian, Digital Archivist, Research Data Librarians, and other stakeholders to develop and implement Digital Stewardship workflows. Stay current with emerging trends, technologies, and standards in Digital Stewardship, and advise on their adoption and integration within the Libraries. Establish and maintain effective relationships with campus and consortial partners, including the University of Nebraska Consortium of Libraries (UNCL) and the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA), to support collaborative digital preservation initiatives. Actively engage in anti-racist work to advance inclusive excellence and redress systemic inequities. Contribute to the knowledge base of the profession through scholarly, professional, and service activities appropriate for the appointment type and rank.

Librarians in the University Libraries have faculty status; the successful candidate will be hired at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor (tenure-leading/tenured). The minimum salary for this position is $61,200.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in library and information science from an ALA-accredited institution (or international equivalent) or terminal degree in another discipline and relevant experience. The degree must be in hand before the start date, which is anticipated to be by early summer 2024. Demonstrated aptitude to engage in publication and professional service to meet University tenure and promotion requirements. Training and/or experience demonstrating familiarity with Digital Stewardship, preservation, and/or digital asset management, and the potential to develop greater expertise. Demonstrated commitment to and support for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of computational methods, software, standards, and tools relevant to Digital Stewardship and preservation. Familiarity with professional best practices in data stewardship. Strong communication and project management skills, with the ability to lead and collaborate on digital preservation initiatives. Demonstrated capacity for effective collaboration with a range of stakeholders within and beyond the University.

Application Process

Review of applications will begin January 29, 2024 and continue until the position is filled. To apply for this position, go to https://employment.unl.edu, requisition F_230204. You will need to attach your cover letter and curriculum vitae. In your cover letter, please be sure to directly address all minimum required qualifications. Cover letters must also include a description of how your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion will inform this position.

Lincoln, Nebraska is a city of nearly 300,000 people and the state capital, where residents enjoy a low cost of living, high-quality public schools, and more parkland per capita than most U.S. cities. See https://www.unl.edu/lincoln/ and https://diversity.unl.edu/creating-connections-on-and-off-campus.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln seeks to attract and retain a high-performing and diverse workforce in which employees’ differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the diverse populations we serve. The university fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration so that all individuals can participate and contribute to their full potential.