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Position Summary

 

Appointment Term: 2 years, temporary position.

 

Reporting to the Head of Digital Archives and working closely with the Director of the Rose Library and the Interim Archival Systems Program Manager, the Irish Poetry and Virtual Reading Room Project Manager will lead the Rose Library’s Mellon Foundation–funded initiative to explore the viability of establishing a virtual reading room to share the Rose Library’s Irish poetry collections more effectively with users in Ireland. The Project Manager will coordinate efforts to define the current challenges inhibiting access to the Rose’s Irish poetry collections; identify key partners and stakeholders amongst Irish libraries, archives, and cultural centers; conduct focus groups amongst researchers to identify research challenges for Irish collections; complete an environmental scan of virtual reading room models and  practices; investigate copyright considerations and licensing requirements for a virtual reading room focused on literary collections; determine the scope, requirements, and costs of digitizing key collections; scope, plan, and assess an experimental remote access method; create workflows and documentation for remote users and external partners; draft user stories and requirements for a future virtual reading room; and make recommendations for social, legal, and technological ways to expand the current methods of discovery and delivery of Irish literary papers held by the Rose Library.

 

At the completion of the two-year grant cycle, the Irish Poetry and Virtual Reading Room Project Manager will have created a viable framework for a shared virtual reading room, including generating concrete recommendations for implementation, drafting a policy framework, and working with stakeholders across Emory Libraries to develop policies, roadmap proposals, business cases, digitization project proposals, and copyright and risk assessments. Finally, the Irish Poetry and Virtual Reading Room Project Manager will develop a sharable, scalable toolkit and set of best practices to guide and support other repositories interested in conducting similar projects and assessing their impact.

 

Emory Libraries requires that our employees recognize diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential core values to achieving our mission to enrich the quality of life in an inclusive work environment through competency training, reassurance of personal growth, restorative communication practices, and embrace our diverse identities of patrons within the Emory community.

 

Essential Responsibilities & Duties

 

Build and Manage Partnerships

1. Define, identify, and engage stakeholders, including archives users, Irish repositories, Emory colleagues, and expert advisors.
2. Facilitate work with partners from Irish repositories and writers’ estates.
3. Survey or interview users of Irish poetry collections to determine user needs and draft user stories based on findings, paying special attention to accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
4. Help convene a community of practice around discovery and delivery of literary collections, focusing on split collections and collections removed from their communities of origin. 

Research and Test Virtual Reading Room Methods 

1. Evaluate the current state of digital access to Rose Library’s Irish poetry collections for researchers in Ireland and identify where stakeholder needs are not being met.
2. Research existing models and practices for virtual reading rooms and other forms of controlled remote access to archival collections
3. In partnership with the Copyright and Scholarly Communications Librarian, evaluate approaches to managing intellectual property rights issues and help execute license agreements.
4. In partnership with the interim Archival Systems Program Manager, develop user stories into a set of minimal, mid-level, and optimal requirements for a virtual reading room.
5. In partnership with interim Archival Systems Program Manager and Library Technology and Digital Strategies staff, test a baseline method of remote discovery and access for researchers in Ireland.
6. Assess researcher engagement with and responses to baseline access method. 

Develop Implementation Plans and Toolkit 

1. In consultation with project team members and experts in intellectual property, archival discovery, and library technology, compile recommendations for a virtual reading room, including copyright or licensing strategy, policy framework, partnership requirements, and unified discovery method.
2. Draft an action plan for implementing the recommendations and user stories to inform technology solutions.
3. Work with stakeholders to develop technology roadmap proposals and business cases.
4. Develop and share tools, templates, and sample documentation that can be resources for other repositories undertaking similar projects. 

Professional Responsibilities 

1. Participate in appropriate professional and scholarly associations and organizations.
2. Attend project-related meetings, conferences, and workshops.
3. Maintain up-to-date professional knowledge and skills in areas related to primary job assignment as well as general knowledge of current trends in higher education, academic libraries, and information and educational technology.

Required Qualifications

• ALA-accredited master’s degree in library and information Science OR equivalent combination of education and relevant library experience.
• Subject expertise in Irish poetry, literary manuscript collections, copyright, digital library development, or another topic related to the project.
• Ability to build and sustain effective relationships with donors, project partners, library colleagues, and cultural institutions.
• Evidence of analytical, organizational, communication, project management, and time management skills and demonstrated ability to set priorities, manage deadlines, and complete tasks and projects on time and within budget and in accordance with task/project parameters.
• Demonstrated proficiency and capabilities with personal computers and software, the Web, and library-relevant information technology applications. Working knowledge of standard computer office applications such as Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, or other productivity software.
• Commitment to fostering a diverse educational environment and workplace.
• Capacity to thrive in an ambiguous, future-oriented environment of a major research institution and to respond effectively to changing needs and priorities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current trends and issues in academic libraries, higher education, and relevant subject disciplines.

Preferred Qualifications 

• 0-1 year of academic library experience.

Application Procedures

Interested candidates should review the applications requirements and apply online at {Link to iCIMS posting}, http://apply.interfolio.com/131062

 

Applications may be submitted as Word or PDF attachments and must include:

 

1) Cover letter of application describing qualifications and experience;

2) Current resume/vita detailing education and relevant experience; and

3) Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are a central focus of our work at Emory Libraries and across campus. In a separate statement of no more than 300 words, describe your experience in furthering social justice and equity so far in your career and share how you would foster these principles in your work as a project manager and as an Emory Libraries colleague.

4) On a separate document list the names, email addresses, and telephone numbers of 3 professional references including a current or previous supervisor.  

 

Review of applications will begin the week of October 2, 2023. Review of applications will continue until position is successfully filled. Emory is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer that welcomes and encourages diversity and seeks applications and nominations from women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans.

Emory University is dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, genetic information, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and veteran's status. Emory University does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment on the basis of any factor stated above or prohibited under applicable law. Students, faculty, and staff are assured of participation in University programs and in the use of facilities without such discrimination. Emory University complies with Executive Order 11246, as amended, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veteran's Readjustment Assistance Act, and applicable executive orders, federal and state regulations regarding nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action. Emory University is committed to achieving a diverse workforce through application of its affirmative action, equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policy in all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotions, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training. Inquiries regarding this policy should be directed to the Emory University Department of Equity and Inclusion, 201 Dowman Drive, Administration Building, Atlanta, GA 30322.

Emory University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the Department of Accessibility Services at 404-727-9877 (V) | 404-712-2049 (TDD). Please note that one week advance notice is preferred.