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MIT Lincoln Laboratory (MIT/LL) has pioneered in advanced electronics since its origin in 1951 as a Federally Funded Research and Development Center of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Lincoln Laboratory research focuses on advanced technology to problems of national security. Archival collections relate to the Laboratory’s mission areas: space control, air and missile defense technology, communication and information technology, IRS systems and technology, advanced electronics technology, homeland protection, and air traffic control. As a member of the MIT/LL’s Knowledge Services Sector, you will work with a team of information and IT professionals to explore, adapt, recommend, implement, and support digital records initiatives including those to improve and assure long-term access. The Knowledge Service team is currently looking to develop infrastructure for a scalable digital preservation repository system. As such, we are looking for a passionate, creative, articulate, and experienced digital preservation champion to join our team and facilitate strategic and project planning for our digital archives. Read the rest of this entry »

The Digital Library Federation is committed to community involvement and input for all of our projects and events, especially the DLF Forums.

There are a lot of exciting projects and ideas in our community right now and we received a great bunch of proposals for the 2012 DLF Forum. We’re asking the DLF community to vote on which sessions you would most like to see on the 2012 DLF Forum schedule.

The Program Planning Committee will use the community votes to guide final program selection and craft a Forum informed by the community’s interests.

Please visit our community poll and cast your votes! Please only one ballot per person.

Thanks for your help in shaping the 2012 DLF Forum schedule.

The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Library in Boulder, CO is seeking a Library Systems Administrator to manage the operational online library systems that underpin the NCAR Library, National Science Digital Library (NSDL) and Digital Library for Earth Science Education (DLESE). Position open until November 10, 2011.

Full position description, qualification requirements and application
process are available at: http://tinyurl.com/3h47myp

BASIC JOB FUNCTION: Manages the operational online library systems that underpin the NCAR Library, National Science Digital Library (NSDL) and Digital Library for Earth Science Education (DLESE). The online systems are a combination of SaaS on the cloud and deployed open source applications on virtual server environments at both a cloud vendor and on-site data center. Works with librarian and archives staff to support their daily use of these systems and identifies new needs. Also manages the desktop environment and associated networked equipment in offices and our two onsite libraries.

Administrator is part of a small group that works in a collaborative team environment with a high regard for providing excellence in design, operations and end user experience and is responsible for multiple program systems services.

DUTIES INCLUDE:

• Manages Primary Systems.
• Manages operations for library systems deployed on a mix of NCAR data center servers, on cloud servers and with with SaaS vendors. Systems include, but are not limited to, Integrated Library System – ILS (Koha), OpenURL link resolver (SFX), archives management (Archon) and a suite of Java-based applications developed for the institutional repository, DLESE and NSDL. Manages and administers virtual machines at a cloud provider running Linux operating system and configures and documents application deployment procedures, maintenance procedures and institute monitoring procedures for performance and security. Works with application technical leads to manage development and staging workflows. Manages relationships with external cloud and SaaS vendors and internal NCAR data center IT personnel to maintain smooth operations. Supervises a Systems Administrator and is responsible for multiple program services in support of these operations.
• Integrated Library System (ILS), Cataloging, Helpdesk and Communications Support.
• Manages and administers basic configuration of the integrated library system (ILS), OpenURL link resolver and other cataloging systems, help-desk system and group wiki’s and email lists and provides technical support to library staff who use these systems for their day-to-day duties. Manages and documents configuration for interoperability with other library services using OAI-PMH and search protocols such as Z39.50 and with other internal services such as institutional single-sign-on. Working with other library staff, leads the technical analysis and testing of prospective new library and archival services (including digitization) and databases. Performs ad hoc scripting and data migration tasks to support archives and institutional repository staff.
• Office and Library Desktop Infrastructure.
• Manages and administer local office and physical library desktop infrastructure (primarily windows-based) and peripherals and local group servers (Linux) used for file-sharing, backup and application development. This includes directing the work of the group’s system administration staff in carrying out these duties and coordinating with IT staff in other UCAR IT divisions who manage central services (e.g. single sign on, windows network, wiki, staff email and email lists). Responsible for planning and supervising procurement, testing and deployment of group desktop infrastructure, hardware and software.

REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE:

Education and Experience:

• Master’s Degree in Library Science or Information Science; and
  five years of experience in information systems in a library setting; or
  an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to plan, manage and document technology deployment projects.
• Demonstrated experience administering Linux and windows operating systems, managing authentication and monitoring for performance and security.
• Experience with virtual server configuration/management in cloud environments, monitoring and security procedures, as well as backup policies and DNS management.
• Demonstrated experience deploying web applications (with preference for Java based and php based) and use of code versioning systems.
• Demonstrated experience of Apache configuration and Tomcat web application server configuration.
• Demonstrated experience of administering and optimizing relational databases (MySQL preferred).
• Demonstrated knowledge of common library interoperability protocols (OAI, Z39.50, SRU), metadata frameworks (e.g. MARC and Dublin Core) and web services (service oriented architecture).
• Familiarity with XML and XML Schemas.
• Experience of managing library systems: Integrated Library System (Koha preferred), OpenURL, link resolver (SFX preferred) and EZproxy.

JOB LOCATION
Boulder, CO US

Thank you to everyone attended and contributed to the 2011 DLF Fall Forum! With your input, we can work to provide our community with the best Forums possible. Please fill out our evaluation form and let us know what you think! Your feedback is greatly appreciated. See you next year in Denver!

After attending the Global Interoperability and Linked Data Workshop, a meeting of the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) in Amsterdam, Ed Summers from the Library of Congress reflected on the relationship between the leadership style of the steering committee and their commitment to developing the DPLA as a generative platform for rich discovery environments:

“The thing I learned at the meeting in Amsterdam is that this nebulousness is by design–not by accident. The DPLA steering committee aren’t really pushing a particular solution that they have in mind. In fact, there doesn’t seem to be a clear consensus about what problem they are trying to solve. Instead the steering committee seem to be making a concerted effort to keep an open, beginners-mind about what a Digital Public Library of America might be. [...] Keeping an open mind in situations like this takes quite a bit of effort. There is often an irresistable urge to jump to particular use cases, scenarios or technical solutions, for fear of seeming ill informed or rudderless. I think the DPLA should be commended for creating conversations at this formative stage, instead of solutions in search of a problem.”

Read the full post by Summers on his blog, Inkdroid.

In a recent Educause article Michael A. Keller, University Librarian at Stanford, discusses Linked Data in a library context and advocates for libraries to develop a Linked Data prototype:

“Semantic Web approaches in general and Linked Data methods specifically offer new opportunities for addressing the traditional and prevailing problems of too many silos of content, too many disparate modes of search and access, and too little precision and too much ambiguity in search results in the extreme environments of academic information resources intended to support and report on the research and teaching in large research enterprises. These opportunities build on the simple and powerful protocols driving the Internet and the web. Linked Data prototypes might also demonstrate new modes of discovery, navigation of complex information topographies, graphical user interfaces for exploration, and ways to customize discovery and access for users. We need to develop a large Linked Data prototype based primarily on metadata that we own or can reach and that will be transcoded to RDF triples and provided with URIs to associated documents, whether digital or physical, to test the efficacy and efficiency of these approaches.”

View the original article here.

The deadline for proposal submission has been extended until July 29, 2011.

Complete proposals should be submitted using the online submission form.

After an initial review by the Program Planning Committee, all proposals will be posted on the DLF website for community polling. Those submitting complete proposals will be notified of their status by September 16, 2011. Complete proposal submission details are here.

The 2011 Fall Forum will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Baltimore, MD October 31–November 2, 2011. More information about the 2011 Fall Forum can be found at http://www.diglib.org/2011forum/.

Washington University Libraries seek a service-oriented and innovative librarian to serve as the E-Learning Librarian providing service to the Washington University community.

Responsibilities

The E-Learning Librarian will lead collaborative efforts to explore, identify, assess, implement and provide training for emerging technologies in support of the University’s teaching, learning, and research. The Librarian is responsible for all operations of the E-Learning Commons including assisting users; hiring, training, and evaluating personnel, troubleshooting hardware and software problems; and scheduling facility use. The E-Learning Librarian will work with faculty and students to explore library resources and apply innovative multimedia technologies to their work. The Commons will provide services that include assistance with strategies for management of scholarly and personal digital assets; preparation of interactive tutorials and course modules; and development of multimedia projects.

The E-Learning Librarian will routinely monitor trends in emerging technologies and identify possible uses in library services. As appropriate, the E-Learning Librarian will provide training in these new technologies for library staff as well as the campus community. In collaboration with other library staff, the E-learning Librarian must be proactive in selectively and strategically implementing and marketing emerging technologies that best match our users’ needs and preferences. The E-Learning Librarian will work collaboratively with library staff to provide ongoing usability testing and redesign of user interfaces to library services. The Librarian will also collaborate with other campus units offering similar services.

Qualifications

Required: Master’s degree in library/information science, media, instructional technology or a related field; Demonstrated ability to thrive and lead in a collaborative environment; Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills; Ability to interact with users and staff and develop innovative ways to identify and meet their evolving needs; Demonstrated ability to learn new technology tools and skills, to conduct training for users and staff, and strong desire to share this knowledge with others; Ability to see technological possibilities in and outside of the library world and the vision to turn these possibilities into new library services; Demonstrated ability in web based tools, imaging and/or video software, bibliographic and presentation software and relevant emerging technologies. Preferred: Relevant experience in libraries or higher education.

General Information

The University

Washington University, located at the western edge of the City of St. Louis, is a medium sized, independent university founded in 1853, internationally recognized for excellence in teaching and research and for the quality of its faculty and student body.

The Libraries

Washington University Libraries include the John M. Olin Library and 12 school and departmental libraries. The Washington University Libraries is a member of the Association of Research Libraries, the Center for Research Libraries, the Greater Western Library Alliance, and MOBIUS (a consortium of academic libraries with member colleges and universities in the state of Missouri). For more information visit library.wustl.edu.

Salary and Benefits

Salary dependent upon qualifications and experience. Comprehensive benefits package including several retirement plan options.

Application Information

Visit https://jobs.wustl.edu to apply. The review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Employment eligibility verification required upon hire. Washington University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer.