Head, Copyright Office, McGill University Library

Position: Assistant or Associate Librarian depending upon experience (tenure-track)
Duration: Initial three-year appointment with possibility for renewal
Salary: Commensurate with experience
Posting number: 14-AL9893-01

The McGill Library seeks an innovative, autonomous and resourceful person to provide leadership for the newly created Copyright Office. This strategic position will design and lead an outreach program to promote awareness and good copyright practice across the University.
This search is being conducted in tandem with searches for a Coordinator, Data Curation and Scholarly Communications and a Scholarly Communications Librarian in the McGill Library. The incumbents in these positions will work closely together, each in their own area of specialization.

The McGill Library

The Library is committed to the delivery of innovative information products, services and programs of the highest quality focused on client needs in support of the University’s strategic mission and directions. The Library proactively supports the teaching, learning and research needs of faculty and students to ensure that the university’s strategic mission of excellence as a research intensive, student-centered university is satisfied. Collection building is based upon the premise of preference for electronic versions. McGill Library has the largest collection in Quebec and is one of Canada’s largest academic libraries with over 6 million monographs and 80,000 online serials and databases. The library is a member of the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL), the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Bureau de Coopération Interuniversitaire (BCI, formerly CRÉPUQ), the Center for Research Libraries (CRL), and is the first Canadian member of the HathiTrust Digital Library.

Information for Prospective Staff

Information about the University and the McGill Library is at the University’s web site (www.mcgill.ca and www.mcgill.ca/library). As a tenured stream appointee, the successful candidate is expected to devote himself or herself to the full range of academic duties as defined in the Regulations Relating to the Employment of Librarian Staff.

Duty Statement

Primary Purpose of Position

Works collaboratively with Libraries and Faculties across the University to advance awareness and support effective decisions in intellectual property rights, copyright, fair dealing, licensing and other use rights. Promotes compliance with copyright laws and academic best practice, and establishes mechanisms to assist faculty with adherence to copyright laws and best practices in their publishing choices, in their teaching and in their course reserves. Collaborates in the development of copyright policies, procedures and best practices for the Library and the McGill campus. Works closely with the Coordinator, Data Curation and Scholarly Communications and the Scholarly Communications Librarian to provide robust scholarly communications services at McGill.

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Plans, develops, and implements policies and administrative processes for the Copyright Office, ensuring its efficient and effective operation.
• Plans, develops, and implements ongoing copyright outreach efforts to campus instructors, researchers, and students, promoting a high level of compliance with copyright laws and academic best practice on campus. Work closely with and support liaison librarians in outreach activities on copyright and fair dealing.
• Answers copyright questions from the campus community efficiently and skillfully.
• Investigates, implements, and ensures the effective operation of workflows and software to obtain rights and permissions for the instructional or research use of content when appropriate.
• Assesses and reports on copyright compliance on campus on an ongoing basis and feeds this data back into the activities of the Copyright Office.
• Tracks and reports on costs of copyright compliance efforts.
• Provides advice to the Library on the licensing of electronic materials and copyright issues related to digitization initiatives.
• Attends various Library, Institute, Faculty and University wide committees and represents the Library on these or external committees as required.
• Supervises casual staff in the Copyright Office as required.
• Maintains an active and up-to-date awareness of initiatives and offerings in area of expertise, and applies this knowledge to local work.

Reporting relationship

The Head, Copyright Office reports to the Associate Dean, Digital Initiatives.

Selection Criteria

1. ALA-accredited Master of Library of Information Science degree. Membership (or eligibility for membership) in a Canadian Law Society is a major asset. Equivalent combinations of training and experience may be considered.
2. Demonstrated knowledge of copyright, intellectual property laws, and fair dealing in the Canadian context.
3. Ability to build a sustainable and effective education and compliance program over time through dynamic leadership.
4. Familiarity with academic and scholarly communication practices, including open access trends and practices.
5. Demonstrated commitment to user service.
6. Highly developed oral and written communication skills, particularly the ability to explain complex concepts to and work collaboratively with a wide variety of users in individual and group settings.
7. Creative and analytical thinking skills and good problem solving ability.
8. Written and spoken English and French.

Application Procedure

Applications should address the above selection criteria, be accompanied by a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and the names and addresses of three referees and should be submitted by January 4, 2015, as one (1) .pdf document. Please indicate the number of the posting (14-AL9893-01) on the letter of interest and on the subject line of the email.

Isabelle Roberge
Office of the Trenholme Dean of Libraries
McGill University
3459 McTavish Street
Montreal, Qc H3A 1Y1
Fax: (514) 398-3561
Email: application.library@mcgill.ca

McGill University is committed to equity in employment and diversity. It welcomes applications from Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, persons of minority sexual orientation or gender identity, visible minorities, women, and others who may contribute to diversification. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.