Scholarly Communications Librarian, 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-AL9905-01

The McGill Library seeks a Scholarly Communications Librarian to work closely with the McGill campus community on the creation, dissemination, and curation of scholarly output. The Scholarly Communications Librarian will provide research data management and curation services to the campus and engage with researchers on other scholarly communications issues.This search is being conducted in tandem with searches for a Coordinator, Data Curation and Scholarly Communications and a Head, Copyright Office 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

Provides scholarly communications services to the campus community, including preservation of and access to the research output of the McGill community, publishing, open access, and authors’ rights.

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provide support to campus researchers in sharing and preserving data and publications produced through their research, including assistance with deposit in appropriate repositories and consultation on methods for meeting funder or publisher requirements.
• Engage the campus community in discussions about open access and authors’ rights in the context of emerging scholarly communications practices.
• Consult with faculty, students, and staff on building and maintaining researcher profiles.
• Provide oversight for Library publishing services, in consultation with appropriate Library staff and campus stakeholders. Work with Digital Initiatives and campus technical staff to implement software systems and workflows in support of publishing initiatives.
• Collaborate with other key Library staff and campus stakeholders to provide support for digital scholarship initiatives.
• Maintain an active and up-to-date awareness of initiatives and offerings in area of expertise, and apply this knowledge to local work.

Reporting relationship

The Scholarly Communications Librarian reports to the Coordinator, Data Curation and Scholarly Communications.

Selection Criteria

1. ALA-accredited Master of Library or Information Science degree.
2. Demonstrated knowledge of research data curation and scholarly communications trends and issues in the academic environment.
3. Familiarity with major disciplinary repositories for research data and scholarly papers, and with tools for locating these and other services that assist researchers with preserving and sharing their research outputs.
4. Familiarity with funder and publisher requirements for preservation of and open access to research outputs, along with standard practice in these areas in key disciplines. Ability to keep up to date as these requirements and practices evolve.
5. Knowledge of traditional and emerging systems and forms of scholarly publishing.
6. Proven ability to work with programmers and/or other technical staff in a team environment.
7. Highly developed oral and written skills, particularly the ability to explain complex concepts to a wide variety of users in individual and group settings, and the ability to interact effectively and work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including academics and technology staff.
8. Demonstrated project management skills.
9. Creative and analytical thinking skills and good problem solving ability.
10. Preferred: Working knowledge of 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-AL9905-01) 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.