Digital Librarian

Employer: American Jewish University 

Job Title: On-site Digital Librarian 

Status: Full-time, exempt 

Hours: 35 

Salary: $80,000/yr

Supervisor: Library Director  

About American Jewish University

American Jewish University (AJU), located in Los Angeles, CA, is a small, private, not-for-profit higher education institution that provides accredited and community programming. AJU’s largest academic program is the rapidly-growing Masor School for Jewish Education and Leadership, with online Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education programming at the BA, MA, EdD and Certificate levels, and an online EdD program in Jewish Education and Communal Leadership. AJU’s Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies offers in-person MAs in Rabbinic Studies and in Jewish Studies. Our Jewish Learning Experience delivers undergraduate level college-credit courses to high school students. Community online learning includes continuing education through the Whizin Center for Open Learning and Introduction to Judaism through the AJU’s Maas Center.  

Position Overview

AJU seeks a highly motivated and detail-oriented on-site Digital Librarian at an exciting time as the University rapidly grows its online degree programs and redesigns its digital library. This role is crucial in ensuring seamless access to AJU’s rich collection of digital resources for our diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The Digital Librarian is a key contact for patrons, and will provide digital access support, training, and troubleshooting, while fostering relationships and improving digital services. As an integral part of the Office of Library Services team, the Digital Librarian will report to the Library Director, and has the potential of moving quickly into an Assistant Library Director role.

Duties include supporting the University’s teaching, learning, research and community activities by building out our digital collection and managing the lifecycles of the library’s electronic resources, including databases, online journals, ebooks, audiobooks and digital archives. Through external monitoring of trends in libraries and digital services, this position is vital to the development of the library’s future, while supporting the day-to-day functions of the Office of Library Services.  

The ideal candidate will be able to “hit the ground running” and require minimal supervision; is passionate about AJU’s mission, has a positive attitude, and is committed to highly ethical practices. 

Responsibilities:

Digital Resource Management & Access:

• Database Access & Configuration: Ensure all research databases are accessible to students, faculty, and staff. This includes working with vendors like EZproxy and OCLC.
• Broken Link Resolution: Proactively identify and fix broken links within the library's online resources, particularly within the WorldCat Discovery platform's Collection Manager 
• WorldCat Discovery Optimization: Work to ensure AJU's records are accurately and visibly represented in the public-facing WorldCat.org, leveraging the existing SCELC subscription to WorldCat Discovery.
• Holdings Management: Understand and support the automatic synchronization of AJU's holdings with WorldCat 
• Subscription Management & Renewal:
  • Manage and track subscriptions for various database providers, such as EBSCONET 
  • Oversee subscriptions through the SCELC consortium: Conduct quick audits of database offerings such as JSTOR to identify underutilized resources and potential overlaps.
  • Collaborate with vendors on renewal strategies, pricing, and expanded access programs.
• Open Access Integration: Explore and implement methods to integrate open access materials, particularly in Education, Jewish Education and Jewish Studies, into WorldCat/WMS for discoverability by patrons. This includes assessing the viability of keeping records for unsubscribed resources.
• E-journal and e-book Acquisition and Access Optimization:
  • Work with vendors to acquire e-materials, and with OCLC to ensure online access to e-journals and e-books, so that they are correctly linked and displayed. This involves understanding Local Holding Records (LHR) and how they impact public display.

Patron Support & Engagement:

• Digital Resource Training: Create comprehensive guides, presentations, and videos to educate students, faculty, and staff on effectively utilizing digital sources, databases, and the library catalog (OCLC WMS). Develop materials for Canvas integration and specific academic programs, and visit online classrooms to teach digital library usage and answer questions.
• Interlibrary Loan (ILL): Assist patrons with interlibrary loan requests, checking the "Pull List" and "Interlibrary Loan" tabs in WorldShare, and guiding them on OCLC policies and services.
• Proactive Communication: Send out regular email reminders to faculty and students about available resources, how to search digital shelves, and how to request digital and items from storage.
• Websites: Ensure library websites and social media are up to date and accurate
• Curriculum Support: Collaborate with faculty to identify and provide relevant digital resources for specific courses and programs
• Reference and Guidance: Guide patrons to open access resources, including prominent Jewish studies repositories like Sefaria.

Operational & Administrative Tasks:

• Library Catalog Management: Utilize the WorldShare Management Services (WMS) platform for all cataloging and administrative tasks.
• Usage Statistics: Collect and report usage statistics for IPEDS reporting from various platforms (EBSCO, JSTOR, OCLC etc.) by logging into admin panels or requesting reports from vendor contacts.
• Collaboration: Work closely with other library staff, faculty, and administrative staff on student and faculty research support. Assist Library Director with planning projects and developing and documenting library processes

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; prefer Master's degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS) from an ALA-accredited program
• Proficiency with library management systems, specifically OCLC WorldShare Management Services (WMS) and WorldCat Discovery.
• Demonstrated experience with managing and troubleshooting access to electronic resources and research databases
• Excellent communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively train and assist diverse patron groups.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment.
• Familiarity with Jewish studies resources and/or a strong interest in Jewish education

Supervisory Responsiblities:

• None 

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements:

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, but only after full disclosure by the applicant. 

• With or without assistance: ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time; ability to move freely around campus and other locations 
• Ability to communicate in person and remotely; ability to speak clearly; mental capacity to make decisions and to follow through with directions
• Ability to follow safety and security practices
• Ability to bend, stoop, reach and grasp as required to perform responsibilities, and to lift up to 20 pounds
• Ability to perform repetitive keyboard and computer mouse functions

Items listed may not be all inclusive and responsibilities may change over time.