Access Services Librarian

Job Category
Faculty Bargaining

Job Title
Access Services Librarian

Department
UBC Library | Koerner Library (Doug Brigham)

Posting End Date
April 12, 2024

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date

The expected pay range for this position is $81,510 to $102,000 per annum. Actual salary offered will be commensurate with experience and academic/professional qualifications, as well as internal parity.

Access Services Librarian 

Koerner Library, UBC Library | Vancouver Campus 

Full-time, Confirmation-track Librarian 

Anticipated Start Date: July 1, 2024 or as agreed upon

UBC LIBRARY: 

As one of the world's leading universities, the University of British Columbia creates an exceptional learning environment that fosters global citizenship, advances a civil and sustainable society, and supports outstanding research to serve the people of British Columbia, Canada and the world. 

We honour, celebrate and thank the xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam) and Syilx Okanagan peoples on whose territories the main campuses of the University of British Columbia have the privilege to be situated.  

The University of British Columbia Library is one of the largest academic libraries in Canada and consistently ranks among the top university research libraries in North America. UBC Library has 14 branches and divisions across two campuses (Vancouver and Kelowna), including an off-site hospital library; a multi-purpose teaching and learning facility, the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre; and the X wi7x wa Library, a centre for academic and community Indigenous scholarship. Over 300 knowledgeable employees – librarians, management and professional staff, support staff and student staff – provide users with the excellent resources and services that they need to further their research, teaching and learning. 

The UBC Library is committed to being a respectful, healthy environment that encourages leadership, collegiality, diversity, individual growth and opportunity. Explore our aspirational values that we strive to uphold and actively incorporate into all aspects of our organization. We are committed to eliminating institutional and structural systems of oppression and power (such as colonialism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, ableism, and white supremacy). 

Learn more about the UBC Library Strategic Framework and about working with us . 

ABOUT THE WALTER C. KOERNER LIBRARY:

The Walter C. Koerner Library comprises three units: Humanities & Social Sciences (HSS), the Research Commons and Borrower Services. HSS is home to the humanities and social sciences at UBC Library, offering a wealth of collections and services to support research, teaching, and learning in these subjects. The Research Commons provides support for researchers across campus in the areas of data visualization and analysis, GIS / geospatial data, digital scholarship, research data management and citation management. Borrower Services is responsible for Koerner Library’s facilities, collections maintenance and circulation functions and provides Library-wide support for circulation, overdues, patron account management, course reserves and identity and access management. Koerner Library houses other Library units, including the Scholarly Communications and Copyright Office, parts of Digital Programs & Services and Library IT, as well as University leadership. 

Koerner Library provides a welcoming learning and research-driven environment for students, faculty and community members. Our service model is user-focused and includes offering one-to-one assistance and classroom instruction for our users. Koerner Library is named in honour of Walter C. Koerner, recognizing his lifetime commitment to and support of the University and the Library and his substantial gift toward the construction of Koerner Library. 

POSITION OVERVIEW: 

This position provides leadership to ensure effective and consistent operations regarding circulation, physical course reserves, patron account management, overdues, physical collections maintenance, and identity and access management. As the Library expert in Identity and Access Management (IAM), this position is a key stakeholder in the implementation and maintenance of a new library management platform (LMP), and also oversees Library IAM policies, procedures and workflows including technology integrations where applicable. 

Provides high level guidance across the Library system to course reserves staff through a Course Reserves Team, comprised of circulation, course reserves and permissions staff including the Access Services Team at UBC Okanagan. Leads staff who deliver Accounts Management services. The position applies knowledge of Library applications to these functions and works with other University departments, staff at other institutions, and systems vendors as needed. Prepares documentation, participates in interface design and acts as a resource person for Library and external staff. 

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS: 

Works under the direction of the Head, Koerner Library. Supervises Manager, Koerner Library, works closely with Manager Woodward Library and Manager, Music, Art and Architecture Library, Library Services Manager, UBCO as well as circulation, overdues, course reserves and permissions representatives from branches and units. Works closely with the Library Cards and Office Assistant. Liaises closely with the Technology, Discovery, and User Experience (TDUX) unit, UBC IT Library . Establishes and maintains relationships with UBC Identity & Access Management. Works in coordination with Collections Services colleagues on license compliance issues that intersect with access to resources and materials; and with TDUX, providing expertise on technology integration with Identity and Access Management. Works with other University staff, external agencies and/or vendors on projects. 

DUTIES: 

• Leads and ensures effective operations of circulation, physical course reserves, patron account management, overdues, physical collections maintenance and identity and access management. 

• Coordinates and supports stakeholders in the configuration of Identity and Access Management integrations with complex applications such as the LMP, OpenAthens, Dataverse, LibCal, and other applications as needed. 

• Coordinates and supports stakeholders in the configuration and use of personal data in the Library’s current ILS (Voyager), the future Library Management Platform (LMP), and other applications as needed. 

• Collaborates with Library colleagues to develop and maintain policies and procedures related to access services and identity and access management. 

• Directly supervises Manager, Borrower Services. 

• Assesses current services and identifies and implements improvements by analyzing user data as well as academic library trends at a regional, national or consortial level. 

• Serves on committees and performs the work necessary for the implementation and success of the LMP and Library patron access services 

• Collects and analyzes data in support of reporting on access services activities and for documenting end-user requirements. 

• Represents access services on internal and external groups as needed. 

• Communicates developments and updates in access services to Library employees and stakeholders. 

• Performs other duties related to the qualifications and requirements of the job. 

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion 

• Works to integrate equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) into professional practice, such as, discovery services, applications development, and technology management. 

• Contributes to the continued development of a library environment and culture that supports and celebrates EDI. 

• Supports EDI through professional development opportunities and maintains an awareness of EDI initiatives at the departmental, campus, institutional and provincial level such as UBC’s Inclusion Action Plan and Indigenous Strategic Plan . 

Supervision and Management 

• Interprets and communicates UBC Library policies and procedures to faculty, staff, and students and keeps up to date on the latest Library policies and procedures. 

• Participates on UBC Library teams, working groups, and communities of practice to further the Library’s strategic directions. 

• Participates on University or Faculty-level committees. 

• May be assigned coordination of services or projects such as reference, teaching and instruction, collections, web presence, subject guides and/or information guides, etc. 

• Supervises staff and may supervise student employees. 

Professional Development and Scholarship 

• Accepts responsibility for personal continuing professional education. 

• Willingly develops and maintains skills, and assumes appropriate leadership relevant to the position. 

• Keeps up to date on developments in library service, resources and technology, and on broader issues that affect the practice of librarianship and proactively seeks to implement and integrate into existing or new practices. 

• Participates in appropriate professional organizations. 

• Engages in professional development, scholarly, and service activities under the terms of the Collective Agreement. 

• Performs other duties as required. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

Required  

• Masters-level degree from an accredited program of library or information science, or equivalent internationally accredited program 

• Demonstrated experience with circulation practices, policies and procedures in an academic or public library. 

• Demonstrated experience with a library management platform, especially with circulation functions. 

• Supervisory experience, preferably in a unionized environment. 

• Demonstrated ability to consult with others, incorporate learned knowledge, and make independent decisions. 

• Demonstrated ability to act effectively as a resource person and to maintain excellent working relationships. 

• Demonstrated ability to initiate, plan and carry out projects, both independently and as a member of a team.  

• Experience building productive relationships and working collegially with a diverse population of colleagues and/or users in keeping with the UBC Respectful Environment Statement 

• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.  

• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.  

• Evidence of strong professional communication skills, including: written and verbal, in-person and digital, active listening, responding to constructive feedback. 

Preferred  

• Experience or knowledge related to incorporating equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) into overall professional practice. 

• Demonstrated experience with developing and leading new services or units. 

• Demonstrated ability to be flexible and willingness to assume a variety of assignments. 

• Demonstrated ability to recognize, respect, and work effectively with individuals and groups with diverse perspectives and backgrounds; takes initiative in learning about language and issues relating to equity and diversity. 

• Familiarity with identity and access management. 

• Familiarity with course reserves. 

• Familiarity with library analytics platforms, such as LibInsight. 

• Familiarity with data analysis and reporting tools, such as Tableau. 

TERMS OF APPOINTMENT AND SALARY:

This is a full-time confirmation-track appointment with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2024. The successful candidate will hold an initial three-year appointment, normally followed by an ongoing confirmed appointment. In most cases confirmation-track appointments are reviewed following the second year of appointment, and a recommendation is made at that time to grant or not to grant an ongoing confirmed appointment.

The successful candidate will be a member of The University of British Columbia Faculty Association and the terms and conditions of appointment are governed by the Collective Agreement between UBC and the UBC Faculty Association (http://www.hr.ubc.ca/faculty-relations/collective-agreements/ ).

Eligibility: We are only considering applications from librarians with a maximum of 5 years of professional library experience. However, all internal candidates will be considered regardless of years of experience and are encouraged to apply.

Salary: Starting salary is $81,510 to $102,000 per annum. Actual salary offered will be commensurate with experience and academic/professional qualifications, as well as internal parity. UBC also offers a comprehensive benefits package. Information about salary increases can be found in the Collective Agreement: http://www.hr.ubc.ca/faculty-relations/collective-agreements/

Benefits : Librarians and their dependents are eligible for an extensive benefits package including extended health care coverage, dental coverage, Employee and Family Assistance Program, life insurance, pension and travel benefits. To support families, UBC provides a top-up for eligible employees on maternity or parental leave. Tuition assistance is also available for qualifying employees and dependent children. In addition, librarians/archivists are eligible for professional development funding to support career growth at the university, as well as study leave. Details are available in the Collective Agreement, and for more information see UBC Human Resources: https://hr.ubc.ca/benefits/eligibility-enrolment/employee-groups . Additional information about relocation to UBC Vancouver can be found: https://hr.ubc.ca/working-ubc/housing-and-relocation-services

UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply.

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged.  We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Applications will include: a detailed and current curriculum vitae; and a letter of application that includes a statement of citizenship/immigration status and indicates the candidate's education, training and work experience in the areas listed above, as well as how did you hear about this opportunity. One consolidated PDF is preferred.