Digital User Experience Librarian

Apply now Job no:497351
Work type:Faculty Full-Time
Location:Denver, CO
Categories:Library Professionals, Faculty
Division: University Libraries

The University of Denver Libraries, comprised of the Main Library at the Anderson Academic Commons, the Bonfils Stanton Music Library in the Newman Center, and the off-site Hampden Center storage facility, is a highly collaborative, team-based organization that serves a diverse population, ranging from our students, staff, and faculty to public and other academic patrons from around the country and the surrounding region. The Anderson Academic Commons is the campus centerpiece for collaborative, technology-infused teaching, learning, and engagement. Consistently ranked in the Top 5 of Princeton Review’s best college libraries, the University of Denver Libraries are central to discovery and creative interaction among students and faculty, and provide collections, services, personnel, and systems that support the teaching and research programs of the University. The institution is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and inclusive faculty and staff committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment. To learn more, visit: https://library.du.edu/about-libraries/diversity-equity-inclusion .

At 5,280 feet, Denver is located where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains. Known as the Mile High City, you can expect to enjoy 300 days of sunshine, greenspace and parks, a thriving cultural scene, diverse neighborhoods, beautiful architecture and spectacular views of the mountain panorama near the city. To learn more, visit: https://www.denver.org/ .

Position Summary

The Digital User Experience Librarian reports to the Associate Dean for Scholarly Communication & Collections Services and is an important member of the Library Technology Services Department. The person in this position conducts user experience (UX) research and usability testing in order to continually improve the usability and accessibility of user-facing technologies. They are primarily responsible for the Libraries website and discovery layer and also provide UX support for other applications, such as Digital Commons @ DU and Special Collections @ DU. The Digital User Experience Librarian works to ensure the needs of users are at the forefront of all technology decisions, and cooperates closely to this end with campus units such as IT@DU, Marketing & Communications, the Disability Services Program and the Office of Teaching & Learning, as well as vendors and internal colleagues. The position leads the Libraries Web Committee, is a standing member of the Assessment and Metadata & Discovery Committees, and supervises hourly staff who support efforts in usability research and accessibility remediation.

All library faculty are members of the Professorial Series in University Libraries and are required to go through contract renewal and promotion according to the Library Faculty Guidelines. All faculty are evaluated based on their librarianship/curatorship, scholarship, and service. Further information and guidelines will be provided during the hiring process.

In your application, please include a one-page statement with examples of how you have engaged with or incorporated the perspectives of diverse, under-represented, or differently-abled populations in your previous work. Examples could include job experiences, internships, coursework, etc.

Essential Functions

• Lead UX research and assessment efforts for user-facing library technologies.
• Chair the Libraries Website Committee.
• Provide oversight for all content on library.du.edu.
• Work with IT@DU and Marketing & Communication on design and information architecture for library.du.edu.
• Monitor release notes and manage configurations for Compass (ExLibris Primo VE)
• Work with developers on Compass customizations as necessary.
• Work with Cataloging Librarian and E-Resources Manager on analysis of e-resource discoverability.
• Collaborate with colleagues across technical services departments on projects as appropriate.
• Monitor accessibility standards and policies and help set related strategy and policy.
• Monitor trends and best practices in library discovery and recommend and facilitate improvements to existing systems and services.
• Liaise with campus Disability Services on matters related to digital accessibility.
• Conduct usability studies and provide UX data to colleagues working with other discovery platforms, such as Digital Commons @ DU and Special Collections @ DU.
• Provide mockups and wireframes for homegrown discovery layers such as Special Collections @ DU.
• Work collaboratively to ensure Libraries technologies are compliant with Section 508 and WCAG 2.2 requirements.
• Advise and educate digital content creators in Web usability and accessibility best practices.
• Serve on library and campus committees and fully participate as an active member of a highly collaborative, team-based organization and attend regular meetings.
• Work in accordance with the promotion guidelines, engage in scholarly activities through research and publication, and participate in national and regional professional organizations.
• Work with library liaisons to engage academic departments as necessary.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate clearly and knowledgeably, both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices, issues, and trends in usability research and how they inform technology decisions.
• Knowledge of current and emerging models and tools used by libraries for resource discovery.
• Working knowledge of web and information architecture best practices.
• Working knowledge of Section 508 and WCAG 2.2 requirements.
• Ability to use knowledge, experience, awareness, and skills to advance DU’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, and to engage effectively with a broad spectrum of culturally diverse groups.
• Analytical skills for decision making.
• Ability to organize work and set priorities.
• Ability to actively engage in the library organization, including leadership and participation in teams, task forces, and committees, working professionally in support of colleagues, willingly stepping into other roles when needed, and sharing responsibility as a faculty member in the library’s mission, goals, programs, and plans.

Required Qualifications

• An accredited graduate degree in Library Science, Computer Science, Information Technology, or other related fields.
• Experience and/or coursework related to user experience research
• Knowledge of accessibility standards and how they apply to library technologies.
• Demonstrated knowledge, ability, or potential to engage effectively with diverse communities.

Preferred Qualifications

• A portfolio of previous work in UX.
• Experience working in technical services in an academic library.
• Experience with traditional and evolving cataloging and metadata practices.
• Experience with ExLibris Alma and Primo. (Alma Administration Certification and/or Primo VE Certification is a plus.)
• Past experience with accessibility remediation efforts.
• Evidence of or potential for scholarly engagement through publications or presentations.
• Evidence of or potential for contribution to the profession through service in regional and national professional organizations.

Working Environment

The work environment is an academic library, which is culturally diverse. The department is highly automated with attention paid to ergonomics and safety, using workstations equipped with easy access to needed resources and access to the Internet. The unit is one of several working collaboratively and cooperatively in a team-based organization.

This position necessitates substantial in-person engagement during the majority of working hours. The University of Denver and University Libraries offer a progressive flexible work policy that permits remote work, which can be negotiated between the employee and their supervisor.

Physical Activities

Work Schedule

While the University’s administrative offices are open Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, faculty schedules vary from term to term and are based on courses taught, service commitments, and research agendas. The University’s academic calendars are posted on the registrar’s website: https://www.du.edu/registrar/calendars-deadlines the law school is on a semester system and has a different academic calendar here: http://www.law.du.edu/academics/registrar ).

Application Deadline

For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) August 4, 2024.

Special Instructions

Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:

The salary grade for the position is UC.

Salary Range:

The salary range for this position is $65,000 - $70,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:

The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver .

Please include the following documents with your application:

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; Equal Pay Act; Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers' Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement .

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.