Electronic Resources Access Librarian

About the role

The Northwestern University Libraries seek an innovative and collaborative librarian to oversee and enhance access to electronic resources and digital research materials. This position develops solutions and implements processes related to discovery and access for the University's $11 million electronic-collections portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Oversees and supports electronic resource access and discovery, including the management of holdings within the Libraries' knowledge bases, discovery systems, and integrated library system (Alma)
• Improves user access and discovery of e-resources by anticipating and resolving issues with remote access and authentication products
• Updates and manages metadata for electronic resources, in close collaboration with colleagues in Acquisitions & Metadata Services
• Explores, evaluates, and implements new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) tools that enhance electronic resource access and improve workflows; shares findings and recommendations across the organization to promote cross-functional understanding
• Communicates with vendors and publishers to resolve and prevent access issues
• Works closely with other members of the unit to manage the electronic resources life-cycle and identify ways in which the unit can improve processes related to electronic resources
• Manages authentication mechanisms (EZproxy) to facilitate seamless access to e-resources and ensure IP ranges, link resolver settings, and branding are up to date with content providers
• Develops strategies for proactively identifying and resolving access issues
• Serves as a primary point of contact for access problems from library staff and Northwestern students, faculty, and staff
• Creates and maintains workflows, best practices, and documentation to manage electronic and subscription resources
• Designs and leads training sessions for staff to address emergent problems and ongoing needs related to electronic resource access, authentication, authorization, and patron privacy
• Identifies and supports metadata and access cleanup projects to ensure up-to-date and accurate records
• Develops expertise on current and emerging access practices and trends, including developments related to e-resource standards, research methods, and access
• Collaborates with colleagues throughout the library by leading the effort to support seamless electronic resource access and discovery, including licensed and open access resources
• Coincides with multi-site access with other Northwestern University Libraries
• Engages in appropriate professional development, continuing education, research activities, and service to the University
• Stays informed on trends in e-resource discovery and access and contributes to the profession through engagement with colleagues across the Library, with consortial partners in the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA), Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI), and other peer networks

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in library and information science from an ALA accredited institution or equivalent training or experience
• 2 years of experience working in e-resource access management, acquisitions, metadata, or other technical area of library operations in an academic library
• Familiarity with workflows relating to management and access of electronic resources
• Mindset for innovation and problem solving, with curiosity and enthusiasm for exploring how AI and other emerging technologies can enhance workflows and end-user services
• Capacity to communicate about technical challenges and solutions to colleagues with both technical and non-technical backgrounds
• Demonstrated analytical and organizational skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in an academic or research library
• Familiarity with authentication systems (for example: EZProxy, OpenAthens, etc.)
• Experience exploring, piloting, or implementing new processes or technologies in a library environment, especially automation solutions or AI-enabled tools