Systems and Discovery Librarian

About the role

Collins Library seeks an experienced Systems and Resource Discovery Librarian to serve as the primary administrator and strategic coordinator for the integrated library services (ILS) platform (Ex Libris Alma and Primo VE) that enables research, teaching, scholarship, and student success at the University of Puget Sound.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Technical Administration
• Provide strategic leadership, technical administration, and institutional coordination for Ex Libris Alma (the library resource management system) and Primo (the primary end-user discovery interface), ensuring alignment with institutional goals, user needs, and evolving library service models.
• Serve as the primary administrator for Alma modules including Acquisitions, Resource Management, and Analytics.
• Configure workflows, manage permissions, implement updates, and maintain system integrity across all functional areas of the platform, including integration with university systems.
• Design, implement, and sustain workflows and protocols that facilitate seamless, equitable, and barrier-free delivery of physical and digital collections while maintaining compliance with institutional and consortial IT standards for system architecture, security protocols, and user privacy protection.
• Discovery & User Experience Optimization
• Direct the configuration, customization, and ongoing optimization of the Primo VE discovery interface to deliver an excellent user experience.
• Implement interface enhancements, refine search algorithms, manage display logic, and ensure seamless integration between Alma and Primo VE.
• Partner with library staff to advance systems functionality and adopt user experience principles that strengthen discovery capabilities.
• Coordinate the selection, review, testing, evaluation, and deployment of emerging discovery functionalities and metadata improvements within the Alma-Primo ecosystem.
• Monitor Ex Libris and Orbis Cascade Alliance development roadmaps, participate in beta testing programs, and communicate implementation and deployment plans with both technical and public-facing library personnel.
• Address staff and patron inquiries and troubleshoot system and electronic resource issues and outages.
• Collaborate closely with Public Services (including liaison librarians) to make decisions about the Primo interface.
• Metadata Quality & Knowledge Base Management
• Oversee knowledge base management within Alma, including portfolio activation, metadata enrichment, collection representation, and liaison with the Ex Libris Community Zone.
• Lead metadata quality initiatives and coordinate knowledge base cleanup projects to improve the accuracy, online searchability, and discoverability of library resources.
• Establish quality control procedures and implement improvement strategies for bibliographic and holdings data in Alma.
• Engage with colleagues implementing metadata frameworks including MARC, Dublin Core, Bibframe, and RDA, along with data exchange protocols such as XML, JSON, and KBART to support interoperability and standards compliance.
• Systems Integration
• Share accountability for incorporating and integrating third-party software and applications essential to resource discovery, scholarly support, research, and academic achievement.
• Manage API integrations, authentication protocols (including proxy servers), and system interoperability to ensure consistent, barrier-free access across platforms.
• Collaborate closely with library technology staff and campus IT units when investigating integrations and enhancements that utilize Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), customized search configurations, and Alma development environment tools.
• Partner with archival staff to enhance the visibility, discovery, and accessibility of archival materials and digitized content within Primo VE and OCLC WorldCat.
• Collaborate closely with Public Services staff on integrating databases, collections, and ILL services in Alma for an improved user experience.
• Analytic Reporting & Evidence-Based Planning
• Manage and analyse usage data and other analytics to support external surveys such as IPEDS and Association of College and Research Libraries, and to support data driven decisions regarding return on investment for selection/renewal purposes.
• Configure, automate, and manage the systematic harvesting of electronic resource usage statistics utilizing the SUSHI (Standardized Usage Statistics Harvesting Initiative) protocol in compliance with COUNTER standards.
• Leverage Alma Analytics and other business intelligence tools to analyze data, build custom dashboards, and generate reports that support evidence-based decision-making for collection development, vendor evaluations, and budget allocations.
• Consortium Engagement & Organizational Strategy
• Represent Collins Library on Orbis Cascade Alliance committees, working groups, and task forces related to the Shared ILS (SILS), electronic resources, discovery, and shared content lifecycle management.
• Collaborate closely with Alliance peers to troubleshoot complex access issues, manage centralized electronic resource activations, coordinate joint troubleshooting efforts, and maintain seamless interoperability supporting Summit resource sharing.
• Advise library leadership on Alliance programmatic developments, resource management strategies, and vendor RFP processes; serve as the internal change agent to communicate, implement, and train local staff on consortium updates and policy shifts.
• Engage proactively in collaborative collection development and shared content programs, ensuring that institutional tracking, licensing frameworks, and electronic resource harvesting comply with both University of Puget Sound standards and Alliance agreements.
• Supervisory & Leadership Responsibilities
• Serve as a leader on the RMS team by developing and overseeing implementation and completion of strategic projects.
• Works closely with the University Librarian and Cataloging and Technical Services Librarian to plan and lead RMS team meetings, training, and cross-team collaboration.
• Budget Responsibilities
• Works closely with the University Librarian and Acquisitions and Electronic Resources Manager to create, manage, and monitor the library acquisitions budget.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in library science or information science from an ALA-accredited institution.
• Demonstrated training and professional experience in a technical services or library systems environment within an academic library, with focused expertise in integrated library system (ILS) administration and/or electronic resource management.
• Enthusiasm for user-centered continuous improvement of library systems.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job, including spending considerable time using a computer and sitting or standing for extended periods.
• Ability to respectfully work, communicate and provide leadership within a diverse campus community.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least one year of experience with the Ex Libris Alma/Primo VE system.
• Experience with resource management in consortium environments, such as the Orbis Cascade Alliance, and collaborative system management.
• Experience with SUSHI and Counter processes and protocols.
• Experience working with KBART and data exchange applications.
• Ability to read and utilize SQL for custom data reporting and manipulation.
• Experience planning and implementing database, journal, and other resource reviews.