Special Projects Librarian, Copyright Office
(Three-Year Term Appointment)
The University of Michigan Library seeks a Special Projects Librarian to assist in the coordination of major digital initiatives within the University Library. The Special Projects Librarian will work under the supervision of the Lead Copyright Officer and with a range of Library staff in the delivery and management of digital library content and services. The Special Projects Librarian will be the project manager for a key part of a project funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to make copyright determinations for US works published between 1923 and 1963. This project builds on the work of the IMLS-funded Copyright Review Management System (CRMS) grant awarded in 2008 (`CRMS-US'). For detailed information about CRMS, see http://www.lib.umich.edu/imls-national-leadership-grant-crms. The Special Projects Librarian will work collaboratively with project and technical staff related to the CRMS project at the University of Michigan and major external partners.
The IMLS-funded Copyright Review Management System (CRMS) Special Projects Librarian operates primarily as project coordinator, system designer, and the arbitrating expert reviewer in the development of a Copyright Review Management System. The Special Projects Librarian also trains and advises staff at Michigan and other participating institutions. CRMS-related work constitutes 85% of the assignment of the Special Projects Librarian. In addition to CRMS-related functions, the Special Projects Librarian provides copyright support specific to the HathiTrust initiative, fielding specific inquiries about the status of works, managing requests to open or restrict specific items, and guiding investigations around specific problem volumes. Finally, as part of the IMLS-funded work, the Special Projects Librarian coordinates activities with other relevant managers in Technical Services and the Digital Library Production Service, and maintains project information for the Principal Investigator.
A high degree of coordination with staff within the Library is required - the Special Projects Librarian coordinates tasks, performs outreach and communication (particularly to other project staff within the Library and with partners), tracks the progress of projects, and performs a variety of duties as assigned: prepares documentation, reports, and presentations, conducts research, develops training materials, trains new reviewers, and coordinates meetings and events. While this job builds on and continues an existing project with an established protocol, this position is expected to recommend and execute agreed-on improvements, help develop web-based training to facilitate education for new reviewers in the CRMS process, document process and activity, and write status reports identifying accomplishments as well as concerns.
Specific responsibilities include:
Project management - 50%
- Manage administrative aspects of the development of the CRMS; track project work-in-progress by staff to ensure that deadlines are met.
- Assist in defining appropriate workflows for CRMS and assume primary responsibility for documenting them.
- With support from other staff, design and/or lead in the design of the CRMS.
- Prepare communications/reports for IMLS and other audiences regarding ongoing work with the development of the CRMS.
Training and staff guidance - 35%
- Train staff in the application of complex rules driven by US and other copyright regimes.
- Train staff in the use of the CRMS.
- Arbitrate "split" decisions in the CRMS and use process to help refine future decisions.
- Research and related support.
HathiTrust Rights Management - 15%
- Field specific inquiries about the copyright (or other rights) status of works.
- Manage requests to open or restrict specific items.
- Guide investigations around specific problem volumes.
- Help develop and manage systems to store this information.
- Presentations at professional meeting, for staff, and similar regarding the CRMS project.
- Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- ALA accredited Master's degree in Library or Information Science, or an equivalent combination of a relevant advanced degree and experience.
- Demonstrated experience with project planning/tracking.
- Demonstrated experience with project communication with a diverse project team, including external partners.
- Experience in working with information resources, document analysis, and implementing resources on the World Wide Web.
- Ability to work independently and to contribute successfully to and function effectively within a team setting.
- Ability to establish measurable goals and objectives and to implement strategies to achieve them.
- Interpersonal skills to work effectively up and down reporting lines as well as with external constituencies.
- Demonstrated oral and written communication skills.
- Strong analytical skills and ability to solve problems creatively and diplomatically.
Desired
- Experience with copyright law.
BENEFITS, RANK, and SALARY
It is anticipated that the position will be filled at the Assistant Librarian level; final rank and salary are dependent on experience and qualifications. Professional positions receive 24 days of vacation a year, 15 days of sick leave a year with provisions for extended benefits, as well as opportunities for professional development and travel.
Further information regarding benefits can be found at http://benefits.umich.edu/benefitgroups/faculty.html .
RETIREMENT OPTIONS:
TIAA-CREF and Fidelity Investments options available.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Email a cover letter and CV as attachments to libhumres@umich.edu addressed to:
Jane Havens
Head of Library Human Resources
404 Hatcher Graduate Library North
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1190
For further information, call 734-764-2546 between 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M., Monday-Friday.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Review of applications will begin 11/9/11 and continue until the position is filled.
The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
Last modified: 10/20/2011
tag this page
