This position is responsible for managing Virginia Tech's digital library of cultural heritage, natural history, and scientific materials, placing a special emphasis on integrating emerging digital formats such as 3D imagery, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR).
Responsibilities include developing, managing, and innovating digital collections that encompass digitized archival materials, cultural artifacts, audio-visual formats, and biodiversity specimens. The role demands advanced skill in managing digital collections, in-depth
knowledge of metadata standards, and proficiency in digital preservation technologies to ensure broad accessibility and long-term preservation of diverse materials. Interdisciplinary collaboration across various library and university departments is crucial to effectively manage and enhance the accessibility and utility of digital collections through a range of evolving technologies. The librarian will play a leadership role in digital librarianship, demonstrating innovation in collection management, strategic budget management, and staying current with evolving trends in the field to continuously enhance the library's digital offerings, while also engaging actively with the broader academic and library communities.
Responsibilities:
The Digital Collections and Emerging Formats Librarian manages digital collections for Virginia Tech University Libraries’ digital libraries and preservation program by accomplishing the following:
-Digital Collections Management: Overseeing digital collections for Virginia Tech’s digital libraries and preservation program, enhancing access to digitized heritage and scientific collections, including emerging digital formats such as AR, VR, and 3D objects, using
content management systems and metadata editors.
-Metadata Remediation and Transformation: Coordinating metadata remediation for digital objects in cultural and scientific collections. Ensuring compatibility with external aggregators like DPLA and developing new metadata schemas for emerging formats.
-Workflow Optimization: Collaborating with the Digital Library Development team to optimize workflows for ingest and management. Implementing new technologies and systems that enhance digital asset management, especially for novel and emerging
formats.
-Supervision and Quality Control: Supervising staff and student workers, overseeing quality control, metadata enhancement, and authority control for collections. Fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within the team.
-Collection Organization: Ensuring collections are organized and described according to local standards and best practices in digital librarianship. Leading initiatives to digitize and make accessible physical collections, focusing on unique or rare items.
-Emerging Technologies and Formats: Staying abreast of and experimenting with emerging technologies and formats in digital librarianship. Piloting projects, evaluating new tools, and collaborating with tech companies and academic departments to advance
the library's digital offerings.
-Community Engagement and Collaboration: Engaging with the broader academic and library communities. Participating in consortia, contributing to professional communities, and building partnerships to enhance the library's digital collections and services.
-Professional Development and Leadership: Pursuing continuous learning and professional development in the field of digital librarianship. Attending and contributing to conferences, workshops, and webinars, and engaging in scholarly writing and presentations.