Harvard University
04-Apr-2023
eResources Coordinator & Licensing Specialist
Harvard Library
62074BR
Job Summary
Although the position will remain posted until filled, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by end of day on May 8, 2023.
Information and Technical Services actively supports the teaching and research mission of the Harvard Library by managing monograph, serial and electronic resources acquisitions, metadata creation, and metadata management for the Harvard Library.
As a member of the Electronic Resources unit within the Electronic Resources and Serials Section, under the supervision of the Manager, E-Resources, the incumbent will actively participate in the electronic resources life cycle, mentoring E-Resources Unit and other ITS employees; and actively working across departments to optimize access to electronic resources.
They will also actively work across departmental lines in an environment where collaboration, innovative thinking, customer service, fostering an inclusive environment, and creative problem solving are all highly valued.
Priorities will be set to maximize contributions to the overall goals of the Information and Technical Services Department of the Harvard Library. Due to the varied nature and volume of the work in ITS, all ITS staff may be called upon to contribute to work in any unit or team of the ITS department, as organizational needs warrant.
The E-Resources Coordinator and Licensing Specialist focuses on negotiating and developing licenses to support emerging needs, and manages electronic resources collections sponsored by multiple departments. This position also provides advice and consultation for library staff negotiating licenses in individual libraries across Harvard, and provides financial oversight for e-resource acquisitions, valued at approximately $8.1 million.
Position Description
- Participates in the e-resource lifecycle, including trials, acquisition, licensing, access, discovery, renewal, and assessment.
- Communicates and collaborates across library departments in support of discovery, authentication, and access needs and functions.
- Establishes ongoing relationships with vendors, publishers, consortia, and library staff as primary point of contact to manage e-resource collections and meet community needs.
- Manages the troubleshooting and resolution of access issues in consultation with other library staff, as needed.
- Coordinates and monitors shared funding arrangements among Harvard schools, libraries, and other departments.
- Participates in ongoing systems and workflow evaluation related to e-resources.
- Oversees and contributes to e-journal reconciliations for package deals. Establishes and coordinates the process for processing annual renewals for large e-journal packages.
- Creates and updates training and procedural documentation.
- Contributes to the overall goals of the department as appropriate, including participation in the Harvard Library Committee structure, as needed.
- Negotiates, monitors and renegotiates major e-resource license agreements.
- Collaborates with other Harvard departments, such as the Office of General Counsel, on best practices for licensing and e-resource management.
- Consults with individual library units on local licenses as requested, and provides training and guidance as to licensing terms and requirements.
- Participates in the development and maintenance of guidelines for standard license terms.
- Handles license breaches in consultation with technical, administrative and vendor staff.
- Oversees maintenance of license information in the library or other contract management systems.
- Provides guidance to university-wide communities on policies and procedures for e-resource licensing.
- Incorporates accessibility into the procurement and renewal process, including activities such as reviewing VPATs, updating license language, and participating in accessibility audits.
Basic Qualifications
- MLS or equivalent
- 2+ years relevant experience
- At least one year of experience supporting electronic resource licensing within an academic library
- Strong working knowledge of office productivity tools, such as MS Office or Google Apps for Education, and library software, such as Alma
Additional Qualifications and Skills
- Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging, and anti-racism.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, allowing for collaboration with diverse groups, including library patrons and staff, and vendor sales and technical support representatives.
- Knowledge of the technical issues involved in online and networked delivery of e-resources.
- Expertise in legal concerns and business models associated with acquiring and managing online content.
- Project management experience with the ability to lead and evaluate e-resources systems and workflows.
- Familiarity with electronic publishing and/or scholarly communication.
- Current understanding of best practices for electronic resource licensing in academic environments.
- At least one year of experience drafting or negotiating electronic resource licenses, including license terms pertaining to copyright/fair use, accessibility, and electronic course reserves.
- Awareness of testing methodology and best practices related to accessibility.
Physical Requirements
There are no major physical demands required in this position other than working at a computer workstation.
Working Conditions
The work associated with this position is performed in a library/office setting.
The position will be based on our campus in Cambridge, MA., however there is the opportunity for a flexible or hybrid work model compliant with Harvard University remote work policies.
Benefits
We invite you to visit Harvard’s Total Rewards website to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:
- Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
- Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
- Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
- Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
- Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
- Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
- Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
- Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
- Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Across the Harvard Library, our work is enriched by our diverse campus community. Our unique and wide-ranging abilities, experiences, and perspectives are integral to achieving Harvard University’s mission of excellence in research, teaching, and learning for our patrons, our collections, and our workplace. We believe that an inclusive environment that cultivates and promotes understanding, respect, and collaboration across our diverse workforce enables our success.
We invite individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and abilities to be a part of our community of over 700 staff members. Our work with faculty, students and researchers to explore answers to intellectual questions, enduring and new, and to seek solutions to the world’s most consequential problems, requires that we not only reflect, but also champion our diverse society.
Harvard Library inspires collaboration, reflection, experimentation, and discovery connecting users to related disciplines and to University-wide teaching resources. The Library engages users through curated discovery, digital collections, reimagined physical space, and specialized research support. Today, Harvard Library’s holdings range from traditional print collections to rapidly expanding access to digital resources. Harvard Library provides the University’s faculty, students, and researchers-now and in the future-with exceptional experiences and comprehensive access to these materials.
Learn more about our contributions to the academic enterprise by visiting us at http://library.harvard.edu and about the Harvard University community at http://hr.harvard.edu/why-harvard.
The Harvard Library is a proud member of the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) Diversity Alliance.
Job Function
Library
Location
USA – MA – Cambridge
Department
Information and Technical Services
Time Status
Full-time
Union
00 – Non Union, Exempt or Temporary
Pre-Employment Screening
Criminal, Education, Identity
Department Office Location
USA – MA – Cambridge
Work Format
Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.
EEO Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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