Scholarly Communications & Acquisitions Librarian (12-month contract, Librarian I or II)

Scholarly Communications & Acquisitions Librarian (12-month contract, Librarian I or II)

Le français suit.

The Library Learning Commons (LLC) at Bishop’s University is seeking a motivated, self-directed, collegial, user-oriented librarian to offer scholarly communications and collection development services. The LLC serves a population of over 4,200 including students, faculty, and staff from Bishop’s University and Champlain Regional College, in a liberal arts setting. The LLC provides an environment for the exploration, discovery, creation and dissemination of knowledge, in groups or individually.

Nature of duties

The Scholarly Communications & Acquisitions Librarian plays a pivotal role in leading initiatives related to the acquisition, curation, promotion and dissemination of the University’s scholarly output and digital scholarship, including open access, digital repositories, research data management and preservation, support for academic publishing and other related activities. They will create instructional materials and may conduct training in these activities.

The chosen candidate will additionally lead the strategic acquisition, management, and promotion of the library’s collections. This position will be responsible for developing and maintaining a robust collection that supports the research, teaching, and learning needs of the institution. The successful candidate will serve as the primary point of contact with the library’s major vendors, communicate approved renewals and invoices to library technicians, and work with librarians to monitor collection spending. They will focus on collection management and strategy, devising and maintaining allocation formulas, subscriptions, and other scholarly publishing models.

The chosen candidate will apply understanding of scholarly communication and the evolving publishing ecosystem to identify and explore appropriate shifts in collections strategies for increased financial sustainability and physical space management.

The chosen candidate will establish and maintain effective relationships with key administrators, faculty, and students. They will execute detailed work efficiently to meet deadlines and budgets, effectively handle multiple tasks, with the initiative and creativity to solve problems.

They will collaborate with Bishop’s University’s Office of Research and Graduate Studies, and librarians in other Quebec and Canadian organizations such as the Partenariat des bibliothèques universitaires du Québec (PBUQ), the Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN), the Digital Research Alliance of Canada and Scholars Portal.

They will consult and collaborate regularly with Bishop’s University librarians about findings and future needs. The chosen candidate may also participate in research assistance for LLC users and perform other related duties as required.

The chosen candidate may participate in the shared decision-making of the working groups and committees of the library and University.

Qualifications and requirements

Minimal qualifications

• An ALA-accredited master’s in library and/or information science (or an equivalent relevant degree).
• Knowledge of scholarly publishing, open access, institutional repositories and research data management.
• Knowledge of acquisitions and collection development activities, using electronic resources.
• Professional initiative, flexibility and demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and collegially.
• Excellent analytical and interpersonal skills.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to interpret and explain library policies and procedures.
• Oral, reading and written fluency in English; oral and reading fluency in French and basic written French.

Desired qualifications

• Detail oriented.
• Record of advocacy for scholarly communication and open initiatives involving internal and external audiences.
• Experience solving technical issues.
• Familiarity with an array of publishing and access models, e.g., open access, traditional publishing, streaming media, document delivery, interlibrary loan, DDA, etc.
• Knowledge of library consortiums (e.g. PBUQ, CRKN), vendors and publishers.
• Ability to organize work effectively and efficiently to meet deadlines and budgets, complete detailed work, handle multiple tasks, and troubleshoot issues creatively.
• Flexibility to work in a changing environment, independently and cooperatively, with users of varying technical expertise.
• Experience with online library applications and tools.

This is a limited-term, 12-month contract position from approximately April 2025 through April 2026. This position may lead to permanent employment. This is a full-time, 35hr/week position. Evening and weekend work may be required. Salary will be commensurate with experience and according to the scales for Librarian I or II as defined in the Collective Agreement. Librarians have academic status and are members of the Association of Professors of Bishop’s University, Faculty and Librarians Bargaining Unit.

Bishop’s University is a primarily undergraduate institution with a strong emphasis on dynamic and effective teaching, experiential learning, and research and knowledge mobilization. Located in the beautiful Eastern Townships just southeast of Montreal, our riverside campus has a growing and vibrant research culture, cohesive community, small class sizes, collegial faculty, and staff, and is rated first in the country on student satisfaction.

Only those applicants chosen for an interview will be contacted. If interested, please submit your curriculum vitae and cover letter as one PDF file by February 28th, 2025, before 4:00 pm Eastern Time to Catherine Lavallée-Welch, University Librarian, at universitylibrarian@ubishops.ca, Bishop’s University, 2600 rue College, Sherbrooke, QC J1M 1Z7.

Bishop’s University observes an equal access employment in public bodies for women, visible minorities, ethnic minority, Indigenous and disabled people (including the possibility of accommodation during the selection process). Candidates who anticipate needing accommodation for any part of the process may contact Human Resources at HR@ubishops.ca. In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, but all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

Land Acknowledgement

Bishop’s University is located in the beautiful Eastern Townships just southeast of Montreal, on the unceded traditional lands of the Abenaki people. Meeting and working in this privileged location are a constant reminder of the need for continued conversations about the importance of decolonization and reconciliation, not just as abstract concepts, but as difficult ongoing processes to be worked on.