Scholarly Communications Librarian

University of North Alabama•Florence, AL

42d

About The Position

This position is responsible for developing, coordinating, and promoting scholarly communication services and initiatives. This position focuses on advancing open access, managing institutional repositories, and supporting faculty and researchers in publishing and preserving their work. The role requires strong collaboration, technical expertise, and a commitment to innovation in scholarly communication.

Requirements

Knowledge of US copyright law and policy, open licensing, and Creative Commons practices in academic settings
Knowledge of OER, open access publishing models, institutional repositories, publisher licensing, and researcher IDs (ORCID)
Familiarity with metadata standards, digital repositories, and discovery tools
Strong analytical skills to assess programs, identify improvement opportunities, and develop/implement effective solutions
Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize tasks, and adapt to changing needs in a collaborative environment
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to convey complex information clearly to non-expert audiences
Strong presentation and instructional skills for workshops, consultations, and classroom settings
Proficiency in creating digital content (LibGuides, tutorials, social media) and using learning management systems
Initiative and self-direction with the ability to work independently and proactively
Strong interpersonal and public relations skills to build partnerships with faculty, staff, and external stakeholders
Commitment to professional development, innovation, and lifelong learning
Flexibility to work evenings/weekends as needed for events or projects
Ability to interact effectively with a varied array of students, faculty, staff, administrators, vendors, and the general public.
Master's degree in library science from an ALA-accredited program is required

Nice To Haves

Experience in scholarly communications or within academic libraries is preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the library's primary contact for scholarly communication questions and initiatives
Strengthen the library's leadership role in open access, copyright, and publishing trends
Contribute to the growth and promotion of UNA Digital Commons by encouraging submissions, assisting with metadata, and promoting usage through outreach, workshops, and integration with ORCID/Google Scholar
Champion access to materials beyond paywalls
Provide guidance and education on copyright, open licensing, and Creative Commons practices
Advise on fair use, author rights (SPARC addenda), and copyright clearance
Develop workshops and programs to educate faculty and students
Remain current on open educational resources (OER) and open access Initiatives (OAI)
Design and deliver presentations, workshops, and instructional programs to promote open textbook adoption
Support faculty in adopting and creating OER to reduce student costs
Collaborate with administration, liaison librarians, and university offices/departments to advance course material affordability initiatives
Promote and market open access and OER through subject guides, social media content, and events (e.g., open access week)
Address topics including plagiarism, predatory publishing, and artificial intelligence in research
Actively support the library's physical and electronic textbook reserve programs
Coordinate with campus bookstore and faculty to secure donations
Plan, develop, and deliver library instruction sessions (basic, course-related, and information literacy)
Create tutorials, guides, and surveys; participate in the embedded/course librarian program and provide one-on-one and group consultations
Track trends in bibliometrics, scholarly publishing, and open access/OER
Evaluate programs through surveys, usage reports, and documentation
Participate in student success initiatives and library engagement events
Collaborate with faculty senate research committee and academic colleges on OER and affordability
Serve on library, university, regional, state, or national committees as appropriate
Perform all other duties as assigned
Perform other duties as assigned to support the overall goals of the library and supervisor.