RAMble, the University Libraries' blog

Help University Libraries support our Golden Rams on the WCU Day of Giving Friday, March 7, 2025!  West Chester University Libraries is at the heart of student success, providing essential resources, innovative study spaces, and programs that empower our community. Become a Friend of the Libraries and support our mission to serve students, faculty, staff and the community.  This Day of Giving, your gift helps us to: 

•  Provide students with skills for academic and career success and life-long learning 

• Develop dynamic spaces that inspire creativity, learning, and engagement 

• Increase access to books, journals, and digital resources 

 Every gift—big or small—fuels student success. Join us in making a difference today! 💛🐏  

To give the gift of supporting our Golden Rams in succeeding at WCU, visit our Day of Giving page.

This year, there is a matching gift challenge: $1 per $1 donated up to $1,000! A donation of $50 or more will enroll you in the Friends of the Libraries program. 

We're Hiring! | Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Digital Initiatives Librarian

Position Summary

 

Join a vibrant equity-minded campus community of educators whose excellence is reflected in its diversity and student success. West Chester University (WCU) Libraries invites applicants for the position of Digital Initiatives Librarian. This is a Full-Time, 9-month, Tenure Track, Assistant Professor position. The position begins in August 2025.

West Chester University, a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, is a public, comprehensive institution committed to offering high-quality undergraduate education, selected post-baccalaureate and graduate programs, and a variety of educational and cultural resources for its students, alumni, and citizens of southeastern Pennsylvania. The University offers more than 100 graduate and undergraduate programs in the sciences and mathematics, business and public management, arts and humanities, health sciences, education and social work, music, and interdisciplinary studies. We are a community of educators dedicated to developing graduates who succeed personally and professionally and contribute to the common good.

The mission of the University Libraries (UL) is to empower intellectual exploration through building connections, collections, and community. As a vital service point for the University’s academic programs, the University Libraries contribute to WCU’s core mission of student success. The faculty members serve as both instructors of information literacy and stewards of library resources. Learn more about West Chester University’s Libraries.

The ideal candidate is a visionary leader who will develop innovative strategies to advance the University Libraries’ digital teaching and support digital scholarship across campus, while also showcasing our unique digital collections. The faculty position will provide guidance and inspiration for a team dedicated to enhancing the University Libraries’ reputation as a campus leader in digital learning. The Digital Initiatives Librarian will be expected to develop responsive collections, deliver inclusive instruction, provide research support, and make scholarly contributions to the profession. The faculty member will collaborate with other University Libraries faculty and staff to ensure student success. May work some evening and weekend hours.

Responsibilities include:

• Oversee the conception, development, and implementation of digital projects
• Support in the acquisition of born-digital content, web-archiving, and other digital collecting initiatives
• Develop the vision for digital content hosting and sharing across a variety of platforms, including policies, workflows, procedures, and the selection and maintenance of various CMS
• Develop the vision for digital asset management and preservation, including policies, workflows, procedures, and selection and maintenance of the libraries’ dedicated server spaces and DAMS
• Participate, establish, and/or lead various teams to advance the University Libraries’ digital initiatives
• Partner, collaborate, and share content with consortia and external digital platforms to increase exposure of collections
• Promote and market the UL’s digital collections and scholarship services on campus and beyond
• Provide course instruction in digital literacy, digital humanities tools, and best practices in digital scholarship; and deliver general information literacy course instruction as needed
• Select the digital scholarship tools the UL will host, promote, teach, and support for scholarly purposes
• Instruct faculty and other members of the campus community on the use of various digital tools and practices, and collaborate with librarians and classroom faculty to incorporate digital collections into courses
• Provide in-person and virtual research consultations for students and faculty during designated shifts at the research help desk
• Participate in library and university governance (shared governance) 
• Engage in scholarship that includes research, scholarly, and/or creative activities to meet requirements for tenure and promotion
• Perform other duties as assigned

 

Minimum Qualifications

 

• Master’s degree in Library Science or closely related degree from an accredited American Library Association program
• At least 2 years professional experience working with digital collections and scholarship in an academic library or similar research environment
• At least 2 years teaching experience in an academic library or similar research environment
• Knowledge of library and archives metadata standards, systems interoperability, born-digital stewardship, and user experience design
• Knowledge of copyright and intellectual property rules and regulations in a digital environment
• Experience managing DAMs and CMS applications and/or software such as CONTENTdm, bepress, Islandora, Omeka, etc
• Demonstrated experience fostering an inclusive workplace
• Ability to effectively communicate in writing and verbally, and present dynamically to a variety of constituents

 

Preferred Qualifications

 

• Second advanced degree or additional graduate coursework; and/or
• Experience developing and implementing strategies and workflows in a collaborative environment while managing competing priorities; and/or
• Familiarity with a variety of instructional and library software/technology/applications such as learning management systems, LibGuides, SpringShare applications, Primo, Alma, etc.; and/or
• Ability to work effectively independently and collaboratively in a collegial academic setting; and/or 
• Experience providing reference and research services in person and/or virtually to students and faculty; and/or

• Record of professional service, scholarship, publication, and/or presentations at a national level

   

Special Instructions

West Chester University of Pennsylvania offers highly competitive salaries and excellent benefits.

Apply online at https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/wcupa. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
 
Review of application will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Applicants must successfully complete the application and interview process to be considered as a finalist.

Required Documents for Consideration
To be considered as an applicant for this position, please submit the following:

• Cover letter 
• Curriculum vita
• List of three references with contact information (Include position title, phone number, and email address)
• Diversity statement (See below)

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
West Chester University has joined EAB’s Moon Shot initiative for Equity in Higher education. This initiative is designed to support faculty, students, and staff who are typically excluded and therefore underrepresented. As part of your application for a tenure-track faculty position, we request a Diversity Statement. This request highlights our department's commitment to promote diversity and inclusiveness and to cultivate a campus environment that welcomes all. This commitment reflects the Diversity Theme of West Chester University's Strategic Plan and supports initiatives of our Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (WCU Diversity Equity Inclusion). We expect that each applicant's statement will be unique, as informed by their own experiences and goals. Some topics you might address in a 1-2-page statement include the following: (1) How have you supported diversity and inclusion in your interactions with others in classroom, therapy setting, and/or research environments? (2) What have you done to help students from diverse communities (such as underrepresented minorities, non-traditional, LGBTQ, veteran, rural, and/or first generation) succeed, including any programs for these students in which you have participated? (3) Describe your commitment to working toward achieving equity and enhancing diversity at WCU. How might you contribute to our current diversity initiatives, and do you have any other ideas to help promote equity on our campus?

 

• Official transcripts will be required prior to hire.

All offers of employment are subject to and contingent upon satisfactory completion of all preemployment criminal background checks.

Developing and sustaining a diverse faculty and staff advances West Chester University’s educational mission and strategic Plan for Excellence. West Chester University is an Affirmative Action – Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

 

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