Digital Collections Assistant

Duties:

This position performs time-sensitive, specialized work requiring independent judgment across multiple critical functions - contributing to vendor evaluation and procurement, institutional repository management, and web archiving curation. The role manages competing daily priorities (urgent requests, ongoing projects, and strategic initiatives) as part of and consulting with a team and with minimal supervision.

Key Duties
Purchases library materials, ensuring adherence to library and vendor guidelines and VIU's financial requirements. Contributes to diagnosing and resolving acquisitions and access issues related to electronic resources and physical items.

Digitizes and creates descriptive metadata for locally created content for access in VIUspace. Evaluates publisher policies and advises on appropriate copyright and license permissions and versions for repository deposits. Defines, creates, executes, and manages the transcription of audio items in VIUSpace. Offers guidance regarding VIUSpace deposit of publications. Understands copyright compliance and other information rights related to digital objects in VIUspace.

Collaborates to develop, refine, and streamline web archiving processes. Assesses the suitability of web archiving targets based on storage requirements and content relevance, and consults with liaisons as appropriate. Sources, captures, curates, and describes web-based content within a collection's scope and objectives.

Ensures compliance with all relevant policies and standards for institutional repository, integrated library system, electronic resource management system, web archiving collections tools.

Maintains high standards in data integrity and accessibility within all systems.

Participates in communities of practice and working groups to develop new methods and best practices for library services. Explores and implements emerging trends and technologies in information science and digital preservation. Questions and considers long-standing practices related to information rights, copyright, privacy, and knowledge organization.

Required Qualifications:

Two-year Library Technician or Library and Information Technology Diploma from an appropriately accredited institution and a Bachelor's degree in a related field from an appropriately accredited institution. Five years recent experience in academic library technical services. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

• Experience with integrated library systems (e.g., Evergreen), electronic resource management systems (e.g., ExLibris), and web archiving tools (e.g., Archive-It).
• Knowledge of digital preservation technologies and best practices.
• Experience with digitization and institutional repositories (e.g., DSpace).
• Familiarity with open access principles
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Willingness to engage in continuous learning and professional development.

VIU is pleased to offer eligible employees a comprehensive benefit plan; ample paid holiday time; professional development opportunities and a desirable pension plan. As part of the VIU campus community, our employees work with supportive colleagues within an encouraging environment and are provided with the tools and training that promote learning and development. The perks of VIU employment are multiple, and include well-being initiatives and services, strategic discounts, and flexible work opportunities.

Note: 

• Short-listed candidates must provide original transcripts, or applicable original certifications at time of interview.
• All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
• Vancouver Island University (VIU) is collectively committed to building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment for faculty, staff, and students.  In our journey towards greater diversity, we invite applications from members of equity-seeking communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of all gender identities and sexual orientations who bring value to the VIU community through their lived experiences.  We encourage members of all equity-seeking groups to self-identify within their application cover letter.  When a candidate voluntarily discloses this information in their cover letter, the information will be used only for the fulfillment of the career opportunity.  Disclosure and/or self-identification with an equity-seeking group will not lead to advantageous treatment of a candidate who is not qualified.