Data Services Librarian

Ohio University Libraries seeks a creative, user-focused, and forward-thinking individual to serve in the position of data services librarian. As a member of the Research Services department, the data services librarian supports OHIO students and faculty in discovering, using, and managing quantitative data for their research. This position works collaboratively across library units and with external stakeholders on developing, implementing, delivering, and assessing research data life cycle services. The librarian also participates in divisional support for academic programs through instruction, consultation, and collection development. Specifically, the data services librarian:

• Provides research assistance to OHIO researchers in discovering, using, and managing quantitative data.
• Collaborates with colleagues and faculty to develop data literacy instructional materials and programming for students and researchers across disciplines.
• Partners with external units such as the Office of Information Technology and the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs to support research data management efforts and outreach strategies.
• Provides consultation and instruction on topics such as finding and accessing data, using software and tools for working with data (e.g., Python, R, OpenRefine), preparing data for analysis, and managing and publishing data.
• Collaborates with library colleagues and other University partners to develop and provide data management services, including consulting on data management plans, advising on options for sharing and depositing data, and stewarding research data throughout its life cycle.
• Contributes to the work of the division of research and education by serving as liaison to one or more academic areas.
• Works collaboratively with a disciplinary team of other STEM librarians to provide instructional and consultation services and develop the libraries collections in support of assigned areas.
• Serves on Libraries or University committees, task forces, and/or other groups in support of advancing the Libraries’ strategic goals.
• Engages in regular professional development through research, publications, presentations, and participation in regional, national, and/or international professional bodies as part of a continuing commitment to bringing best practices and innovative services to the Libraries. Librarians are considered administrative staff at Ohio University.

The data services librarian will be a critical member of a new Research Services department, located within the Libraries’ Division of Research and Education, which recently underwent a reorganization to increase collaboration and forward-thinking library work. The Research Services department is comprised of 6 librarians that focus on programming and services in support of the primary research of faculty and students, which includes research data life cycle management, open scholarship and science, research impact analysis, digital scholarship, and data literacy. The data services librarian will be a partner in establishing this new team and crafting the department’s vision and priorities. The data services librarian will build upon their colleagues’ previous successes within Ohio University around research data management, data literacy, and a new bachelor’s in data analytics program. The department will expand upon the experiences of a year-long pilot program of functional teams within the division. Members of the Research Services department recently led a DMPTool implementation task force which included membership from the Office of Information Technology and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. These types of cross-campus partnerships are strong and will continue to develop through this position and within the Research Services department. Ohio University joined the most elite group of research institutions in the country by earning the R1 classification in the latest Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The data services librarian will partner with other librarians to foster collaborations that support and work with researchers at the highest level. Ohio University Libraries is in the final year of its strategic plan (https://www.ohio.edu/library/about/strategic-plan) which places Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility as a centerpiece to the Libraries’ efforts. A demonstration of these values is the Libraries’ statewide leadership in supporting the OhioLINK Luminaries Scholars program. Member libraries host a paid student position to expand career exploration and employment opportunities in librarianship, information studies, and data sciences to individuals from under-represented populations and economically disadvantaged environments. To support diversity in library collections, the Libraries collaborates with the university’s Juneteenth celebration committee and commits annual funds, to support significant collections acquisitions that honor and celebrate Juneteenth and its legacy (https://libguides.library.ohio.edu/juneteenth). Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS) from an ALA accredited school or from a master’s level program in library and information studies accredited or recognized by the appropriate national body of another country. In lieu of an MLIS, substantial experience in academic libraries may be considered.
• Minimum of 1 year of library or related work experience.
• Experience using at least two of the following: SPSS, Excel, Python, R, Open Refine, SAS, JMP, Stata, MATLAB, and/or SQL for collection and analysis of quantitative data.
• Experience and/or coursework related to the research data lifecycle, research data collection, reproducibility, research data management, and sharing of research data.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education and/or experience with trends in STEM teaching and research, including data literacy.
• Commitment to providing user-focused library services.
• Demonstrated success in a collaborative work environment, including effective communication skills.
• Demonstrated aptitude for developing knowledge of concepts, applications, and tools to gather, analyze, and store research data.
• Evidence of support for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the workplace or academic environment.
• Ability to set goals and determine the best course of action with broad guidance from supervisor and shared team expectations.
• Experience and/or training in instruction/teaching.
• Experience in an academic or research library.

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