E-Resources Specialist

Department: Library

Classification: Library Specialist 3

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible; up to two days of telework per week and the rest of the time on campus

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience; no less than $58,000

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The Access & Resource Management (ARM) division works across the Libraries to support the university’s strategic goals and plan by acquiring, managing, and providing access to scholarly resources that enhance curricular and research needs. The division manages the lifecycle of the University Libraries’ scholarly collection from budget development to point of ordering to provision of access and all associated maintenance and assessment. The division is comprised of seven departments: Resource Acquisition (acquisitions, payments, subscription and e-resource management), Resource Licensing & Delivery (licensing and interlibrary loan/resource sharing), Collections Strategy (collections development and analysis), Metadata Services (metadata, cataloging, processing and binding), Database Integrity & Analysis (data collection and analysis, reports, and database cleanup), Preservation Services (physical preservation, stacks, shifts, disaster preparedness and response), and Access Services (Fenwick Information Desk, circulation, consortial loan service, and reserves).

Within the ARM division, the Resource Acquisition Department handles scholarly material requests through their lifecycle including ordering, payment, and provision of access to library users, while ensuring state procurement guidelines are followed and that the Libraries’ research materials budget is expended efficiently and appropriately each fiscal year. We have a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of all-inclusive diversity among its students, faculty, and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will support this commitment.

About the Position:

The E-Resources Specialist provides acquisition management and coordinates the library’s resources, especially in electronic format. Manages the entire complex order and access cycles for these materials – from the request of a new e-resource through ensuring accurate, up-to-date access for faculty and students. Maintains and updates a variety of databases, library systems, and other applications used in e-resource management. Works closely with faculty and staff in Collection Strategy, Digital Technologies and Services and the Subject Teams to ensure all e-resources are acquired and made available in a timely and accurate manner. Participates in licensing negotiations for the Libraries’ electronic resources and supports management of negotiated licensing terms for content in library systems. Cultivates integral relationships with vendors and publishers, and interacts with a larger, Mason community including students, faculty, other library staff, and other Mason departments. This position performs highly complex and integral duties that ensure critical continuity of access to scholarly resources and collections. Participates in committees and/or workgroups as required to share knowledge, develop best practices, and advance the work of the Libraries.

Responsibilities:

Electronic Resources Management

• Manages the order cycle for assigned electronic resources, from a variety of suppliers, both new and renewing orders;
• Performs all routine, non-routine, complex and specialized duties related to e-resource acquisition and management, including complex research and discovery for order details, complicated pricing models, access issues, technical specifications, and license options;
• Performs analysis of and communicating out findings;
• Initiates and responds to communications involving complex details with library stakeholders and publishers, agents, vendors and other providers;
• Tracks orders through activation processes including the management of account administration and registration processes;
• Places orders and renewals with appropriate vendor to ensure access is maintained;
• Initiates and maintains appropriate data for orders in library and external systems and applications; and
• Acquires and batch loads MARC catalog records for purchased and licensed electronic resources. 

Renewal and Access Support

• Manages the access cycle for assigned resources;
• Maintains multiple databases of order and renewal information, and access updates; under considerable time pressure, quickly, calmly, and thoroughly troubleshoots and reconciles a wide variety of problems, including billing issues, IP address problems, cataloging errors, broken or missing links, and provider problems or mistakes;
• Manages complex renewal procedures for assigned resources, including using license specifications to verify titles included in large packages of e-titles;
• Checks details (including price increases) and verifies that all invoices for their assigned resources should be paid; and
• Provides consultative analysis and evaluation of e-resources workflows and procedures. 

Statistics Gathering

• Develops, compiles and maintains procedural and statistical information for resources in management areas;
• Manages datasets and statistics to support review and analysis of assigned resources; and
• Creates or acquires and maintains relevant data and reports from Alma, publishers, agents, packages and other sources. 

Licensing Support

• Negotiates certain classes of contracts/licenses for electronic resources on behalf of the Libraries as part of the order and subscription renewal processes; and
• Interprets license terms for addition to the library information system (LIS) and ensures that the terms conform to accepted standards and practices. 

Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent;
• Library work experience;
• Customer service experience;
• Experience meeting deadlines and managing deliverables;
• Experience collaborating across departments;
• Demonstrated knowledge of library services platforms (e.g. Alma), and discovery systems;
• Understanding of electronic resources management;
• Demonstrated effective problem-solving skills with a variety of complex issues relating to processes and systems discrepancies;
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and deliverables; and
• Effective organizational and interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field;
• Work experience in library acquisitions, electronic resource management, or collection development;
• Academic library experience;
• Ability to interact with a variety of constituents and vendors;
• Ability to navigate and resolve common electronic resources management issues; and
• Demonstrated skills in library acquisitions.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for E-Resources Specialist at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a Cover Letter/Letter of Intent with Resume for review.

Posting Open Date: April 17, 2025

Posting Close Date: May 1, 2025

Open Until Filled:  No