$50,000 annually

Founded in 1893 as a Land Grant University, Montana State University (MSU) is composed of eight academic colleges and a graduate school and boasts a friendly, supportive faculty and campus environment. Currently, the University hosts an enrollment of over 14,000 students, including approximately 1,900 graduate students. MSU is classified as one of 108 U.S. Research Universities (very high research activity) by the Carnegie Foundation.

MSU is located in Bozeman, Montana, an extended community of about 70,000 nestled in the Rocky Mountains in Southwest Montana. In addition to providing access to an extraordinary ecosystem for teaching and research programs, Bozeman is renowned for year-round recreational and cultural opportunities to include access to world class ski areas, multiple blue ribbon trout streams and the Gallatin National Forest. The local airport is served by seven national airlines with over twenty flights a day to nine cities.

Named an All American City, Bozeman boasts high-quality medical facilities, a very low crime rate, many fine restaurants, acclaimed public and private schools, a symphony orchestra and choir, an annual opera, and nationally known events such as the Sweet Pea Festival of the Arts held in early August of each year. Powder Magazine identified Bozeman, with "three distinctly different" major ski resorts within an hour's drive, as the number one place to live and ski in its November 2010 Magazine. Bizjournals.com ranked Bozeman #2 on the list of American Dreamtowns - small towns that offer the best quality of life without metropolitan hassles. The K-12 educational system, growing reputation of Montana State University, and pristine natural environment of the area combine to make Bozeman one of America's most desirable university towns. Bozeman is located in the beautiful Gallatin Valley, 90 miles north of Yellowstone National Park.

The MSU Library plays an integral role in the teaching, research, and outreach missions of the University. Montana State University Library seeks a Digital Initiatives Librarian to explore, build, test, implement, and support the Library’s digital and mobile software applications. Technical responsibilities include significant web programming and database work. Design and accessibility responsibilities include: web application design, troubleshooting, and maintenance as well as ongoing application development and evaluation. The position also has a variety of project management responsibilities including coordinating and facilitating communication between Library teams and University departments, developing project specifications and documentation, and conducting project evaluations. The Library uses a mixture of open source and proprietary technologies to maintain its IT infrastructure and services. The IT infrastructure is primarily a Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP (LAMP) environment, but it also utilizes Sirsi, Illiad, Serial Solutions and the Summon Discovery layer to provide access to resources. As a member of the Digital Initiatives and Web Services team (DAWS), the Digital Initiatives Librarian will work within the DAWS team mission, which is to facilitate scholarship, teaching, and learning in a digital environment by providing Library web services and digital collections. As a member of the Library faculty, the Digital Initiatives Librarian is expected to meet the University’s research and service requirements for promotion and tenure.

Facilitate the development of the Library’s overall web-based and digital services programs. Act as lead worker for specific projects and working groups as needed. Train and work directly with Library staff to help make them more effective content contributors. Maintain ongoing development of the Library’s web services and digital projects. Incorporate appropriate design principles, information architectures, coding standards, and emerging technologies into the Library’s various open source web-based systems and projects. Contribute to processes that deliver Library content to external discovery and delivery mechanisms, such as: APIs and RESTful web services, search engine optimization, mobile application development, OAI harvesters, and integration with campus learning management systems and social sites. Anticipate web trends, investigate their application in academic libraries, and help to develop new web-based and digital services. The Digital Initiatives Librarian will lead the Library’s social media program.

Have excellent oral, interpersonal, and written communication skills; have the desire to work in a team environment; have a strong interest in learning on the job and applying new skills to meet library needs; and will have the ability to meet the research and service requirements for faculty promotion and tenure.

Screening of applications will begin on March 22, 2013 and will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.

To apply, submit the following:

• (1) a signed letter of application addressing all of the above required and preferred qualifications, and
• (2) a current curriculum vitae, and
• (3) the names, addresses and telephone numbers of three (3) current professional references.

  An application packet including all of the above items as listed is highly encouraged. Missing materials and/or information may not be requested and may result in your application not being considered for the position.

  Electronic submissions in PDF format are preferred, and must have the applicant's signature on the letter of application. For electronic submittals, please indicate "Applicant - Search #13-212" in the subject line of the email and send to robin@montana.edu If you choose to apply by postal mail, please submit complete application packets to:

  • Robin Francis
  • Assistant to the Dean
  • Montana State University
  • PO Box 173320
  • Bozeman, MT 59717-3320