GIS Librarian (-ish) Positions x2

1.
Geographic Information Systems Specialist (Bucknell University)

"Bucknell University seeks to hire a Geographic Information Systems Specialist for the Library and Information Technology organization... The primary responsibilities of this position are to develop, expand, and support a GIS user community by assisting students and faculty in the selection and use of appropriate GIS technologies; working with faculty and students in designing and executing projects using GIS; and providing instructional support in GIS."

While this position does not have the title Librarian and while a library degree is not required, this sounds quite similar to my responsibilities here. And, of course, this position does indeed reside in Bucknell's Library. With a salary of $40,000 - $60,000 this position sounds pretty fantastic for a GIS professional looking for an academic position.

2.
Data Service Librarian (New York University)

"New York University is seeking an energetic, creative, and knowledgeable librarian to select, acquire, manage, and deliver numeric and geospatial data collections to support campus research and scholarship."

Some snippets:

• The librarian will build numeric and spatial data collections and facilitate access to additional data resources across the sciences
• Reporting to the Data Service Coordinator, the Data Service Librarian works to develop appropriate description for managing research data collections; investigates new sources for metadata; keeps abreast of new and evolving metadata standards such as the Data Documentation Initiative (DDI) and Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) standards.
• The incumbent will develop and maintain awareness of data-centered initiatives across the sciences, attending professional meetings, workshops and conferences for training and continuing professional development.
• Requirements: Basic familiarity with software for statistical and geospatial analysis (e.g. SAS, SPSS, Stata, R, GIS applications).

This really sounds like an exciting position. We are continually increasing the numeric (non-spatial) data services and positions such as this one which straddle both numeric and spatial data services are the thing of the future. My opinion is that GIS technology is becoming more and more commonplace and within 5 years (or so) it might not be so necessary to maintain a professional strictly in GIS or strictly in non-spatial statistics. Great long-term opportunity for a highly experienced librarian.

Specific salary benefits are not mentioned, and considering the cost of NYC especially someplace wiothin an easy commute this perhaps will be a huge factor.

Position: Map and Data Services Librarian (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Map and Data Services Librarian and Assistant Professor (University of Illinois at Chicago)

"The University of Illinois at Chicago Library seeks a dynamic and energetic librarian to provide reference, research consultation/user education services for cartographic material and social science data sets, as well as implementation of GIS applications within the library and the university community."

There sure seems to be a need for good GIS folks in Illinois, eh? Last week, I posted the newly available position at the University of Illinois Library at Urbana-Champaign, and now there is a similar opening in Chicago.

As this position's title suggests, the posting describes this position as a mixture between GIS, traditional cartographic materials, and data/numeric services. However, there does seem to be a strong focus on the social sciences.

Here are some snippets:

• Works closely with primary users in a wide variety of academic areas including urban planning, history, earth sciences, public administration, sociology, political science, architecture, social work, education, public health.
• Participates in collection development decisions for cartographic materials and social science data (maps, atlases, remote sensing images, geospatial data).
• Participates in planning, design, and maintenance of web pages that include specific information about cartographic resources and GIS and social science data.
• Creates local indexes (property listings, remote sensing products, aerial photography, etc.).
• Works with other library units to assure consistent policies for the cataloging of maps, remote sensing imagery, aerial photographs, and data sets. Creates and reviews metadata for digital geospatial data and data sets, as needed.

Salary begins at $40,000, with faculty status.

Position: GIS Librarian (University of Illinois Library at Urbana-Champaign)

Position: GIS Librarian (University of Illinois Library at Urbana-Champaign)

"The University of Illinois Library is seeking an energetic and creative person to serve as the lead in the Library's collection and delivery of digital geospatial data and associated geographic information systems (GIS) services. The GIS Librarian will coordinate all aspects of the Library's digital geospatial information program at the intersection of user needs, technology, and data content. Creating a portal to geospatial data, the GIS Librarian will move the profession and services offered from traditional map librarianship towards geoinformatics with an increased interest in modeling geospatial data and in techniques applied to geospatial information systems for data management, retrieval, and analysis."

What a position! I have not posted a position here in a while as my regular blogging habits gave way to the business of this semester, but this position seems so exciting that I can not help myself... The folks over at Urbana-Champaign sure know what it takes to define the role of a GIS Librarian. If anyone out there is unsure about such a role, this job announcement is a fantastic concise summary.

Here are some snippets from the job announcement:

• "This is a full-time faculty position in the Map and Geography Library of the University Library."
• "Provides reference service, research assistance, and instruction in the selection and possible uses of digital geospatial data through in-person and remote one-on-one interactions, workshops/seminars, websites, blogs, and other avenues of widely distributed communication..."
• "Works with teaching faculty to implement GIS modules in courses. Prepares datasets to support course assignments."
  
• "GIS Librarian will craft a digital geospatial data collection development plan and will develop a campus clearinghouse and archive for digital geospatial data."
• "GIS Librarian will describe acquired data using appropriate metadata schema and mount and maintain data on Library or University servers, providing access to the campus community at large."
• "Serves as Library's contact person for campus site-license software such as ESRI and ERDAS
  products."
• "Develops and maintains close liaison relationships with local and state geospatial data producers."

There is no specific mention of a salary here, but considering the requirements and the high research level of the university, the salary should be nice.