Role Description
Western Libraries is pleased to be recruiting for a newly created position with a focus on digital strategies and capacities. Reporting to the Head, Research and Scholarly Communication (RSC) and working primarily on campus, the Digital Strategies Librarian is a member of the RSC team and partners with students, faculty, librarians, archivists, and staff to enhance learning, teaching, and scholarship through technologies and knowledge of emerging and established digital research methods. The Digital Strategies Librarian will contribute to the evolution of digital infrastructure and supports for scholarship at Western University in partnership and close collaboration with the university community. Working in concert with experts across Western Libraries, including colleagues in Library Information Technology Services (LITS), the incumbent will help the Western community engage with and harness technologies that aid and impact discovery and inquiry, research workflows and productivity, and interactions with library collections. They will also be closely involved in Western Libraries-wide digital initiatives and projects, providing project management, technical expertise, or other resources and supports.
The RSC team is committed to collaborating with researchers across campus throughout the research cycle, to advance the creation, management, dissemination, and preservation of scholarship. The Digital Strategies Librarian will contribute to the RSC team that has existing expertise in the areas of copyright, author rights, open access advocacy and scholarly publishing, institutional repository services, data management practices, GIS, data services, and knowledge synthesis (e.g. systematic reviews). The RSC team also collaborates with Western Research to sustain an active partnership in research services and knowledge exchange activities.
Responsibilities
• Works closely with colleagues across the library system to identify innovative and evolving digital tools and resources that advance scholarly exploration and investigation.
• Leads and/or supports institution-wide digital projects, initiatives, services, and platforms. Examples of ongoing or planned projects include the implementation, development, and management of a new DSpace repository; a digital asset management (DAM) system for special and general collections; a university-wide researcher information management system (RIMS); and Western Libraries’ Open Journal System (OJS) instance.
• Proactively seeks out and develops opportunities for partnerships with faculty and academic units on campus, effectively deploying technical, scholarly, and project management skills to plan and execute innovative, sustainable digital projects.
• Develops and supports programming in Scholars Lab, a newly created collaborative space in The D.B. Weldon Library.
• Leads and/or supports digital scholarship services and projects; library bibliometric services and projects including research metrics and impact; and digital research services ideation within Western Libraries.
• Actively collaborates beyond Western Libraries with Western Technology Services (WTS) and other campus and external partners.
• Supports and advances Western’s EDIDA strategic plan in all aspects of work.
• Participates in library-wide activities, committees, projects, and programs.
Qualifications
• Master’s degree in library and information science or equivalent from an ALA-accredited institution, or a PhD in Library and Information Science or equivalent degree.
• Familiarity with library technology standards and protocols (e.g., XML and JSON)
• Ability to identify and recognize existing skills and expertise within Western Libraries and show awareness of how to support colleagues and create partnerships rather than duplicating efforts or setting up parallel processes.
• Experience implementing methods, tools, services, and/or spaces related to digital scholarship (including but not limited to, text mining, data analysis and visualization, text encoding, image analysis, augmented reality, machine learning, or digital exhibits).
• Ability to provide research and consultation services to researchers with varying levels of technical expertise.
• Understanding of data and metadata issues, as well as familiarity with large data aggregators (e.g., Open Alex, CrossREF, Dimensions, The Lens).
• Knowledge of data mapping and integration; metadata harvesting, reporting and analytics development, and API integration.
• Experience in programming or scripting in Python or other languages, or experience collaborating with programmers in an academic setting.
• Demonstrated understanding of the research lifecycle and ability to analyze, implement, and adapt new library services to meet emerging research needs in the disciplines taught and studied at Western University.
• Excellent organizational and communications skills and the ability to balance multiple assignments and projects.
• Demonstrated ability to work across one or more teams/units to plan and deliver projects or achieve organizational goals.
Environment
Western Libraries, one of Canada’s leading research libraries, is committed to excellence: anticipating information and service needs related to the University’s goals for research and scholarship, teaching and learning, and service to our university community and key partners. Our Strategic Plan for 2022-2028, Forward Together, aligns with the University’s strategic plan, Towards Western at 150, which has three main themes: Greater Impact; People, Community, and Culture; and Western’s Place in the World. In 2024, Western released its Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Decolonization and Accessibility (EDIDA) Strategic Plan: Advancing Inclusive Excellence, the first collaborative roadmap to building a more inclusive Western community and campus.
Western Libraries is a member of the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL), the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL), the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Center for Research Libraries (CRL), the Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN), and a partner in the OCUL Collaborative Futures Project. Recognized for the quality of its staff, the access and services provided, and its outstanding print and digital collections, Western Libraries supports the University’s mission to create, disseminate, and apply knowledge for the benefit of society through excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship.
Librarians at Western are Members of the Librarians and Archivists Bargaining Unit represented by The University of Western Ontario Faculty Association. Librarians and Archivists have responsibilities related to Professional Practice, Academic Activity, and Service to the academy and profession. Terms and conditions of employment, including salary and benefits, are governed by the Librarians and Archivists Collective Agreement. Rank and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
The 2025-26 annual salary minimum for each rank is as follows: General Librarian/Archivist – $66,713; Assistant Librarian/Archivist – $73,422; Associate Librarian/Archivist – $85,007; Senior Librarian/Archivist – $102,079. Western offers a comprehensive benefit package including, but not limited to, extended health, dental, vision and pension.
Learn more about Western University
Learn more about Western Libraries
Learn more about the Librarians and Archivists Collective Agreement
Learn more about the University of Western Ontario Faculty Association
Application Procedure
This position has an anticipated start date of July 1, 2025 (negotiable). Applicants invited for an interview will be asked to make a presentation to members of the Western Libraries community and to provide proof of their educational qualifications. Applicants are required to submit the Application for Full-Time Librarian or Archivist Position form, a
covering letter, a curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information for three professional references, in electronic format by May 31, 2025, 11:59 PM (EDT) to:
Office of the Vice-Provost and Chief Librarian
Western University
Email: [email protected]
Only applications received by email will be considered.
Please submit your application package as a single electronic file (MS Word or pdf). Please quote in the subject line reference #:2025DigitalStrategies
Please ensure that the form available at https://www.uwo.ca/facultyrelations/careers/full-time-application-lib-archs-new.pdf is completed and included in your application submission.
Business Address: Western University, 1151 Richmond Street N., London, ON N6A 5B8
Positions are subject to budget approval. Applicants should have fluent communication skills in English. The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.
In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact [email protected] .
Posted on Faculty Relations website on April 22, 2025.
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