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KU Libraries Job Openings

Library Application Administrator (Systems Specialist)

Watson Library at night The University of Kansas Libraries invites applications for a newly created position, Application Administrator reporting to and located within KU Libraries. The candidate will work as part of a growing team of library technology professionals who manage foundational library and scholarly systems and accompanying application services within KU Libraries. This position reports to the Manager, Library Applications.

KU Libraries' management and scholarly applications are built on both vendor and open source products that include Voyager, ILLiad, Luna Insight, DSpace, Open Journal Systems, XTF (the Extensible Text Framework), EZProxy, the CNRI Handles Server, web servers, and various applications developed in-house. These systems are core to the mission of KU Libraries and provide services to support teaching, learning and research at the university. Application support underpins a variety of services that our faculty, staff, and students depend on every day: the library catalog, interlibrary loan and document delivery services, KU ScholarWorks as our open access institutional repository, digital publishing and data services, and access to rich visual resources, online collections, and physical materials.

Application administration responsibilities include oversight for all aspects of application administration including systems planning, application upgrades, configuration, maintenance, integration, quality assurance and testing, and support for library staff that provide service delivery. In some cases, this position will work closely with the other application managers, the Libraries' Web Services manager, and systems administrators in KU Libraries or campus IT to manage technology services effectively for KU Libraries. This position is core to library and to technology planning and will need strong analytical and communications skills to obtain and review data that can be analyzed and reported to planners as written reports and recommendations.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

This position reports to the Manager, Library Applications and works as part of a team of library technology professionals who manage foundational library and scholarly systems and accompanying application services within KU Libraries.

KU Libraries' management and scholarly applications are built on both vendor and open source products that include Voyager, ILLiad, Luna Insight, DSpace, Open Journal Systems, XTF (the Extensible Text Framework), EZProxy, the CNRI Handles Server, web servers, and various applications developed in-house. These systems are core to the mission of KU Libraries and provide services to support teaching, learning and research at the university. Application support underpins a variety of services that our faculty, staff, and students depend on every day: the library catalog, interlibrary loan and document delivery services, KU ScholarWorks as our open access institutional repository, digital publishing and data services, and access to rich visual resources, online collections, and physical materials.

Application administration responsibilities include oversight for all aspects of application administration including systems planning, application upgrades, configuration, maintenance, integration, quality assurance and testing, and support for library staff responsible for service delivery. Teamwork is required.  In some cases, this position will work closely with the other technology specialists in KU Libraries or campus IT staff to manage technology services effectively for KU Libraries.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

80% Installs, configures, upgrades, troubleshoots, and maintains library applications and underlying databases running on Unix and windows servers hosted in KU Information Technology.  Writes scripts that automate server-based processes associated with library applications or to extract and repurpose data.  Supports the integration and enhancement of various applications with library and campus technologies (e.g. identity management services) through scripting / programming.

10%  Manages technology projects individually or as part of a project team.

5% Researches new technologies appropriate for library services to campus community.  Effective written communication skills as evidenced by application materials.  

5% Other duties as assigned.

 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Two years experience installing, configuring, and upgrading unix server-based applications as the primary application administrator and with accompanying responsibilities for creating Unix shell scripts, Perl scripts, or similar scripts to automate server-based processes; prefer experience with Solaris and Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating systems.
  • One year experience working with relational databases, e.g. MySQL, PostgreSQL or Oracle, either as standalone databases or as part of server-based applications and experience querying and reporting the data using SQL or similar methods.
  • Effective written communication skills as evidenced by application materials.

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience configuring Apache, Tomcat, IIS or equivalent to work with specific applications.
  • Experience installing, configuring, and upgrading Windows applications.  If no experience, successful candidate must be willing to learn to upgrade, manage, and configure Windows server-based applications.
  • Experience working with identity management/user authorization systems (Shibboleth, LDAP, Active Directory) to provide application or web site access.
  • Experience using a programming language such as PHP, Python, Java, Ruby, or C++.
  • Experience with XML and XSLT.
  • Excellent analytical, trouble-shooting and problem solving skills related to technical environment.
  • Experience supporting Windows desktop software for library environments. Successful candidate will work as part of a team that ensures access to critical applications extends to the desktop.
  • Demonstrated ability to learn new technologies and stay current with technical developments.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills with ability to work effectively and cooperatively as part of a team as well as independently.
  • Experience in establishing priorities and seeing projects through to completion.  
  • Familiarity with metadata standards and formats for library systems (e.g., MARC 21, Dublin Core, METS, MODS), authentication, and protocols for search and retrieval, messaging and networking (e.g. EDI, Z39.50, OpenURL, OAI, FTP).
  • Experience working in a library technology position, preferably in an academic or research library, supporting systems for library management, digital library services, scholarly communication and research support, or learning management.

 

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Applications and nominations will be accepted until the position is filled. First review of applications will be October 20 , 2010. Complete application includes: letter of interest which addresses each of the required and preferred qualifications, curriculum vitae, and the names with contact information of three references.

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ENVIRONMENT

Opened in 1866, the University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. The largest of the Kansas regents’ institutions, KU annually awards more than 3,500 bachelor's degrees and 1,000 graduate degrees, including 200 doctoral degrees. The University of Kansas holds membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU).

Considered one of the most beautiful campuses in the nation, KU's main campus occupies 1,000 acres on and around Mount Oread in Lawrence, a community of 90,000 among the forested hills of eastern Kansas. The campus offers a rich cultural life, including several museums such as the Natural History Museum and the Spencer Museum of Art, long considered one of the top teaching museums in the nation. The Lied Center, a $14.3 million, state-of-the-art performing arts center, hosts a variety of concerts, plays, dance performances and Broadway shows. The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, an $11-million, 28,000-square-foot facility, houses dynamic exhibits and the world's largest congressional archive.

Lawrence is conveniently situated between two large cities. Thirty minutes to the east, Metropolitan Kansas City, with a population of nearly 2 million, offers attractive cultural resources including the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Jazz Museum, the Lyric Opera, the Kansas City Ballet and the Linda Hall Library, one of the largest engineering, science and technology libraries in the world. Twenty minutes to the west is Topeka, the capitol city with 122,000 residents. It is home of the Kansas State Historical Society, the State Capitol Complex and the Topeka Shawnee County Public Library.

More information about Lawrence is available at: www.visitlawrence.com. Also, Find out more Information about the University and the Libraries.

The University of Kansas is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. The University encourages applications from underrepresented group members. Federal and state legislation prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, disability, and veteran status. In addition, University policies prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, marital status, and parental status.

 

Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

Location and mailing address:
University of Kansas Libraries
Administrative Offices
502 Watson Library
Lawrence, KS 66045-2800

Contact Information
Mike Broadwell
Director of Human Resources
phone: (785)864-8922
email: mikebr@ku.edu

The University of Kansas is committed to hiring the applicant whose talents will blend with and enrich our organization and community in new ways. We seek applicants whose strengths, experiences and potential combine to support and achieve the role of the University Libraries to provide research service and support to the university community. We expect employees to demonstrate initiative, exhibit curiosity, maintain a collaborative attitude, communicate effectively and remain flexible in a world of change.