I.
Title: Cartographic Reference & Digital Projects Librarian
Division:
Academic Affairs
Department: Library/Osher Map Library
Location:
Osher Map Library (OML) and Smith Center for Cartographic Education,
Glickman Library, Portland Campus
Schedule:
Primarily weekday, with some evenings and Saturday rotation to provide
public access to OML, hours as assigned
Organizational Relationships:
Reports to: Curator, Osher Map Library
Supervises: Students, graduate assistants, interns, volunteers and docents
Coordinates with: OML staff, Faculty Scholar, resident donor, Library Administration,
library staff, USM faculty, staff, and students, researchers, visiting scholars, donors, and
external groups
II.
Statement of the Position:
The Cartographic Reference and Digital Projects Librarian provides cartographic and
geographic reference services and consultations both onsite and online; maintains OML’s
website content; and explores the use of technology to advance teaching, learning, and research
with special collections materials by reinforcing the significance of primary source materials as
curricular resources in all formats. Provides leadership in developing digital initiatives and
applying new and existing geo-spatial technologies for the cartographic collections and
reference services. This position supervises open reference room hours and services on a
schedule that may include weekday, evening, and weekend hours. In addition, assists the
Curator with projects, exhibitions, and other OML activities.
III.
Essential Functions:
1. Provides both historic and current cartographic reference and research assistance, both
on-site and online, to library users including USM students and faculty, the general public,
and the scholarly community worldwide. Onsite assistance includes overseeing the retrieval
and restoring the rare materials in a secure and restricted environment in conjunction with
the OML Vault Manager.
2. Enhances access to special collections through individual or group consultation, class
instruction in (K-12 and university) in conjunction with the Faculty Scholar and the
Cartographic Outreach Coordinator, and scheduled reference hours including evenings
and weekends.
3. Maintains and updates OML website content.
4. Devises outreach activities for promoting digital projects, to facilitate access to the library’s
scholarly resources, according to best practices and guidance in emerging and existing
technologies and processes (analog as well as digital).
5. Provides leadership in developing digital initiatives and applying new and existing
geo-spatial technologies for the cartographic collections and reference services.
6. Develops new services to support digitally enriched scholarship and to facilitate optimal
discovery and use of the map collections, such as: enhancing OML’s web presence with
digital content; evaluating library content discovery applications; creating online subject
guides; maintaining digital resource knowledge base; and developing instructional tutorials.
7. Assists with metadata activities and provides analysis and advice on metadata
implementation, enhancement and troubleshooting.
8. Assists Curator, and as necessary Faculty Scholar and Outreach Coordinator, in developing
map exhibitions; in developing and supervising projects for graduate assistants, work study
students, and interns; and in planning, developing and delivering OML’s special collections
services.
9. Assists Curator and Cataloger in the processing and conserving of cartographic collections
(sorting, arranging, inventorying, and indexing early maps, atlases, and related materials).
10. Participates with the Curator in the planning, development and delivery of OML’s special
collections services to a board range of audiences.
11. Contributes appropriately to the overall OML operation as a member of the OML team.
12. Assists in the development and implementation of OML’s policies and procedures and
interprets these for the library’s users.
13. Compiles map library’s reference statistics and other data.
14. Assists Curator, Library Director, University Advancement staff, and others with donor
contacts.
15. Other duties as assigned.
IV.
Marginal Functions:
1. Arranges for approved reproduction of materials in appropriate formats from the
collections.
2. Oversees lists and inventories, such as exhibit checklists, class bibliographies, book exhibit
checklists for VIP tours.
3. Works with the Curator and Faculty Scholar in preparing cartographic materials for
academic classes and seminars for USM and other educational institutions.
4. Monitors OML security and climate controls and complies with OML security protocols,
including being on the security “call list.”
5. Assists Curator in preparing grant applications and support of Osher Library Associates
activities.
6. Lifts, loads, and transports large books, maps, boxes of materials, and equipment between
library floors or to out of library sites.
V.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
Participates in training and supervising student personnel, graduate assistants, interns and
volunteers
VI.
Budget Responsibilities:
Assists with the developing, recommending and monitoring public service budgets
VII.
Public and Professional Activities:
1. Maintains current awareness of technical developments and professional practices in the
fields of special collections and cartographic librarianship.
2. Represents OML on University and external committees and meetings as appropriate.
3. Participates in national and international professional activities related to cartographic and
special collections libraries.
4. In addition to those specified above, other public and professional activities as assigned by
the Curator and those negotiated annually.
VIII. Internal and External Contacts:
Internal (OML) Contacts: Curator, Faculty Scholar, Cataloger, Outreach Coordinator, Vault
Manager, OML Digital Imaging Center staff, student staff, interns, and volunteers.
Internal (USM) Contacts: Library Administration; USM library staff; University students,
faculty and staff.
External Contacts: Special Collections librarians and other cartographic specialists at
community, state, regional, and national libraries; non-USM students; community and state
residents; national and international visitors.
IX.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
1. Knowledge of specialized reference sources for rare cartographic books, manuscripts, and
archives.
2. Expert knowledge of providing reference services, the organization, retrieval and
management of appropriate information and collection resources in assisting users.
3. Commitment to public services with sound knowledge and strong interpersonal skills for
assisting users from diverse educational and cultural backgrounds in research with
cartographic resources in person, on the telephone, on the Internet, or social media.
4. The ability to work both independently and cooperatively; to use sound judgment in
interpreting and applying University Library and OML policies. Excellent interpersonal,
oral, and written skills as indicated by:
a.
Demonstrated ability to engage in proactive outreach to faculty and students by
projecting a positive, helpful attitude toward library users.
b.
Demonstrated ability to work as an OML team member and demonstrated
willingness to collaborate and share ideas in a mutually beneficial and
constructive manner.
c.
Demonstrated ability to communicate in a clear, positive, and readily
understandable manner with colleagues and individuals from diverse educational
and cultural backgrounds
d.
Demonstrated ability to maintain flexibility and a positive service attitude
e.
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively as a classroom instructor.
5. Knowledge of library and geographic systems, digital technologies, and the ability to learn
current and new technologies as they are adapted by the Osher Map Library.
6. Ability to physically handle cartographic books, including oversized books and large format
maps, with weights which range up to 50 pounds, at heights from 3" to over 9', and to the
read a variety of print styles ranging in size down to 1mm.
X.
Qualifications:
Required:

An ALA-accredited master’s degree and minimum of two years reference experience
preferably in an academic library

Experience providing high quality public service and building strong patron
relationships

Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills

Demonstrated awareness of new modes of scholarship and instruction employing rare
materials

Demonstrated computer and technology skills

Ability to manage a variety of tasks and multiple priorities; flexibility in adapting to
changing priorities and evolving technologies; and designing projects with a timely
conclusion
Preferred:

An ALA-accredited master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree with a major in History,
Geography, Fine Arts, Museum Studies, or other disciplines relevant to the history of
cartography

Two or more years working in a cartographic library or specialized collections library

Experience with content management systems (CMS), especially Drupal, and related
software for creating and maintaining complex websites and in heterogeneous
operating systems including Windows and Mac

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Experience with online bibliographic data bases
Working knowledge of local (Maine), regional (New England), United States and
world history and geography; basic map reading skills
Awareness of current issues and trends in digital library development and metadata
standards
Supervisory experience with staff, students or interns
Knowledge of or experience with current practices related to the identification,
access, control, organization, preservation, promotion and digitization of rare books
as primary source materials, including metadata schemas, digital processes, digital
preservation, institutional repositories, and open access initiatives
Ability to recognize and accurately transcribe foreign languages
For Office Use Only:
Approved:
October 2013
Job Family:
12
Salary Band:
103
Unit:
UMPSA
Employee:
TBD
Position#:
00022296