Overview
OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. is a nonprofit, membership,
computer library service and research organization dedicated to the
public purposes of furthering access to the world's information and
reducing information costs. Tens of thousands of libraries around the
world use OCLC services to locate, acquire, catalog, lend and preserve
library materials. We are currently seeking candidates for a Diversity
Fellow (Research) position at our Dublin, Ohio, office. The complete
position description and links for applying for the position are
available at http://www.oclc.org/careers/hub/view/default.htm.
Responsibilities
The research fellow has the opportunity to work on OCLC Research
projects associated with the Resources Information Management and User
Behavior and Synthesis Activities.
1. The User Behavior and Synthesis Activity area includes several
projects.
* Visitors and Residents project
(http://www.oclc.org/research/activities/vandr/): This is a
collaborative project that is funded by JISC and Oxford Universities in
the UK and OCLC. The study utilizes the visitors and residents principle
described in the University of Oxford's Technology Assisted Lifelong
Learning (TALL) blog
<http://tallblog.conted.ox.ac.uk/index.php/2008/07/23/not-natives-immigr
ants-but-visitors-residents/> , which hypothesizes that neither age nor
gender determines whether one is a visitor (one who logs on to the
virtual environment, performs a specific task or acquires specific
information, and then logs off) or a resident (one who has an ongoing,
developing presence online). This work will increase understanding of
how learners engage with the Web and how educational services and
systems can attract and sustain a possible new group of lifelong
learners. The trans-Atlantic partnership will support comparison of
students' digital learning strategies in different cultural contexts.
The project will be in its final phase, which will require quantitative
and qualitative data analysis and dissemination of research findings.
The results can influence the development of OCLC and member
organizations' systems and services.
* Cyber Synergy project
(http://www.oclc.org/research/activities/synergy/default.htm): This is a
collaborative project that is funded by the Institute of Museum and
Library Services (IMLS) and Rutgers University to investigate the
possibility of seamless collaboration between knowledge institutions
such as libraries and the Social Q&A (SQA) community. This project will
require quantitative and qualitative data analysis, dissemination of
research findings, and development of models for virtual reference and
SQA services to initiate new collaborative library services.
2. The Resources Information Management Activity area includes
several projects.
* Dissemination Information Packages for Information Reuse (DIPIR)
project (http://www.dipir.org): This is a collaborative project that is
funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS),
University of Michigan, and OCLC Research. The project is exploring how
to facilitate the reuse of digital data and collections. In partnership
with the Inter-university Consortium of Political and Social Research
(ICPSR), the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, and Open Context
we are studying data reuse by quantitative social scientists,
zoologists, and archaeologists to identify how contextual information
about the data that supports reuse can best be created and preserved.
This project will be in its final phase, which will require quantitative
and qualitative data analysis and dissemination of research findings.
* Librarian and Data Management: This project is exploring the
management of research data from the academic librarians' point of view.
Of particular interest are librarian intentions towards and involvement
in helping university researchers manage their data. This project will
involve developing and administering an online survey, analyzing
quantitative and qualitative data, and disseminating research findings.
A major aim of the project is to inform the development of effective
social and technical infrastructures (e.g. education, training, systems,
services, etc.) that support librarians that have this new
responsibility.
Job Duties:
Working on two OCLC Research Activities from Summer 2013-Summer 2014,
our intent is to provide the Diversity Fellow with a rich learning
experience in two of the six activities supported by OCLC research -
User Behavior Studies and Synthesis and Research Information Management.
The Diversity Fellow will have an opportunity to assist in several
ongoing research tasks for the User Behavior Studies and Synthesis and
Research Information Management activities. Professional Development
opportunities include:
* Developing and administering online surveys
* Conducting user interviews
* Collecting and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data
* Reviewing and coding interview transcripts
* Preparing papers and presentations
* Aggregating and analyzing web server logs to identify user
behaviors.
* Modeling
Since all of the projects collaborate with people in other OCLC
divisions, as well as external institutions, we also see an opportunity
for the Diversity Fellow to engage with a variety of people that extends
beyond OCLC Research to OCLC's product area, the academy, and the
designated communities of users each project intends to serve.
Salary and Benefits
* Salary will be competitive and commensurate with experience and
applicable market compensation
* The Fellow will be eligible for health & welfare benefits such
as is provided to other similarly situated term-limited employees
* Relocation Assistance will be offered in the form of a lump sum
distributed in two installments (50% at signing of offer and 50% after
90 days of start date). The amount of the lump sum will be determined
by the distance required for relocation during the term of the
fellowship
Required Submissions
OCLC Candidate Profile
Create your candidate profile at the OCLC Career Center Internet site.
Once you select to apply for the OCLC Diversity Fellowship opening, you
will be asked the following questions:
* Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?
* Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for employment
visa status (e.g., H-1B, F-1 visa status)?
* List your library-related educational experience. Please
include: name of degree and major; educational institution
city/state/country; year degree awarded.
* List any additional educational experience. Please include: name
of degree and major; educational institution city/state/country; year
degree awarded.
* List the names of two persons (unrelated to you) who will be
submitting letters of recommendation for you. Please include the e-mail
address and phone number of the two recommenders.
* List your involvement with professional/student organizations
(provide detailed listings of your activities and involvement with
library and information science-related organizations); publications
(citations for up to five key publications); and honors and awards.
* List any employment experience, most recent position first.
Please include: position title; institution; institution mailing
address; dates of employment; and key responsibilities.
Essay
Provide an original essay (to be submitted as part of your resume file)
of no more than 1,000 words describing why you want to participate in
the OCLC Diversity Fellowship Program, and how the experience will
contribute to your short-term and long-term career plans. The essay
should also demonstrate insight into the problems and opportunities
surrounding diversity and inclusion in the library workforce.
Letters of Recommendation
Two persons (unrelated to you) will need to submit letters of
recommendation on your behalf directly to: [log in to unmask]
Letters of recommendation MUST be sent separately via e-mail from the
recommender's e-mail account (applicants cannot submit the letters).
Recommenders should state how long they have known you and in what
capacity, discuss evidence of your commitment to professional
development and service, and give an assessment of your promise as a
developing professional.
Application Procedures
Application is initiated by applying to the specific fellowship
requisition at the OCLC Career Center Internet site, www.oclc.jobs
<http://www.oclc.jobs/> , where you will need to create an OCLC
candidate profile. The OCLC Diversity Fellowship (WorldShare ILL) Job
ID number is 2163. Note: If you have created an OCLC candidate profile
in the past, please do not create a duplicate profile.
Important:
* If you are applying for multiple OCLC positions, you only need
to create one OCLC candidate profile, but you must apply towards each
particular position via your candidate profile.
* When creating your profile, you will arrive at a section to
'upload your resume'. Please use that section to upload your original
resume and essay in one file (both your resume and essay should be in
one document before submitting the file online). If you experience
problems uploading your resume and essay document, please submit the
resume and essay via email directly to: [log in to unmask]
The application initiation and all required submissions (original essay
and two letters of recommendation) MUST be completed and received by
Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 5:00pm ET.
Timeline and Key Dates
2013 Program Applications Accepted (Fall 2012 to February 28, 2013)
2013 Application Deadline (February 28, 2013)
2013 Fellow Selection Process (April 2013)
2013 Notification of Decision (April/May 2013)
2013 Fellowship Program Starts (July 2013)
2013 Fellowship Program Ends (12 months after start date)
The OCLC Diversity Fellowship Program 2013 Program Guidelines document
can be found at:
http://www.oclc.org/us/en/community/careerdevelopment/minorityfellows/de
fault.htm
OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. is an equal opportunity
employer. OCLC maintains an ongoing commitment to equal opportunity and
seeks to sustain a diverse workplace.
Qualifications
The following skills are required to accomplish the projects/tasks
across the two projects.
A Master's or Ph.D. in Library and Information Science or related
discipline (Information Systems, Human-Computer Interaction, Archives,
Records Management) is required, though candidates with advanced degrees
in social science disciplines (Anthropology, Sociology, and Psychology)
are also encouraged to apply.
* Strong communication and analytical skills
* Ability to work independently and meet deadlines
* Experienced in Microsoft office programs
* Familiarity with database design principles
The following skills are preferred:
* Undergraduate or graduate research experience
* Ability to quickly learn new software applications
Lynn Silipigni Connaway
Senior Research Scientist
OCLC Research
[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Cell: 303-246-3623
Fax: 614-718-7378
http://www.oclc.org/research/people/connaway.htm
<http://www.oclc.org/research/people/connaway.htm>
