E-Resources Licensing Librarian

Description

The University of Houston (UH) Libraries seeks a collaborative, detail-oriented librarian to serve as E-Resources Licensing Librarian. This position provides expertise in negotiating, managing, and maintaining licenses for electronic resources that advance the Libraries’ academic and research mission. Reporting to the Head of Acquisitions and Resource Sharing, the E-Resources Licensing Librarian serves as the primary contact for licensing matters and works closely with vendors, publishers, consortia, and internal stakeholders to ensure favorable terms and compliance with institutional policies.

The E-Resources Licensing Librarian collaborates across departments to maintain accurate license data, support acquisitions workflows, and advise on acceptable use of licensed content. This position plays a key role in shaping licensing strategies that address emerging issues such as accessibility, privacy, text and data mining, and open access.

Key Responsibilities

Licensing and Negotiation:

Lead negotiation, execution, and management of electronic resource licenses in consultation with university and Libraries stakeholders.
Prioritize favorable agreement terms addressing critical issues such as perpetual access, fair use, text and data mining, accessibility, privacy, AI usage, and open access.
Maintain current knowledge of licensing trends, best practices, and emerging issues in scholarly communication.

Vendor and Contract Management:

Establish and maintain relationships with publishers, vendors, and consortia.
Coordinate submission of contracts and amendments for institutional review, including legal, financial, and information security compliance.
Monitor vendor performance and ensure adherence to contractual obligations.

Data and Systems Management:

Create and maintain accurate license records in the Libraries’ electronic resource management system (Ex Libris Alma), including terms of use and access entitlements, in coordination with e-resource and LSP management colleagues within UH Libraries and across the UH system.
Collaborate with acquisitions and collections teams to ensure accurate financial, entitlement, and access data.
Document and update licensing workflows, standards, and procedures.

Collaboration and Advisory:

Serve as the primary resource for interpreting license terms and advising on acceptable use.
Work with colleagues on projects such as system migrations, open access initiatives, and transformative agreements.
Participate in departmental planning and contribute to continuous improvement of electronic resource management practices.

Qualifications

Required:

Master’s degree from an American Library Association (ALA)-accredited program
Experience with library acquisitions or collections management responsibilities
Experience with library management systems or electronic resource management tools
Experience navigating organizational compliance requirements with a high level of attention to detail
Experience effectively collaborating on projects
Experience managing sensitive information

Preferred:

Experience in electronic resource licensing in an academic library setting
Experience with Ex Libris Alma’s acquisitions module, Oracle PeopleSoft ERP contracts and supplier management tools, and Adobe Acrobat PDF editing tools
Experience negotiating and interpreting complex licensing agreements
Experience with consortial agreements and collaborative purchasing models
Articulated knowledge of current trends in scholarly publishing, open access, accessibility compliance, and licensing standards

Salary: Salary is dependent on qualifications and rank. The salary range is $65,000-$67,000 for Assistant Librarians and $72,000-$74,000 for Associate Librarians. We anticipate filling this position at the rank of Assistant Librarian. Comprehensive benefits package; choice of retirement programs including TIAA; tax-deferred annuity program available; release time to take a class up to 3 hours/week; no state or local income tax Salary is dependent on qualifications and rank.

Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Applications should be submitted at https://careers.uh.edu/jobs/e-resources-licensing-librarian-houston-texas-united-states. Visit the UH Libraries Employment page for more information: https://libraries.uh.edu/about/employment/. Potential applicants seeking further information should contact Santi Thompson, Associate Dean for Librarian Affairs and Operations, at 713-743-9685 or [email protected].

As part of their application, candidates should include contact information for three (3) professional references and an unofficial transcript of their ALA-accredited library/information science degree. Official transcripts are required for a faculty appointment and will be requested upon selection of the final candidate. All positions at the University of Houston-System are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check.

Library Information: UH Libraries is a member of the Association of Research Libraries, the Greater Western Library Alliance, HathiTrust, the Council on Library and Information Resources, the Digital Library Federation, the Texas Digital Library, Associate of Academic Health Sciences Libraries, and the South Central Academic Medical Libraires Consortium. The campus libraries provide access to over 3.1 million volumes. The University Libraries’ total staff is 160 FTE, including 62 professionals. Additional information about UH Libraries is available at https://libraries.uh.edu. UH Libraries’ 2021-2027 strategic plan (https://libraries.uh.edu/strategic-plan) is in alignment with the University’s ambitious strategic plan (https://uh.edu/strategic-plan/).

General Information: The University of Houston, a dynamic research institution founded in 1927, stands as a vibrant hub of academic excellence and cultural diversity in Texas. With over 46,000 students, it offers a comprehensive range of programs across 15 colleges, fostering innovation in fields such as energy, health, hospitality, business, education, law, STEM, and the humanities. Boasting top-tier faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, student success initiatives, and a strong commitment to community engagement, UH prepares students to thrive in a globally interconnected world.

The University’s prime location in America’s fourth-largest city supports extensive industry partnerships and experiential learning opportunities. Renowned for its energy industry and NASA’s Space Center, Houston is home to a vibrant cultural scene with world-class museums, theaters, and restaurants. The University of Houston is an institutional member of the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center in the world. Houston thrives as a hub for innovation, education, and arts, fostering a unique blend of community charm and modern progress.

The University of Houston System and its universities are Equal Opportunity Institutions. Everyone is encouraged to apply.