The role sits within Scholarly Communications Services in Library Services and reports to the Head of Scholarly Communications Services. The post-holder will work closely with colleagues in both Scholarly Communications Services and Special Collections to support our repository infrastructure and develop Library Services capacity in Digital Preservation. They will lead on implementing Library Services’ Digital Preservation Policy, further developing existing digital asset registers and supporting the procurement of a Digital Preservation System. The post-holder will devise and deliver a programme of advocacy and training, ensuring Library Services staff are familiar with principles of digital preservation and that good practice is disseminated through the academy.
They will oversee the University of Birmingham Institutional Research Archive (UBIRA) by directly managing and administering Library Services’ EPrints repository infrastructure (eTheses; eData; ePapers) and providing administrative support for research output related aspects of the University’s Current Research Information System (PURE). This will include working closely with the Open Access and Research Data Librarians, as well as the University’s Planning and IT Services departments to ensure our repositories continue to maximise the discovery and sharing of research outputs and best meet diverse funder requirements around Open Access and long term curation.
Whilst Library Services has a well-established repository infrastructure and has accumulated significant digital collections, we are at the early stages of implementing digital preservation practices. Building on existing standards and recognised good practice, the post-holder will continue ground work already begun to ensure that Library Services is able to progress to full digital preservation with confidence. It is anticipated that future repository infrastructure, digital archive access and digital preservation systems will be closely intertwined. Supported by Scholarly Communications Services and Special Collections staff, the post-holder will ensure the coordinated development of effective processes for the deposit, discovery and preservation of our digital collections.
The post-holder will promote equality and value diversity including actively acting as a role model in own behaviour and fostering a non-discriminatory culture, whilst actively applying internal processes in a fair and equal way.
Informal enquires to Mike Dainton, email: M.Dainton@bham.ac.uk