E-Resources and Metadata Librarian (full-time, continuing track)

Faculty/Academic Area: Library 

Department: N/A 

Campus: Waterloo 

Employee Group: WLUFA 

Requisition ID: 10136 

Overview

Wilfrid Laurier University Library is seeking a librarian to fill a full-time, continuing track appointment as an E-Resources and Metadata Librarian in the Information Resources Department. Primary duties will include e-resource management, cataloguing and metadata, and collection analysis, working closely with the Head, Information Resources.  This position will be appointed at the Waterloo campus.

Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading Canadian university known for academic excellence and a culture that inspires lives of leadership and purpose.  Laurier is devoted to excellence in learning, research, scholarship, and creativity, as well as supporting and enhancing high-quality undergraduate, graduate and professional education.

The Library provides collaborative, inclusive, and creative spaces and services for our users. Through exceptional resources, expertise, and technology, the Library supports transformative learning, research, and teaching across campuses, and through engagement with the wider community.

Serving over 20,000 students across multiple campuses, the Laurier Library employs a staff of 59, including 21 librarians. It offers access to over 70,000 full-text online journals, indexes, and e-books, as well as more than 1.2 million print volumes.  As part of the Omni Group of Libraries, Laurier students, faculty and staff may use and borrow materials from 19 member libraries across Ontario, including from local partners, the University of Guelph, and the University of Waterloo libraries.

Responsibilities  

• Coordinates the management and delivery of resources: reliable and efficient access, off-campus access, tracking new and changing resources, and managing trials
• Collaborates to ensure records/collections of resources are activated and maintained in the library service platform and website, and university policies and procedures are followed in licensing, privacy, and security of resources.
• Acts as the library's technical administrator contact for e-resources with vendors for access, branding, troubleshooting, and usage details of resources and e-resource management tools. 
• Develops and maintains e-resources and database information pages on the Library website
• Creates bibliographic and authority metadata for library resources in Laurier’s Library services platform
• Processes, contributes and updates catalogue records and holding information in library services platforms such as Alma, or the equivalents
• Manages the compilation and analysis of statistical data that supports e-resources collection decisions and participates in the compilation and analysis of all collection activities
• Maintain awareness of developing industry trends and best practices in collections, metadata, and scholarly communication.
• Works closely with the Head, Information Resources on Department operations and priorities
• Provides input in department-wide planning, and collaborates with the Head, librarians, manager, and staff in department goals and planning new projects, work initiatives needed to accomplish strategic priorities, and training of library staff as needed.
• Collaborates with other Laurier librarians and with Laurier’s consortial partners.
• Serves on Library, University, and external committees as appropriate, and participates in scholarly and professional activity.

Qualifications

Required  

• ALA accredited MLIS or equivalent   
• Experience with e-resource management with knowledge of related technology
• Knowledge of MARC record format, and RDA metadata standards
• Experience with data analysis, including proficiency with spreadsheets
• Awareness of the academic publishing market and environment, emerging issues and future trends    
• Awareness of issues of e-resource management in an academic environment 
• Ability to learn new technical skills quickly and independently
• Ability to work well independently and in collaboration with others  
• Strong research, analysis, problem-solving and troubleshooting skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to effectively balance multiple responsibilities and priorities 
• Strong analytical, organizational and project management skills
• Commitment to equity and inclusion
• Understanding of accessibility best practices and AODA standards

Preferred   

• Experience in an academic library
• Familiarity with EZProxy or Shibboleth
• Familiarity with APIs
• Familiarity with scholarly communication
• Familiarity with Library Services Platforms, particularly Alma and Alma Analytics
• Knowledge of other standards, metadata (e.g. Dublin Core, Bibframe) and resource management (KBART and Counter)
• Awareness of CRKN, OCUL, and Scholars Portal
• Professional or scholarly activity
• Second Master's degree

Appointment and Compensation

The E-Resources and Metadata Librarian position is a full-time, continuing-track appointment, which will be available January 1, 2026. 

Salary, benefits, and terms of employment are governed by the Collective Agreement between Wilfrid Laurier University and Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association for Full-time Faculty and Professional Librarians, available at: The Agreements - WLUFA.  Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Application Procedure

Applicants should send (1) a curriculum vitae; (2) a cover letter; (3) details (name, position title, organization) and contact information (telephone and email address) for three referees.

Applications can be addressed to:

Scott Gillies

University Librarian

Please send the application package via email to Scott Gillies, University Librarian, c/o ULAdmin@wlu.ca. Applications must be received by 11:59 pm (EST), Friday, August 22, 2025.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, as per Canadian immigration laws, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. To comply with the Government of Canada’s reporting requirements, the University is obligated to gather information about applicants’ status as either Permanent Residents of Canada or Canadian citizens. Applicants need not identify their country of origin or current citizenships, however, all applicants must include one of the following statements in their cover letter:

Yes, I am a current citizen or permanent resident of Canada;

No, I am not a current citizen or permanent resident of Canada.

Members of designated groups must self-identify to be considered for employment equity. Candidates may self-identify, in confidence, to: Scott Gillies, University Librarian (sgillies@wlu.ca). Further information on the equity policy can be found at https://www.wlu.ca/about/governance/assets/resources/8.4-employment-equity.html.

To obtain a copy of this job description in an accessible format, please contact ULAdmin@wlu.ca.

The Library wishes to thank all applicants for their interest. All nominations and applications will be reviewed and considered against a set of criteria established by the Search Committee. A shortlist of candidates will then be interviewed. Only those applicants selected for the shortlist will be contacted.

Wilfrid Laurier University endeavors to fill positions with qualified candidates who have a combination of education, experience, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position while demonstrating Laurier's Employee Success Factors.

Equity, diversity and creating a culture of inclusion are part of Laurier’s core values and central to the Laurier Strategy. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and from persons of any minority sexual and gender identities. Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives. Candidates from other equity deserving groups who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact Equity & Accessibility. We have strived to make our application process accessible, however if you require any assistance applying for a position or would like this job posting in an alternative format, please contact Human Resources. Contact information can be found at careers.wlu.ca/content/How-to-apply/

Should you be interested in learning more about this opportunity, please visit www.wlu.ca/careers for additional information and the online application system. All applications must be submitted online. Please note, a CV and letter of introduction will be required in electronic form.

We would like to acknowledge that Wilfrid Laurier University and its campuses are located on the shared traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe (Anish-nah-bay) and Haudenosaunee (Hoe-den-no-show-nee) peoples. This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples and symbolizes the agreement to share, protect our resources and not to engage in conflict. From the Haldimand Proclamation of Oct. 25, 1784 this territory is described as: “six miles deep from each side of the river (Grand River) beginning at Lake Erie and extending in the proportion to the Head of said river, which them and their posterity are to enjoy forever.” The proclamation was signed by the British wit​h their allies, the Six Nations, after the American Revolution. Despite being the largest reserve demographically in Canada, those nations now reside on less than five percent of this original territory.