Subject Specialist Job Description

JOB SUMMARY:
Responsible for the overall development and management in all formats of the collections in assigned departments and collections. The bibliographer will analyze academic departmental instruction and research programs to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the Library's supporting collections, as well as recommend and implement a collection management policy supporting these programs. The bibliographer will work closely with faculty and students as well as the other selectors. Associated with the primary collection management responsibilities, the bibliographer will be expected to provide specialized services, including reference consultations and bibliographic instruction, by appointment and referral. Participation in the Collection Development meetings of the bibliographers is expected.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
A. Collection Management Duties.
The subject specialist/bibliographer will assume overall responsibility for the development of the collection - reference,
circulating, serial, electronic, etc. -- in the assigned subject areas:

Select materials in all formats, and manage the acquisitions budgets for assigned subject areas.
Review approval plan forms, faculty requests, book reviews, trade and national bibliographies, advertisements, dealers' catalogs, etc., to initiate orders within the boundaries of collection development policy and fund allocation.
Maintain approval plan profiles, making adjustments as necessary.
Assess quality and physical condition of the subject collections, making decisions on the replacement, transfer, withdrawal, or preservation of individual titles.
Respond to calls from potential donors; solicit the donation of collections in assigned subject areas; select from materials received as gifts
Assess databases and other electronic products available from publishers in assigned subject areas, and recommend purchase or license as appropriate.
Create and maintain subject webpages in assigned areas, by selecting and making available free Internet resources appropriate to the discipline and the academic program.
Work with the Electronic Resources Librarian to include the most authoritative and reliable free Internet resources on the library's Electronic Resources webpage.
Contribute to the library's policy-setting effort through participation in the weekly meetings of the bibliographers.
Develop collection management and analysis policies for assigned subject areas in consultation with faculty and other bibliographers.

B. Faculty Liaison Duties

Maintain a level of contact with the faculty that will provide knowledge of academic and research programs sufficient to ensure that collections and services support curriculum and research needs.
Keep faculty informed about library issues.
Analyze the course offerings and keep abreast of developments in assigned fields.
Prepare reports used by departments and colleges for reviews and accreditation, bibliographic guides and other publications in support of the Library's collection.

C. Reference and Instruction
Provide specialized reference services and instructional services for faculty, graduate and advanced undergraduate students, usually by referral from the Reference Services Department or by specific arrangement with faculty in academic departments.