[LIBJOBS] Copyright Officer, Penn State University Libraries

Copyright Officer
The Pennsylvania State University Libraries

The Penn State University Libraries seek applications and nominations for the Copyright Officer position.  The Copyright Officer will be a dynamic, innovative, and service-minded expert on matters of copyright and scholarly communication, supporting the University's mission by developing an outreach, education, and consultation program that will help students and faculty understand how copyright and related concepts affect their work.   The successful candidate will coordinate with the Office of General Counsel, Information Technology Services, and others to help develop and apply polices for intellectual property in the University.  With an orientation toward solving problems, the Copyright Officer will advise Penn State students, faculty, and staff to help them make informed decisions on the use and creation of copyrighted works.  

The Copyright Officer will advise the Libraries on national and international copyright matters and help us craft policies with the goal of enabling us to provide the fullest possible access to our collections.  Librarians at Penn State are actively engaged with faculty and students across all of our 24 campuses, providing research and instructional services that will be enhanced by the services of the Copyright Officer. The Libraries also have a very active and growing program of digitization, research data curation, and digital scholarship support, which can raise challenging copyright and intellectual property issues on which the Copyright Officer will work.  This is a rare opportunity to advance Penn State’s land-grant mission by helping to ensure the widest possible sharing of knowledge.

Duties

• Serve as an expert in the University community for copyright, fair use, Teach Act, and other related issues.
• Consult with faculty and students on matters related to copyright in research, instruction, and scholarly communication.
• Develop an outreach and education program on these topics for students and faculty; provide training in the responsible conduct of research as it relates to copyright and intellectual property.
• Conduct workshops or provide course-related instruction to promote the understanding of intellectual property concepts in the curriculum.
• Enable the development of Libraries' and University policies on these and related issues.
• Liaise with Office of General Council to ensure consistent application of law and policy.
• Work with Information Technology Services to support development of online resources about copyright.
• Represent the Libraries as appropriate throughout the University and in the CIC, ARL or other professional venues.

Requirements

• A deep understanding of intellectual property law as demonstrated through previous work experience; strong grasp of contemporary issues in higher education as well as research, publication, and instructional practices.
• Outstanding communication skills to help non-experts understand law and policy.
• Ability to work with diverse constituencies to solve problems facing educators and researchers.
• Strong commitment to public service in a not-for-profit setting.
• A record of scholarship, public presentation, and/or professional contributions in the area of copyright.
• JD, a relevant master's degree, or terminal professional degree in a field relevant to the responsibilities of the job.
• Experience in a higher-education setting and/or library experience is preferred.

Appointment
This position will be filled either as a tenure-line or fixed-term faculty librarian position, depending upon the interests and qualifications of the successful candidate.  Rank and salary are dependent upon qualifications and experience.  Fringe benefits include liberal vacation, excellent insurance and health care coverage, state or TIAA/CREF retirement options, and educational privileges.  In addition, faculty in the University Libraries are afforded $1500 for professional development travel annually.  Faculty may be asked to travel as official representatives of the Libraries to certain events and those trips are reimbursed at full cost within limits established by the University.

Environment:
Penn State, a land-grant institution, is a member of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), a consortium of the Big Ten universities plus the University of Chicago. Based on current Association for Research Libraries investment rankings, The Pennsylvania State University Libraries are ranked among the top ten research libraries in North America.  A student survey completed in 2010 found overall student satisfaction with the University Libraries to be at the top of its category.  Collections exceed 5.8 million volumes and include more than 102,000 current serial subscriptions. The University Libraries are located at University Park and 22 other locations throughout Pennsylvania, and they serve approximately 6,000 faculty and 44,000 students at University Park, and more than 92,000 students system-wide.  

The University Park campus is set in the State College area, a university town located in the heart of central Pennsylvania. State College offers a vibrant community with outstanding recreational facilities, a low crime rate, and excellent public schools. The campus is within a half-day drive to Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, and Pittsburgh. The University Park Airport is served by three major carriers with flights to Washington, Philadelphia, and Detroit. For more information, please www.libraries.psu.edu and www.cbicc.org.

Application Instructions:
Send a letter of application, resume, and the names and contact information of three references to Search Committee, The Pennsylvania State University, Box COPY-LIBJ, 511 Paterno Library, University Park, PA 16802, or to lap225@psu.edu.  Please be sure and reference Box COPY-LIBJ in the email subject line.  Review of candidates will begin on April 14, 2014 and continue until the position is filled.  Employment will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce.