----------------------------Original message----------------------------
VACANT POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
 
 
Please Post
September 12, 1994
 
 
POSITION:               PROJECT MANAGER
                        INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR LOS ANGELES  (ISLA)
                        POSITION #29294
 
LOCATION:       CENTER FOR SCHOLARLY TECHNOLOGY
LEAVEY LIBRARY
 
POSITION SUMMARY:
 
The University of Southern California seeks an innovative and enthusiastic
Project Manager to lead the planning for and implementation of the
"Information System for Los Angeles (ISLA)." ISLA will become a
comprehensive, integrated multimedia database of texts, photographs, maps,
data, and other information formats which will allow students, scholars and
community leaders to analyze the history and social dynamics of Los Angeles
in new ways.  This new type of library research collection will be based
upon networked state-of-the-art computer hardware and software including
database, search- and-retrieval, and analytical systems; it will require
the development of new kinds of data structures allowing readers to
understand the relationship of multimedia archival documents within a
subject/space/time indexing system.  The Project Manager will play a key
role in developing the collaboration between the Library, University
Computing Services (UCS) and a faculty committee from 14 disciplinary
departments.
 
The Project Manager reports operationally to the Director of the Center for
Scholarly Technology (CST) within the University Library and
programmatically to a faculty executive committee which is responsible for
planning the direction, content, curricular, and research aspects of the
system.  Initially, public access to the ISLA system will be centered in
USC's Leavey Library.  The Project Manager will supervise a small staff of
programmers and assistants, and will directly oversee many aspects of ISLA,
from system design and data acquisition to grant preparation, research
management, and curriculum development.  The project is conceptualized and
now requires a highly motivated individual to coordinate its further
development, funding, and implementation.
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY:
 
USC's Library serves one of the largest private universities in the
country.  As a major research library, it houses a collection of more than
2.6 million volumes, has 14 specialized subject libraries, and a total of
172 FTE of which 58 are Library faculty positions.  It has adopted a
strategic goal to develop networked information services, including the
on-line catalog, 11 locally mounted databases, full-text versions of the
ClariNet News Service, and Gopher and Mosaic servers.  The Leavey Library,
an innovative teaching library, serves as a gateway to the collections of
the University Library and worldwide sources of information.  The Library
is a major component of the University's academic mission through
instruction of students in how to identify, locate, and evaluate
information in print and digital formats; though fostering partnerships
with faculty in evaluating and developing information technologies for
teaching; and through the promotion of life-long learning skills.  The
University Library is a member of the Association of Research Libraries,
the Center for Research Libraries, and the Research Libraries Group.
 
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
 
The ISLA Project Manager reports to the Director of the CST and
participates in, and takes direction from, a Project Executive Committee
(initially, faculty from Geography, History, and Urban and Regional
Planning) which provides direction and priorities for ISLA's content,
program and strategic goals.  The Committee will set priorities for the
integration of ISLA resources within various curricular activities and
provide guidance on their implementation.
 
The ISLA Project Manager works with the Library Collection Development
Division and Faculty in identifying and locating appropriate content for
the ISLA system; manages design of appropriate database, textual, and image
structures for the differing formats; assists in the design of interface
and content linkage capabilities; and identifies appropriate analytical and
manipulation tools for the different information formats.
 
The ISLA Project Manager participates in USC's larger automation
development environment; this includes working closely with librarians and
technical professionals in both the CST and UCS on system architecture,
interface and database design, and Network connectability.  The Manager
participates in other automation planning committees, supervises an
applications programmer, clerical assistant, and student assistants,
designs procedures and work flow for database creation, data entry, and
incorporation of information resources into the system, designs both
on-line and print documentation for the system, and designs system output
(print, download, analysis, etc.) capabilities.
 
In collaboration with the Project Executive Committee and the Director of
CST, the Manager identifies project budget requirements and funding
opportunities, develops and writes grant and foundation funding proposals,
and administers operations and grant budgets.
 
The Manager is responsible for training appropriate staff and librarians in
using the system, collaborating with them on development of library service
programs using the system, developing the service and support program for
student use of ISLA, and, in collaboration with the Project Executive
Committee, developing and conducting faculty outreach programs to make
other members of the teaching faculty aware of ISLA's uses.
 
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
 
Applicants should describe their qualifications from among the following:
strong commitment to and demonstrated experience in collaborating with
teaching faculty in designing information resources in support of
innovative teaching programs and research; advanced working knowledge of
the Internet, Internet information resources, and the leading tools for
location and retrieval of networked information (e.g. Gopher, Mosaic,
etc.); experience with GIS system and analytic tools used with census and
numeric data; teaching skills and experience sufficient to collaborate
effectively with project faculty in integrating ISLA information tools into
the curriculum; ability to work comfortably and effectively in a project
team environment and the ability to coordinate activities with technical
staff, content specialists, and teaching faculty; grant writing and
budgeting skills; a minimum of one year demonstrated project management
experience; MLS from an ALA accredited program; advanced degree in one of
the social or natural sciences.
 
BENEFITS: Health, dental, and life insurance, 10 vacation days and 12 sick
days per year, tuition remission, disability and retirement plans.
 
SALARY RANGE: $38,600 - $65,640
 
APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Qualified applicants should submit a letter of
application, curriculum vitae, and the names, titles, addresses, and
telephone numbers of three current professional references to: Gloria J.
Donaldson, Personnel Director, Doheny Memorial Library, University of
Southern California, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0182.  Please
refer to Project Manager, ISLA, Center for Scholarly Technology, Position
#29294 on correspondence.  Review of applications will continue until the
position is filled.
 
The University of Southern California is an AA/EOE, ADA-compliant
institution strongly committed to the principle of diversity.