Freedman Scholars

Position Objective: The Freedman Scholars program is a student internship where Scholars work under the guidance of full-time staff members in the Freedman Center for Digital Scholarship to provide high-quality digital scholarship consultation and reference services to the CWRU and Cleveland community. Scholars will staff walk-in hours in the Freedman Center Technology Lab, answer reference queries from patrons, and assist with patron research projects through consultations and assigned project work. Scholars are expected to be able to work independently after completing training, productively collaborate with project team members and users, communicate progress regularly and effectively, and partner with Center staff to determine a path for professional development with a culminating experience that captures their growth in the program. To learn more about these activities and the program, visit the Freedman Scholars website.

The Freedman Scholars program is supported by an endowment from Walter Freedman and Karen Harrison.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Staff walk-in hours in the Technology Lab to triage patron requests, assist them with getting started on Center technology, and troubleshoot issues

• Answer virtual and in-person reference questions related to digital scholarship and general library services and resources

• Maintain and contribute to Center documentation and training materials

• Develop resources-such as Research Guides or workshops-in area of expertise

• Contribute to consultations and project teams related to digital scholarship topics including working with research software and/or digitization equipment

• Maintain confidentiality with patron research projects, especially as it relates to data with Personally Identifiable Information

• Complete an individually defined professional development project defined in conversation with Center staff that connects to the Scholar's professional goals

• Communicate effectively and open-mindedly with patrons, peers, and Center and Library staff

• Work collaboratively with Library staff to ensure all patrons have a high-quality experience when they interact with library resources

• May assist with training student assistants and other staff and conducting demonstrations for Center tours

Educational Value:

• Contribute to research projects that result in peer-reviewed publication, trade publication, patents, grants, and pedagogical materials

• Gain hands-on experience with research software with applicability in wide-ranging academic disciplines, from the humanities to medicine

• Enhance understanding of the research lifecycle and how technology (re)shapes possibilities, processes, and outcomes

• Learn to complete reference interviews that identify patron needs and connect them to the right resources

• Learn to communicate with and assist patrons from all disciplines and with varying needs, understandings of, and comfort with research software and technology

Hours Needed and Availability: Scholars will average 10 hours a week in the Freedman Center in Kelvin Smith Library in person. This position must have availability on Wednesdays between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and additional availability generally from Monday through Thursday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. The undergraduate pay rate will be $14.30 an hour, and the graduate pay rate will be $16 an hour. We will be interviewing and hiring for a position beginning as soon as possible this fall.

Required Skills:

• Ability to engage with patrons in a helpful, friendly, and engaging way that adheres to the Center's mission of making technology accessible to all

• Willingness to learn complex processes and best practices for user scenarios ranging from quick tasks to full research projects

• Background in at least one area of digital scholarship services, including:

• Data analysis and visualization

• Generative AI research tools and applications

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

• Multimedia digitization, editing, and production

• Large Language Models

• Photogrammetry and 3D modeling

• Python

• R

• Statistical analysis

• Virtual/Mixed/Extended reality

• Web scraping

• Must be comfortable with Windows computers and able to effectively troubleshoot patron issues and technical challenges

• Must be able to work independently as well as collaboratively with a team

• Must be able to communicate effectively with patrons, peers, and Center and Library staff

• Ability to adhere to Center and Library guidelines around acceptable use of technology, patron privacy, and stewardship of resources

• Ability to sit for an extended period and move around to help patrons; there is the possibility of moderate lifting to relocate equipment

Preferred Skills

We are particularly interested in applicants who have previous experience in or a strong desire to grow in one or more of the following areas:

• Statistical analysis

• Data visualization

• Use of Generative AI and Large Language Models in research applications