Job: Library Developer for LibraryThing (worldwide search)

LibraryThing is hiring 1-2 library programmers/developers/hackers.

We want to find the best people available anywhere. Work for us in Maine, or stay where you are—in your pajamas for all we care.

LibraryThing and our LibraryThing for Libraries project are both growing rapidly. We are expanding our staff and taking on new, exciting projects. We think books and libraries are the world—and we're going to change it.

The idea candidate would be:

• Proficient in PHP, Python and JavaScript. You need to be expert in at least one of them.
  
• Willing to learn what you don't know
  
• Knowledge of library systems, particularly OPACs
  
• Knowledge of library standards, particularly MARC
  
• Able to think globally and creatively about library technology
  
• Able to self-direct or collaborate with others as needed
  
• Able to communicate well with others
  
• Fast
  
• Hard working to a fault
• Eager to change the world
  

Bonus points for:

• An MLS
  
• Driving Distance to Portland, Maine
  
• Strong CSS, HTML, usability, UX skills; Perl
  
• Committment and experience with Open Source and Open Data 
  
• Already "out there" in terms of LibraryThing membership, or participation in similar sites
  
• Willingness to tolerate my quaint dislike of OO programming
  
• Experience with non-library bibliographic data
  
• Bibliophilia
  
• Oenophilia, tyrophilia*
  

The position is eligible for our $1,000-in-free-books program. Refer someone to us and we pay $1,000 in free books. Self-refer and you get the books instead.

*Not going to concede on this one.

Job: LibraryThing for Libraries

LibraryThing is looking for someone to take over the non-coding parts of LibraryThing for Libraries, our innovative plan to bring Library 2.0 gold to OPAC 1.0 slag.

The position is part basic tech and part "sales." If you come from tech you have to prove you're personable. If you come from sales you have to prove you're very sorry about it.

Qualities:

• Smart. We value brains over experience.
• Personable. We're a bunch of trogledytes. Outshine us.
• Hard-working. LibraryThing is a startup, so hard work is expected. And you have to want that. This is the job you think about in the shower.
• Organized. We have a few hundred libraries interested in LibraryThing for Libraries already. You've got to be able to keep them straight and not get behind on emails.
• Techy. This isn't an engineer position, but you need to be comfortable with this world. HTML and CSS strongly preferred. Experience with one or more OPAC/ILS systems preferred.
• Fast learner. Don't know anything about XML? Spend today with this book.
• Library-ish. We're 3-4 library people now (with 2 MLSs). Even us out.

Location: Portland, ME or Boston, MA preferred, but we'll entertain all possibilites. Relocation not necessary, but might help.

Money: Salary, commissions, excellent plated health insurance. LibraryThing for Libraries is growing very rapidly. It's got the potential to change the world. You could be at the center of that. And you get paid?

Contact: Tim Spalding (tim@librarything.com)

Internet Archive wants book-loving systems engineer

In the spirit of fraternal concern, I post that the Internet Archive is looking for a systems engineer with PHP experience for their book-scanning project. (Also they promised to send us their discards. We need one too.)

The help-wanted has some excellent provisions:

• Love and respect for books; pride and care in your work
• Not afraid of terabytes

If I had the skills, I'd be tempted to take it. The Internet Archive is a great institution. The people are great, and they have the best office space ever. LibraryThing's second-story apartment steps from the Portland waterside pales in comparison. They have this adorable jewel-box in San Francisco's Presidio, with the Golden Gate Bridge right outside the window.