Acquisitions and Metadata Specialist, Collection Services, Library - UT Chattanooga

University of Tennessee•Chattanooga, TN

12d•$47,250•Onsite

About The Position

The Acquisitions & Metadata Specialist supports the UTC Library by acquiring, describing, and enabling access to print and electronic resources. Reporting to the Assistant Professor—Director of Acquisitions and Content Management, this role manages ordering and invoicing workflows, cataloging and metadata updates, and collection development activities that ensure students, faculty, and staff have timely access to high‑quality library materials.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
One (1) year of relevant professional or paraprofessional experience (including graduate assistantship or internship experience) performing tasks related to acquisitions or procurement, cataloging, electronic resource management, resource sharing, or fulfillment tasks.
Knowledge of acquisitions workflows, cataloging standards, and electronic resource management.
Skill in using integrated library systems (e.g., Ex Libris Alma), vendor platforms, and Microsoft Office applications.
Ability to analyze data for accuracy and compliance, troubleshoot access issues, and maintain detailed records.
Excellent organizational and time-management skills to handle multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills for collaborating with colleagues, vendors, and patrons.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team, demonstrating initiative and problem-solving capabilities.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree.
Two (2) years of relevant professional or paraprofessional experience (including graduate assistantship or internship experience) performing tasks related to acquisitions or procurement, cataloging, electronic resource management, resource sharing, or fulfillment tasks.
Work experience in an academic library preferred.

Responsibilities

Acquisitions of Library Materials Source and order ongoing and one‑time materials in all formats; evaluate vendor options, quality, cost, and shipping to optimize service and budget use.
Perform QA on electronic order confirmations and e‑resource activations; proactively monitor and troubleshoot access.
Prepare and submit purchase requisitions and orders in vendor and university systems; reconcile invoices and manage vendor deposit accounts.
Receive and process print items; activate/test access for new electronic materials within the Library Services Platform (LSP).
Maintain accurate acquisitions data within the integrated library system; ensure compliance with campus and system procurement/financial policies.
Collection Development & Management Lead procurement, management, and assessment for the popular reading, children, and graphic novel collections.
Collaborate on renewals and subscription decisions; coordinate projects with the Collections Management Librarian and the Cataloging & Metadata Librarian.
Manage replacements for lost/damaged items; oversee patron purchase requests and in‑kind donations.
Track holds and e‑book turnaways to expedite access via additional purchase or interlibrary loan; analyze data for relevance, compliance, budgeting, and assessment.
Serve on the Library Collection Development Committee; supervise and collaborate with student assistants on collection projects.
Metadata & Access Management Copy catalog materials in all formats; update bibliographic records per local and national standards.
Create/update item, holdings, and authority records in the LSP; perform database maintenance in Ex Libris Alma and OCLC WorldShare Management System during data cleanups, relocations, inventories, and weeding.
Troubleshoot e‑resource access issues with Library IT.
Other Duties Monitor trends in acquisitions, e‑resource management, and collection development; participate in process documentation and improvement.
Serve on library‑wide committees; provide customer service at the Check Out Desk as needed; support sorting, shelving, in‑house use stats, and related projects.
Assist with onboarding and training of new employees and student workers.