Cataloger II

Library Systems & Services LLC•Washington, DC

14h•$65,000 - $85,000•Onsite

About The Position

LAC Federal is seeking an experienced Cataloger II – Cataloging & Metadata Specialist to support a comprehensive cataloging, metadata enhancement, and bibliographic records modernization program for a major federal research library in Washington, DC. The role involves complex original and copy cataloging of monographs, serials, electronic resources, and specialized research materials; improving bibliographic data quality following migration to Ex Libris Alma; and helping reduce significant cataloging backlogs. The successful candidate will independently catalog materials in at least one foreign language, resolve complex metadata issues, and help coordinate remote multilingual cataloging activities. The position contributes to the long-term accessibility and discoverability of the Smithsonian's diverse research collections. It requires professional expertise in RDA, MARC 21, OCLC cataloging tools, authority control, and bibliographic research, as well as the ability to work full-time on-site in Washington, DC.

Requirements

Master's degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS/MLS) from an ALA-accredited institution or equivalent internationally recognized qualification.
At least five years of professional cataloging experience, including substantial original and copy cataloging of research library, academic library, museum, or special collections materials.
Demonstrated experience performing original cataloging and substantive bibliographic record enhancement using RDA and MARC 21.
Proficiency with OCLC Connexion or comparable OCLC cataloging tools, including searching, editing, creating, and exporting bibliographic records.
Professional experience using Ex Libris Alma for bibliographic record management, cataloging, holdings maintenance, or metadata quality control.
Ability to perform original and copy cataloging independently in at least one target language: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Persian/Farsi, Spanish, Italian, German, Hebrew, Greek, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Dutch, Russian or another Slavic language, Thai, Burmese, or an applicable Ethiopian language.
Ability to interpret bibliographic information in the relevant foreign language and apply appropriate original-script transcription, romanization, or transliteration practices.
Working knowledge of LCSH, LCC, name authority control, and standard bibliographic identifiers.
Experience identifying and correcting complex cataloging errors, including incomplete records, incorrect access points, duplicate records, and inconsistent descriptive metadata.
Familiarity with MARC 21 bibliographic and holdings formats, including fields and relationships used for serials and multilingual materials.
Ability to conduct detailed bibliographic research, exercise independent professional judgment, and maintain a high level of cataloging accuracy.
Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple cataloging assignments and coordinate with other technical services professionals.
Ability to work full-time on-site in Washington, DC, and meet applicable federal facility access requirements.

Nice To Haves

Seven or more years of professional cataloging experience, including complex original cataloging of multilingual, scientific, historical, or specialized research collections.
Cataloging proficiency in two or more target foreign languages, particularly Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Persian, Spanish, or Italian.
Experience supporting large-scale cataloging backlog reduction, retrospective conversion, or bibliographic records remediation projects.
Advanced experience with Ex Libris Alma, including import profiles, normalization rules, Alma Analytics, and bibliographic/holdings record management.
Experience correcting Unicode/UTF-8 conversion errors, diacritical inconsistencies, non-Latin script fields, and MARC 880 field linkages.
Knowledge of CONSER, PCC, BIBCO, and other cooperative cataloging standards and practices.
Experience cataloging complex serials, electronic resources, scientific publications, or materials held by museums and research institutions.
Familiarity with MarcEdit, OpenRefine, or comparable tools for batch metadata analysis, cleanup, and transformation.
Knowledge of BIBFRAME, linked-data principles, persistent identifiers, and emerging bibliographic metadata standards.
Experience coordinating with remote cataloging specialists, outsourced cataloging vendors, or distributed technical services teams.

Responsibilities

Perform complex original and copy cataloging of monographs, serials, electronic resources, and specialized research materials using RDA, MARC 21, OCLC WorldCat, and established authority-control standards.
Catalog materials independently in one or more foreign languages, including transcribing non-English bibliographic information, applying romanization standards, and creating or enhancing original-script access points.
Analyze, correct, and enhance legacy bibliographic records after migration to Ex Libris Alma, resolving UTF-8 encoding errors, diacritical inconsistencies, malformed MARC fields, and inaccurate bibliographic relationships.
Review and upgrade older bibliographic records to current cataloging standards to improve consistency, accuracy, and resource discovery.
Support complex serials cataloging and remediation, including title changes, bibliographic linking relationships, ISSN verification, enumeration and chronology, and holdings accuracy.
Coordinate foreign-language cataloging assignments with remote specialists by reviewing digital cataloging packages, tracking assignments, validating completed records, and facilitating integration into Alma.
Conduct bibliographic authority research and maintenance using name, subject, classification, and identifier standards, including LCNAF, LCSH, and Library of Congress Classification.
Identify and resolve duplicate, incomplete, inconsistent, or obsolete bibliographic records, including issues affecting electronic resources and legacy collections.
Import, validate, and maintain bibliographic and holdings records in Alma using approved cataloging profiles, normalization procedures, and quality-control workflows.
Collaborate with the Project Manager/Senior Serials Cataloger and other team members to prioritize backlogs, improve workflows, establish production standards, and meet quality and productivity objectives.
Support inventory maintenance, withdrawals, and collection reconciliation by providing bibliographic verification and assisting with holdings and item-record updates.
Document cataloging decisions, maintain production statistics, participate in quality assurance reviews, and recommend improvements supporting metadata modernization and BIBFRAME readiness.