Cataloging/Metadata Analyst

Stony Brook University•Town of Brookhaven, NY

About The Position

The Cataloging/Metadata Analyst supports the acquisition, description, discovery, preservation, and accessibility of the Libraries’ rare books, manuscripts, and other distinctive collections. Reporting to the Director of Special Collections and University Archives, the position contributes to archival processing, cataloging, metadata creation, public services, and departmental operations. Through high-quality archival practices and user-centered services, the Cataloging/Metadata Analyst enhances the discovery, preservation, and use of Special Collections materials. The incumbent must be able to learn new technologies, adapt to evolving archival and metadata standards, and work collaboratively with researchers, students, faculty, staff, and community members. This is a full-time, FLSA-exempt appointment. The position is designated essential and may require reporting to or remaining at work during emergencies when classes are canceled or campus operations are limited.

Requirements

Master’s degree or foreign equivalent.
Three years of full-time relevant professional experience.
Experience in metadata creation, original cataloging, metadata management, or related content services work in an academic library, research library, archives, or comparable cultural heritage organization.
Experience working with library or archives management systems, digital repository platforms, or related technologies.
Ability to learn new technologies and adapt to evolving archival and metadata standards.
Ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment with researchers, students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Alma and OCLC Connexion.
Knowledge of archival and library standards, including DACS, EAD, MODS, MARC21, Dublin Core, authority control, and controlled vocabularies.
Demonstrated interest in leveraging emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
Participation in or contributions to national or international cataloging and metadata communities.
Experience working with diverse formats and subject areas.
Experience creating authority records.

Responsibilities

Create, edit, and maintain original and enhanced catalog records, including original and copy cataloging and related authority work, as well as archival descriptions and metadata for rare books, manuscripts, university archives, audiovisual materials, photographs, maps, and digital collections.
Apply national and international cataloging, metadata, and archival description standards to support accurate discovery, long-term preservation, and access.
Use AI-assisted tools when appropriate to improve metadata creation, description, quality assurance, and workflow efficiency, with professional review and adherence to standards.
Arrange, describe, preserve, and rehouse archival collections in accordance with archival best practices.
Prepare, maintain, and update finding aids to support collection discovery and accessibility.
Physically retrieve, transport, shelve, and re-shelve archival and special collections materials.
Collaborate with library departments on cataloging and metadata, preservation, digitization, interlibrary loan, and collection-access initiatives.
Provide reference and research assistance to faculty, students, university administrators, community members, and visiting scholars through in-person, virtual, telephone, and email communications.
Identify, retrieve, and interpret archival and special collections materials for users.
Supervise Special Collections reading rooms.
Support public programming and promote awareness and use of Special Collections and University Archives through exhibitions, tours, class visits, instructional sessions, and community outreach.
Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate student assistants and interns.
Provide departmental operational support and participate in cross-departmental collection projects.
Collect and analyze departmental data for strategic planning, assessment, reporting, documentation, and continuous improvement.
Perform other duties or projects as assigned, consistent with rank and the department mission.