Special Collections Metadata Librarian

University of Rochester • City of Rochester, NY

1d • $64,200 - $96,200 • Onsite

About The Position

The Special Collections Metadata Librarian leads the creation of bibliographic descriptions for materials in all formats, including books, maps, broadsides, audiovisual materials, continuing resources, and manuscripts with an emphasis on materials acquired or held by Rare Books & Special Collections and Preservation (RBSCP) at the River Campus Libraries (RCL). Along with their colleagues in Metadata Services, the incumbent supports workflows and targeted projects requiring MARC-based cataloging and catalog maintenance activities and is responsible for continuing resource cataloging and holdings maintenance. They contribute to and maintain RCL’s guidelines and best practices for rare materials cataloging and serves as the domain authority in rare materials cataloging across the UR Libraries. The Special Collections Metadata Librarian collaborates closely with RBSCP’s curators and colleagues in Metadata Services.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Library Science (MLS, ALA-accredited institution or information science) degree and 3 years of professional academic Library experience (with descriptive metadata creation and management, especially for rare or unique materials) required
• Or equivalent combination of education and experience

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated experience in or commitment to advancing equity and belonging through metadata practice, scholarship or service
• Experience working in academic libraries.
• Demonstrated descriptive cataloging and metadata expertise and fluency in Resource Description and Access (RDA), Library of Congress Call Numbers and Subject Headings (LCC/LCSH), Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials (DCRM), MARC21 formats, etc.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and fluency in non-MARC metadata standards and schemas, such as Dublin Core, EAD, METS, and MODS
• Demonstrated knowledge of and fluency in cataloging maintenance work, such as authority control and batch updating, etc.
• Experience with Library Management Systems (LMS) and bibliographic utilities (Ex Libris’s Alma, OCLC’s Connexion and ClassWeb Plus preferred)
• Working knowledge of continuing resources cataloging and CONSER standards and best practices
• Working knowledge of one or more foreign languages
• Demonstrated knowledge of current and emerging trends, workflows, and best practices in cataloging and metadata
• Aptitude for planning and coordinating projects, prioritizing goals, and implementing effective workflows
• Superior communication and interpersonal skills and ability to form strong connections with colleagues across the libraries and University
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment
• Experience cross-walking metadata using data processing and transformation tools such as MarcEdit and OpenRefine
• Demonstrated knowledge of project management tools and best practices
• Rare Books School (RBS) Certificate of Proficiency

Responsibilities

• Provides MARC-based complex original and copy cataloging for materials in the RBSCP collection in MARC and non-MARC schemas. Materials include but are not limited to monographs, serials, broadsides, maps, and ephemera.
• Conducts research and engages with experts to enhance and enrich bibliographic records with relevant information.
• Enriches and updates bibliographic descriptions to improve user discovery, access, and accessibility.
• Develops and maintains RCL’s guidelines and best practices for rare materials cataloging to ensure currency, consistency, and clarity.
• Collaborates with RBSCP staff on workflows and project plans in support of rare materials cataloging.
• Provides original cataloging for a wide variety of unique materials and formats for collections across all of RCL. Supports colleagues in Metadata Services engaged in projects focused on these materials.
• Works closely with RCL’s Acquisitions department on continuing resources cataloging and holdings maintenance for print titles.
• Creates cataloging/metadata descriptions for materials deposited in the Libraries' institutional repository, including electronic thesis and dissertations (ETDs).
• Serves as the lead original cataloger in Metadata Services.
• Serves as a domain authority in rare and unique materials cataloging for colleagues across the UR Libraries, ensuring consistency and the application of national and local best practices.
• Supports the department’s Library Assistant in their work on complex copy cataloging for RCL’s general collections.
• Supports the department’s Library Assistant in their work on complex copy cataloging for RCL’s rare and unique materials.
• Support the creation, review, and maintenance of descriptive and subject non-MARC metadata throughout the UR Libraries digital collections infrastructure.
• Participate in select projects to develop digital collections or digital projects, particularly in support of the unique and distinctive collections held in RBSCP.
• Participate in select projects to enhance digital finding aids from across the UR Libraries. May include entity and subject creation in ArchivesSpace.
• Supports the department’s authority work by updating headings and resolving issues in the Authority Control Task List in the UR Libraries’ LMS (Alma). Coordinates with colleagues at the Sibley Music Library on authority work for music-related headings.
• With the Metadata Operations Librarian, develops and executes bibliographic data clean-up projects (e.g., enhance brief records, target enrichment projects, adding terms from new or emerging thesauri, etc.).
• Maintains currency with library functions, resources, practices, and procedures in the areas of cataloging, rare materials cataloging, continuing resources cataloging, and authority control.
• Participates in and contributes to RCL, UR Libraries, and University committees, meetings, and events.
• Serve on projects or working groups that support the strategic and operational goals of the University.
• Contributes to the profession through active participation in conferences, associations, research, writings, etc.
• Performs others duties as assigned.

Benefits

• The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving an inclusive and welcoming culture to advance the University’s Mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create – and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law (Protected Characteristics). This commitment extends to non-discrimination in the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates, for all persons consistent with our values and based on applicable law.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level