Job Description
The Boston University Libraries seek an experienced, forward-thinking, and creative professional to provide leadership, vision, and expertise for bibliographic description; to serve as the lead for bibliographic metadata practices and policies; and to manage cataloging operations for the Boston University Libraries for all collections, including general, media, digital, and special collections. This position requires a deep knowledge of bibliographic data and cataloging best practices as well as a thorough understanding of how the catalog impacts resource discoverability. The Cataloging and Metadata Librarian is responsible for the creation, maintenance, and enrichment of metadata in support of robust discovery of library collections.
Reporting to the Head of Technical Services, the Cataloging and Metadata Librarian provides original and complex cataloging for library materials in all formats. The librarian in this role works closely with colleagues to evaluate and document policies, procedures and workflows for traditional cataloging, database maintenance, and non-MARC metadata creation within the BU Libraries. The Cataloging and Metadata Librarian works with colleagues in the Library Technology & Discovery Services, the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, Digital Ventures, and other library departments to establish metadata policies and procedures for digital projects. This librarian serves as a forward-thinking leader within and beyond the BUL Technical Services unit on all matters of bibliographic description and metadata management.
This position is critical to the effective operation of the Boston University Libraries and represents an opportunity to rethink and realign workflows and cataloging/metadata operations.
The Cataloging and Metadata Librarian will:
- Manage the creation, maintenance, and enhancement of metadata across multiple discovery platforms and library systems including the use of applicable tools for manipulating data (e.g., MarcEdit, Open Refine, Alma normalization rules, XML).
- Oversee cataloging operations across the BU Libraries, establishing policies and procedures for cataloging and metadata creation.
- Perform original and complex copy cataloging; create and enrich metadata for library materials in all formats, including monographs, serials, audiovisual, digital, and electronic resources; ensure compliance with cataloging and classification practices, standards, and schema.
- Perform catalog maintenance, including name and subject authority file maintenance and create original authority records.
- Develop appropriate standards, policies, procedures, and workflows for the cataloging department with a special emphasis on metadata projects, including those pertaining to descriptive, administrative, and technical metadata schemas for digital collections for the library’s current and future systems.
- Participate in the development of the library’s discovery system through collaborative work with the Library Technology & Discovery Services unit.
- Compile and analyze cataloging data for reporting to internal and external agencies.
- Stay abreast of best practices, emerging technologies, and evolving standards in technical services through professional development activities, conferences, and engagement with relevant professional organizations.
- Pursue professional engagement for self and staff through projects, publications, and attendance and participation in national conferences and meetings to connect the Boston University Libraries with best practices and emergent issues in higher education administration and library service development.
- Participate in library committees, working groups, and projects.
Required Skills
- Master's degree in library and information science.
- Two years of post-credentialed professional cataloging and metadata experience.
- Broad knowledge of cataloging and metadata workflows and services.
- Knowledge of cataloging and classification practices, standards, and schema such as MARC, RDA, AACR2, LCSH, OCLC, LCC, DACS, Dublin Core, and MODS; and Program for Cooperative Cataloging (CONSER, NACO, SACO) standards.
- Experience using relevant tools and services, such as MarcEdit, and Open Refine.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office applications (especially MS Excel).
- Strong problem-solving skills.
- Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication.
Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with serials and e-resource management.
- Familiarity with cross-walking, normalizing, and transforming metadata.
- Familiarity with Ex Libris’ Alma.
- Familiarity and experience with rare book cataloging and/or archival description.