Job Description
The Boston University Libraries seek an experienced, forward-thinking, and creative professional to lead and supervise the paraprofessional staff in its Technical Services unit. Technical Services encompasses acquisitions, receiving, cataloging, e-resource management, and metadata creation. This position is critical to the effective operation of the Boston University Libraries and represents an opportunity to rethink and realign workflows and department operations.
Reporting to the Head of Technical Services, the Technical Services Manager is responsible for managing daily technical services operations and for implementing technical services policies, standards, and procedures. This librarian works collaboratively with colleagues in the department to determine priorities and will assign staff to projects. The Technical Services Manager hires, trains, schedules, supervises, and evaluates the hourly staff in the department.
This librarian in this position performs original and complex copy cataloging for all resource formats, including print, digital, and electronic.
The Technical Services Manager will:
- Supervise the paraprofessional staff in Technical Services, supporting their continuous professional development; addressing performance issues as they occur; and assuring that all work meets expected standards and conforms to accepted best practices.
- 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.
- In support of robust resource discovery, participate in catalog maintenance projects that improve legacy records.
- Develop training materials and documentation on technical services workflows and procedures for staff.
- 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.
- 3-5 years of post-credentialed professional cataloging and metadata experience.
- 3-5 years of supervisory 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.