Metadata Librarian, College of Charleston Libraries, Charleston, SC

Posted December 3, 2014

The College of Charleston Libraries seek a metadata librarian, a faculty member in the Technical Services Department, to work in a team-based environment to coordinate the creation, maintenance, and enrichment of metadata representing the college’s physical and digital collections.  The Metadata Librarian will be responsible for original cataloging of materials in multiple formats (textual, media, and digital).  Reporting to the Head of Cataloging, the Metadata Librarian will work with colleagues in the Technical Services Department, subject specialists, and digital library developers to define departmental strategies for MARC and non-MARC metadata creation.  He/She will play a critical role in harmonizing the College’s descriptive metadata practices to maximize discovery.

This is a full-time faculty position starting July 1, 2015.  As members of the College’s tenure-track faculty, librarians are expected to contribute significantly to the profession.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Metadata 65%

• Collaborates closely with the Head of Cataloging and the Assistant Dean of Technical Services on cataloging and metadata issues related to the integrated library system (ILS) and other systems; works to organize, manage and evaluate outsourced cataloging
• Works closely with Technical Services colleagues to establish cataloging priorities, including determining appropriate levels of description for materials and developing and implementing metadata standards and best practices for cataloging
• Following international, national, and local standards and best practices, creates and edits bibliographic records in the OCLC Worldcat database using OCLC Connexion software
• Performs original and complex adaptive cataloging and creates metadata for materials in multiple languages and formats
• Provides staff training in OCLC Connexion and in MARC and non-MARC metadata creation and assists in other departmental training initiatives

Institutional Repository 15%

• Assists in establishing the metadata requirements for the College’s institutional repository and manages the ingestion and description of material into the repository

Authority Control 10%

• Assists in the completion of authority work and the management of the Library’s authority history files

Library and College Affairs 10%

• Serves as library liaison to academic departments
• Undertakes research and/or professional development related to professional and scholarly interests
• Serves on library, College and professional committees, elected and assigned

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree from an ALA accredited MLIS or MLS program
• Experience in professional metadata creation in an academic or research library or equivalent professional venue (e.g. museum, grant project, historical society)
• Knowledge of current standards, such as AACR2, RDA, LC classifications, LCSH, DACS, etc.
• Knowledge of XML-based standards (e.g. Dublin Core, EAD, MODS, etc.)
• Knowledge of semantic web, RDF, and linked data
• Original cataloging experience in multiple formats using OCLC Connexion
• Ability to design and/or adapt XML schemas, XSLT stylesheets, and RDF ontologies for digital projects
• Demonstrated experience solving complex cataloging/technical services problems
• Demonstrated day-to-day technical services, cataloging and metadata creation/management operations experience
• Proven ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic, complex and rapidly evolving environment and to learn new technologies and adapt to changes in the profession
• Knowledge of trends and issues in academic libraries, scholarly communications, higher education, and publishing
• Self-motivated and detail-oriented with outstanding written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Expertise in developing architecture for managing and integrating heterogeneous metadata, including MARC and non-MARC formats to facilitate interoperable discovery across system
• Experience in cataloging media
• Experience with scripting languages, especially related to metadata manipulation
• Experience developing metadata crosswalks
• Demonstrated project management and successful supervisory experience
• Experience with Innovative Interfaces software

About the College of Charleston and the Libraries

Founded in 1770, the College of Charleston is a public liberal arts and sciences university located in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina. The College of Charleston serves approximately 10,000 undergraduates and 1,500 graduate/certificate seeking students with more than 100 majors and minors. In 2012, Charleston was ranked #1 City in the World by Condé Nast Traveler and 5th among U.S. mid-sized cities for jobs by Forbes Magazine.

The College of Charleston Libraries are comprised of the Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library, the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, the John Rivers Communications Museum, the Marine Resources Library, and the North Campus Library. The combined annual budgets exceed $5.6 million with a staff of 25 librarians and archivists, 28 full-time employees, and 35 student and temporary employees.

The College of Charleston is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, race, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, or disability.

To Apply

Applications must include cover letter, vita, unofficial graduate transcripts, and contact information for three professional references.  Please apply online at https://jobs.cofc.edu/postings/3508. Review of applications will commence on Jan. 30, 2015 and continue until the position is filled. Questions regarding this position may be directed to Martha Stackel, Head of Cataloging and search committee chair at [email protected]. Official transcripts and background checks will be required for hiring.