Metadata Librarian, Cornell University Library, Ithaca, NY
Posted June 10, 2017
The Metadata Librarian focuses on the creation, maintenance, and enrichment of metadata in Cornell’s broader repository ecosystem. In collaboration with colleagues, the Metadata Librarian provides expertise in the development, implementation and assessment of metadata infrastructure, policies and procedures to Cornell while monitoring external developments, standards development and changing needs in these areas. Further, the Metadata Librarian designs and enacts extract, transform and load processes for legacy MARC and non-MARC metadata, with an eye towards scaling and automating these processes.
Key Opportunities this position provides:
- Focus on the integration of metadata between systems
- Define and conduct efforts related to metadata design, mapping, maintenance, remediation and enhancement
- Collaborate on the development of long-term solutions for improved metadata management and interoperability
- Play an active role in professional organizations inside and outside of the Cornell University Library community
Duties and Responsibilities
Metadata Management (70%)
- Serves as metadata consultant on standards, best practices, tools, procedures and workflows
- Plans, coordinates and conducts metadata enhancement and remediation to address better discovery for library users
- Engages in infrastructure implementation and repository migration (e.g.: Samvera/Hydra, ArchivesSpace)
- Creates and maintains metadata mappings between repositories and discovery environment indexing efforts
- Creates and maintains local documentation on metadata standards and application profiles
- Develops and provides training to library staff regarding resource description, metadata remediation and metadata management
- Maintains strong working relationships and communicates regularly with staff across Cornell, fostering collaborative efforts between Metadata Services and the greater Cornell community
Batch Processing Activities (20%)
- Participates in the development, implementation and execution of LTS’s often complex batch processing routines in Voyager; includes automated extraction, updating, export and creation of MARC catalog records as well as the development and use of related reports
- Advises on and participates in the anticipated transition of LTS’s batch processing routines from Voyager to the OLE/FOLIO environment
Professional Activities (10%)
- Identifies and engages in national areas of interest in metadata development, particularly focusing on institutional participation and engagement
- Monitors and contributes to the development of local, national, and international metadata standards and policies; conducts research and contributes to professional publications and forums
- Actively participates in CUL and professional working groups, task forces, instruction programs, and committees; maintains strong working relationship and communicates regularly with staff in CUL departments and divisions and at other institutions
Required Qualifications
- ALA-accredited MLIS or equivalent advanced degree alongside experience manipulating and transforming metadata or datasets
- Knowledge of a variety of MARC and non-MARC metadata standards and schema
- Demonstrated skills with scripting languages and/or tools for data manipulation (e.g. OpenRefine, Python, XSLT, etc.)
- Experience creating, editing, enhancing, transforming or migrating legacy metadata
- Aptitude for learning new technologies and metadata standards
- Aptitude for working at larger scale
- Strong service orientation and interest in library users’ values and needs
- Excellent communication and analytic skills, including the ability to work well in a team-based environment
Preferred Qualifications
- Two to three years of experience working with metadata in a library setting
- Practical experience in the use of MARC and non-MARC principles, standards and tools
- Understanding of linked data principles, including RDF and ontologies
- Excellent organizational and project management skills
- Demonstrated experience creating and working with authority data (e.g. LC authorities, Getty vocabularies, ORCID, ISNI, etc.)
Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.