Digital Collections & Services Librarian, The Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, CT
Posted December 2, 2021
Description:
The Digital Collections & Services Librarian provides a forward-thinking and team-oriented professional with opportunities to expand the Library’s reach by implementing metadata utilizing diverse and equitable descriptors. This librarian serves as the primary cataloger and database administrator for a well-resourced high school library used by high-achieving students and dedicated faculty. Reporting to the Library Director, the Digital Services Librarian provides expertise and leadership in the creation, presentation, and assessment of digital collections, databases, and metadata systems, policies, and procedures. They will also provide expertise in support of the Hotchkiss Archives and Special Collections, and join the full Library team in providing desk coverage, collection development, research and reference support, and library instruction. This librarian will also meet with student and faculty groups to promote the library’s collections and to inform collection development decisions.
The School is eager to accept applications from individuals who are excited to support an inclusive and warm learning community for students from a wide array of backgrounds and experiences.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Serves as the Library’s expert on descriptive metadata.
- Creates workflows.
- Collaborates with Library, ITS, other Hotchkiss staff, and external vendors to manage metadata and bibliographic acquisition, transfer, and maintenance.
- Collects information and data, both anecdotal and statistical, to improve the accessibility and discoverability of Library collections.
- Catalogs (original and copy cataloging), classifies, and tags physical and electronic items, with a focus on enhancing access.
- Participates in library website development.
- Trains library staff as needed in classification (Dewey), processing, and library technologies.
- Applies Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) considerations in creating and maintaining access points.
- Develops the Library’s discovery layer (EBSCO Discovery Service).
- Working with the School Communication team, unifies branding across platforms.
- Coordinates input of individual and batch bibliographic records into the Library’s Integrated Library System (ILS)(Koha) and oversees the maintenance of our holdings and other data in OCLC WorldCat.
- Liaises with academic departments as assigned; develops collection and instructional programs in these areas.
- Participates in coverage at Library Services Desk and other service points as assigned.
- Works with patrons to develop independent research skills.
- Contributes to the overall maintenance of the Library collections, including Archives and Special Collections as needed.
- Performs other projects and tasks as needed and assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in any field and a Master’s degree in Library or Information Science from an ALA-accredited institution. Applicants who are currently working toward their degree are welcome to apply.
- Experience with LCSH, MARC, and RDA. Experience with Koha, and/or in OCLC Connexion desirable.
- Understanding of local subject heading and name authority creation.
- Demonstrated experience administering database subscriptions and customizing databases.
- Demonstrated experience to organize work and perform assigned tasks independently without close supervision and with a high level of attention to detail.
- Demonstrated experience promoting diverse access points.
- Experience working with colleagues across library and academic departments and ability to form strong relationships with co-workers and vendors.
- Must possess the ability to effectively proofread online data.
- Strongly prefer candidates with previous experience working in a school or academic library.
- Enjoys working with teen aged patrons.
- Ability to set priorities, advocate and embrace change, and select and use new tools and workflows.
- Excellent communication skills and customer service orientated.
PHYSICAL CONDITIONS:
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.
- Repetitive (keyboard) motion
- Occasional bending, stooping, and reaching
- Periodically carrying boxes (up to 50 lbs)
- Regularly pushes/navigates fully-laden book trucks
- Regularly stands for long periods
- Close vision, the ability to adjust focus, and comfort using a computer monitor for long periods of time
- Noise level in the work environment is usually quiet
- Participates in the staffing coverage of the library. The schedule is typically Monday to Friday, 8am–4:30pm, plus one night of reference a week (6pm–10pm) and one Sunday shift (noon–5pm) a month during the academic year. The schedule may generally include late afternoon, evening, and weekend shifts.
- Given the persistent risks of the spread of the COVID-19 virus – risks that are heightened due to the emergence of more highly transmissible variants – all employees of the School are required to be fully vaccinated by their first day of work as a condition of employment. Employees who are unable to receive the vaccine due to disability, medical condition, or a sincerely held religious belief may request an exemption, which will be reviewed by the School to determine the availability of any reasonable accommodations.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The essential functions and basic skills have been included. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This position description is subject to change at any time.
The Hotchkiss School is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to basing judgments concerning the employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities. The School is firmly committed to equal employment and advancement opportunities for all employees and applicants in all phases of the employment process (including recruitment, hiring, assignment, terms and conditions of employment, compensation, benefits, training, promotion, transfer, discipline and termination).
In accordance with applicable law, the School does not discriminate against any individual based on age, ancestry, color, genetic information, learning disability, marital status, past or present history of mental disability, national origin, physical disability, race, religious creed, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.
Qualifications
Education
Required
BA Bachelor of Arts or better.
Preferred
Master’s Library & Information Science or better in Library & Information Science.
How to apply:
Interested applicants should visit the following link to learn more and apply: