Metadata Librarian (Monographs)
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
Full-time
Education
Posted on April 19, 2024
The Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries invites applications and nominations for the position of Metadata Librarian (Monographs). Joining a newly forming team of metadata colleagues, the Metadata Librarian (Monographs) is responsible for catalog maintenance and reparation, including authority work, batch record manipulation with data tools and analytics, and remediation of current records for improved access. The primary focus of this position will be on new monographic receipts and gifts coming into the collection. This position provides oversight for vendor-supplied records and contract cataloging. The Metadata Librarian (Monographs) trains and manages student employees in the new materials and gifts workflow from receiving to description, and marking. The candidate will join an exceptionally talented, culturally and academically diverse community.” The successful candidate will join 5 faculty and 6 professional staff as a member of the Resource Acquisition and Metadata Services department.
Located in diverse, historic, and dynamic Richmond, convenient to the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the recreation destinations of the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Commonwealth University is among the nation's leading research institutions. VCU Libraries, one of Virginia's outstanding research library systems, advances the University's teaching, research, service, and patient care mission with comprehensive digital and print collections and nationally recognized innovation in its facilities, advanced media and technology resources for its community. In February 2018, the Association of College and Research Libraries recognized VCU Libraries with the ACRL Excellence in Academic Libraries Award.
Diversity and Inclusion
VCU's commitment to diversity is one of the institution's strengths. Our student body is one of the most diverse in Virginia in terms of race and ethnicity and socioeconomic status, and one of the four themes of our Quest 2025 Strategic Plan is “Diversity driving excellence.” VCU is committed to building an increasingly diverse faculty and leadership team, and is actively engaged in partnerships with diverse communities in the Richmond metro area. VCU Libraries is purposeful in our efforts to advance diversity and inclusion, as explained in our diversity statement. The successful candidate will receive support for research, service, and professional development, including opportunities to pursue diversity and inclusion-related initiatives.
Responsibilities
Reporting to the Head of Resource Acquisition and Metadata Services, the Metadata Librarian (Monographs) performs both original and complex copy cataloging, including cataloging of print and non-print monographic materials for circulating, special, and electronic resources collections, and facilitates workflows across multiple content and discovery systems. This position will grow into responsibility for:
- Contributing within a team of metadata colleagues;
- Managing the workflow of the new monographic receipts and gifts coming into the collection;
- Oversight for vendor-supplied records and contract cataloging;
- Learning and cataloging to LC-PCC rules and authority control practices;
- Manipulating batch record with data tools and analytics;
- Maintaining existing records including reparative cataloging;
- Learning and development of metadata crosswalks, scripts and index normalization rules that support efficient data interoperability.
- Engaging in regional and national communities of practice, integrating evolving standards.
Qualifications
Required:
- ALA-accredited graduate degree or accredited graduate degree in another appropriate discipline.
- Familiarity with cataloging and bibliographic maintenance.
- Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.
- Demonstrated coursework or progressive professional development in cataloging and metadata.
- Familiarity with current descriptive and subject cataloging practices such as RDA, LCSH, LCC, MARC21, and XML ontologies.
- Familiarity with description and management of electronic monographs.
- Experience using ILS and discovery systems, such as ExLibris Alma and Primo VE.
- Experience with batch editing and scripting.
- Reading knowledge of one or more non-English languages.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a changing multi-departmental environment.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills and motivated by contributions toward service.
- Commitment to research and ongoing professional development.
Salary: Salary commensurate with experience, not less than $60,000 annually. This is a full-time, non-tenured faculty position. Relocation assistance and professional development allowance provided. Full-time faculty benefits apply, including 24 vacation days annually and choice of retirement and annuity plans. For more information about benefits, see https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/benefits/faculty-benefits/.
Interviews: Initial interviews will be conducted virtually. We anticipate inviting finalists to campus.
Learn about the position in an online information session
We are hosting information sessions for interested applicants in advance of the February 15th review date.
Please consider joining one of these sessions to learn more about the position; meet the supervisor, Amanda Echterling; and get answers to your questions about the position.
Join one of our info sessions via Zoom:
Wednesday, January 10th from 11am to Noon EST.
Monday, January 22nd from Noon to 1pm EST.
The attendee list for each Zoom session will be hidden and those asking questions may do so anonymously. Live captioning will be provided. To attend a session, please complete the confidential form to receive a Zoom link.
Questions? Please contact Amanda Echterling, Head, Resource Acquisition & Metadata Services, at amechterling@vcu.edu
Virginia Commonwealth University and VCU Libraries
As one of only 64 public universities with academic medical centers to be designated by the Carnegie Foundation as “Community Engaged” with “Very High Research Activity,” Virginia Commonwealth University ranks among Virginia's largest research universities, enrolling over 28,000 students. Located in the heart of Richmond, VCU offers 44 doctoral, 64 masters, 3 professional, and 66 baccalaureate degree programs. Thirty-four of VCU's graduate and professional programs are ranked by U.S. News & World Report as among the best in the nation, with 29 programs ranking in the top 50 and sculpture and nurse anesthesia ranked number one. Over 2,500 faculty comprise the University's teaching force. Research strengths at the University include health and life sciences, education, engineering, social work, behavioral sciences, public affairs, advertising and design, and the fine arts. Sponsored research funding totals over $460 million, placing VCU among the top 100 research institutions in the United States.
Libraries at Virginia Commonwealth University, including the James Branch Cabell Library on the Monroe Park Campus and the Health Sciences Library on the MCV Campus, employ over 59 professionals and 68 staff with annual expenditures exceeding $22 million. VCU also operates academic programs in Doha, Qatar, supported by a library there, and in various locations throughout the U.S. and the world. VCU Libraries is a member of the Association of Research Libraries, the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries, Center for Research Libraries, Coalition for Networked Information, National Digital Stewardship Alliance, Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition, and the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA), a statewide networking consortium for shared access to electronic and print resources, as well as a Resource Library in the Network of the National Library of Medicine, among others. The VCU Libraries uses the following packages for its system architecture: Alma, Primo VE, Digital Commons, ArchivesSpace, ILLiad, and Omeka.
The Monroe Park Campus of VCU is located in Richmond's Fan District, a large, residential neighborhood of townhouses, shops, and cafes. The campus is home to most of the University's undergraduate and many of its graduate programs, including the School of the Arts, the Colleges of Humanities and Sciences, and Engineering and the Schools of Business, Education, and Social Work. The School of Social Work also offers the Masters of Social Work at the Northern Virginia Campus in Alexandria, Virginia. In addition, VCU's Qatar campus in the Middle East offers degree programs through the School of the Arts.
The MCV Campus, located in historic Court End near state and local government and financial centers, is home to the VCU Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy; VCU College of Health Professions; the Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research; and VCU Health. VCU Health includes VCU Medical Center, a Magnet Recognized hospital with 812 inpatient beds, outpatient clinics, a Level 1 trauma center, and over 800 physicians in 200 specialty areas, many of national and international renown, as well as the Children's Hospital at VCU and Massey Cancer Center, Virginia's first NCI-designated cancer center. In addition to multidisciplinary centers for cancer, cardiology, neurosurgery, and transplantation, VCU Health offers virtually every form of contemporary medical service.
For more information about VCU Libraries, please visit our home page at http://www.library.vcu.edu/. Review of applications will begin February 15, 2024 and will continue until the position is filled. To apply, go to VCU Careers site, complete the application and submit a cover letter, resume/CV, and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three references. Applicants are requested to submit a Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion providing your career aspirations and contributions toward promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Virginia Commonwealth University is an urban research institution with a richly diverse university community and commitment to multicultural opportunities. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, political affiliation or disability.
Position Type: Teaching & Research Faculty
Full time equivalent: 1.0
Tenure: Ineligible
Rank: Open
Months: 12
Department: University Libraries, Resource Acquisition and Metadata Services
Salary: Commensurate with experience; not less than $60,000
