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About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

The Metadata Librarian will coordinate the receipt and evaluation of continuing resources and government documents as well as other formats as necessary. Actively catalog materials in a variety of formats using rules and national standards and best practices. Participate in discussions relating to discovery, access, retrieval, and management of objects in ILS and discovery. Advise on the application of appropriate current and emerging cataloging/metadata schema to facilitate access to digital resources and physical collections. Train others on cataloging/metadata creation and management and work closely with staff throughout the Libraries to provide access to the Libraries’ collections.

Essential Functions

• Performs original and complex copy cataloging for continuing resources including holdings management.
• Performs original and complex copy cataloging for government documents according to national Federal Depository guidelines and policies.
• Create and maintain metadata for description, discovery, access, administration, and preservation for continuing resources and government documents in line with national standards, best practices, and Federal Depository policies.
• Assist with metadata quality and authority control, cleanup, editing, enhancement, migration, mapping and transformations.
• Collaborate with other library staff in developing strategies for providing discovery and access to the full range of scholarly materials for which the Libraries are responsible.
• Advise and collaborate with faculty, students, and staff on current emerging digital technologies for teaching, learning, research, and creative processes when government documents are involved.
• Train others on metadata creation and management and work closely with staff throughout the Libraries to provide access to the Libraries’ collections.
• Contribute to the development, documentation and communication of departmental and Five College metadata workflows, policies, guidelines and procedures.
• Engage in outreach with local, regional, national, and international communities, as representatives of the university and the Libraries.
• Stay up-to-date with cataloging best practices and procedures, adhering to the MARC21 and RDA standards as appropriate and following CONSER and LC-PCC guidelines.
• Participate in library service and professional development activities as assigned or required to meet departmental goals and objectives.
• Demonstrate, foster, and cultivate a positive, proactive internal and external customer service culture amongst staff and student staff.

Other Functions

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Organizational Values

• Commitment to support justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) within the Libraries and across the institution
• Ability to build and sustain effective working relationships and work collaboratively in a diverse and fast-paced environment
• Purposefully promote a One Library environment for all that encourages inclusion, personal growth, respect, self-reflection, curiosity, and continuous learning
• Understands responsibilities with respect to conflicts of interest and behaves in ways consistent with both law and with university policy

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in library science or equivalent degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association or its equivalent in librarianship from another country, or appropriate equivalent experience by date of hire.
• Knowledge of metadata management, including authority control, Library of Congress classification, relevant cataloging standards and best practices. Experience in applying metadata schemes and standards.
• Familiarity with GPO guidelines and their implementation in RDA and MARC 21.
• Knowledge of metadata editing and transformation tools and techniques.
• Familiarity with integrated library systems or library services platforms, discovery systems, digital repositories, or OCLC cataloging tools.
• Ability to work effectively as a team player in maintaining harmonious, cooperative working relationships with staff, faculty, and administrators.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills, particularly the ability to explain complex concepts to a wide variety of people in individual and group settings.
• A demonstrated commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of at least one foreign language.
• Familiarity with authority control and reparative and inclusive cataloging.
• Experience with integrated library systems or library services platforms, discovery systems, digital repositories, or OCLC cataloging tools.

Work Schedule

• The regular working schedule for this position is Monday - Friday, day hours.
• The incumbent of the position is expected to work on a flexible schedule, which includes some evening, weekend, and holiday hours.
• This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee’s work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Massachusetts Society of Professors (MSP) Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the MSP collective bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

• Librarian I, II or III
• Librarian I salary floor: $55,000
• Librarian II salary floor: $61,500
• Librarian III salary floor: $69,500
• Salary commensurate with experience.

Benefits

University benefits may differ based on collective bargaining agreements (unions). Please see below for the potential benefits MSP Librarians can be entitled to obtain: benefits for the Massachusetts Society of Professors (MSP) members and benefits for MSP Librarians positions:

• Human Resources: Faculty & Staff General Benefits
• Massachusetts Society of Professors (MSP) Benefits
• MSP Librarian Positions Benefits

Promotion

MSP Librarian positions are eligible for promotion, defined as a change in rank as a librarian from one rank to the next higher rank. The bargaining unit member who gets a promotion shall receive the base salary increase in line with the MSP collective bargaining agreement. You can view the MSP Collective Bargaining Agreement, particularly, article 20, to learn more about MSP Librarian Personnel Actions, including promotion, appointment, reappointment, and continuing appointment.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three (3) professional references.

The University is committed to active recruitment of a diverse faculty and student body. The University of Massachusetts Amherst is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer of women, minorities, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities and encourages applications from these and other protected group members. Because broad diversity is essential to an inclusive climate and critical to the University’s goals of achieving excellence in all areas, we will holistically assess the many qualifications of each applicant and favorably consider an individual’s record working with students and colleagues with broadly diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds in educational, research or other work activities. We will also favorably consider experience overcoming or helping others overcome barriers to an academic career and degree.