Metadata and Cataloging Librarian

Description

Reporting to the Associate Dean for Collections, Systems and Digital Strategies, the Metadata and Cataloging Librarian will join a library team of faculty and staff specializing in Acquisitions and Electronic Resource Management (ERM), Interlibrary Loan, Systems, Cataloging, and Digital Initiatives. A core element of this position’s work is the creation of original and enhanced metadata description of library resources and collections in multiple formats with emphasis on inclusive and reparative resource description. An expected focus will be to work with relevant colleagues within the library and the Cal Poly community to identify opportunities to collaborate with community members to identify, prioritize, and add names and topics to national subject, geographical, and name indexes, including those associated with the U.S. Library of Congress, with a specific focus on underrepresented, marginalized, and Indigenous communities.  The Metadata and Cataloging Librarian will lead planning, evaluation, and implementation of metadata and cataloging policies, standards, procedures, and workflows that prioritize access for a diverse user population. The person in this position will represent the library in implementing California State University (CSU)-wide consortia level cataloging policies and procedures and may lead local implementation.

Librarians have full faculty status and are expected to meet faculty requirements for tenure and promotion. The typical workload allows for 20% of time to be dedicated to research, scholarship and creative activities.  Faculty are required to conduct an active ongoing program of scholarship or creative works that advances knowledge in the library and information field or other fields of one’s specialty. Faculty also participate in shared governance and actively engage in committees, task forces, and professional organizations to shape the future of the library in accordance with the goals of the library, Cal Poly, and CSU. Please refer to the Robert E. Kennedy Library Vision and Values and DEI Plan for more information.

Cal Poly strongly values diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), in the classroom, in scholarship, and in service experience. This position is part of a university-wide cluster of recruitments designed to increase curricular coverage of areas related to DEI, as well as to promote inclusive and equity-minded teaching strategies across the university. The successful candidate in this position will be expected to contribute to the university’s goals in these areas. As a candidate selected through this DEI cluster hire, the Metadata and Cataloging Librarian will be given start-up funds to support their work in DEI. Once hired, the successful candidate will collaborate with the Dean of Library Services and others to develop a plan for utilizing these funds for professional development activities. 

Requirements

• ALA-accredited Master’s Degree in Library and Information Sciences at the time of appointment or comparable experience with a relevant advanced degree.
• A minimum of 3 years of professional metadata and/or cataloging work experience.  
• Knowledge, publications, and/or experience in critical cataloging and/or critical librarianship.
• Demonstrated expertise in fostering equity and inclusion in professional performance, teaching, research, and/or service, and inclusive practices and working with a diverse student body, staff and faculty.
• Knowledge of the norming impact of metadata practices and standards and their impact on marginalized perspectives, experience, and knowledge.
• Demonstrated skill in providing original and complex copy cataloging in a contemporary MARC-based environment according to national, consortia, and local standards, centered on inclusive metadata practices and inclusive and reparative resource description.
• Demonstrated proficiency in leading planning, evaluation, and the consistent implementation of metadata and cataloging policies, standards, procedures, and workflows that prioritize access to a diverse user population.
  Capacity for data normalization, serialization, transformation, and enrichment, and for using tools to prepare data for interoperability with other systems.
• Ability to work closely with internal and external stakeholders, and across a variety of metadata standards and formats, to support a comprehensive and cohesive approach to the discovery, presentation, and delivery of the library’s resources.
• Evidence of and willingness to maintain current knowledge of the development of national and international standards and emerging practices for cataloging, metadata, and linked data.
• Ability to rigorously analyze metadata and cataloging practices and their impact on students, faculty, and other library users, and to devise user-centered improvements based on analyses.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with Ex Libris’ Alma and Primo systems, including the Metadata Editor and bibliographic systems jobs; experience with bibliographic and cataloging tools such as OCLC Connexion.
• Experience with cataloging rare books and serials, ephemera, audiovisual materials, music, organizational records, and manuscripts.
• Familiarity with authority control principles and practices; experience with or training in name and/or subject authority work including creation of original records or contribution to NACO and/or SACO.
• Preference will be given to those with expertise in or demonstrated commitment to teaching, scholarship, and/or service that contributes to access, diversity, and equal opportunity in higher education.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Note: Cal Poly cannot deny an applicant a position solely or in part due to a criminal conviction history until it has performed an individualized assessment and linked the relevant conviction history with specific job duties in the position being sought.

Please note: Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Sensitive positions are those requiring heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to Cal Poly or individuals in the university community.

For health and well-being, Cal Poly is a smoke & tobacco-free campus. The university is committed to promoting a healthy environment for all members of our community.

In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU related work outside of California. It is also expected that tenure-line faculty establish an on-campus presence to fulfill their responsibilities.