Metadata Librarian, Librarian I/II

Description

Michigan State University (MSU) Libraries invites applications for the position of Metadata Librarian.  The innovative, dynamic, and collaborative professional is responsible for creating, maintaining, and enriching metadata of MSUL’s digital collections of maps, posters, photographs, audio/visual, serials, monographs, ETD, etc., primarily housed in the digital repository. Reporting to the Head of Metadata Strategies and Technologies within the Digital Initiatives Division and as a member of the digital repository team, the Metadata Librarian collaborates with library colleagues and stakeholders to create accurate descriptions, facilitate discoverability, and provide stewardship for digital assets. The candidate should be knowledgeable in different metadata standards and provides expertise in the development, implementation and assessment of metadata policies and procedures while monitoring trends, standards development and changing needs in these areas. The candidate also identifies and incorporates emerging technologies and tools like AI/machine learning, APIs, scripting, etc. to automate and enhance metadata workflows and improve content discoverability.

Duties include but are not limited to:
   Creates, maintains, and enriches metadata of MSUL’s digital collections; migrates and remediates legacy content
   Strategically assesses metadata quality, plans and executes metadata enhancement and remediation, and advocates linked open data principles and other emerging technologies and tools to improve discovery for library users
   Serves as a metadata consultant, including but not limited to advising on metadata standards and assisting in development and implementation of best practices, tools, procedures, and workflows
   Maintains strong working relationships and communicates regularly with staff across the library especially the Digital Development and Strategies unit, the University and beyond, on services and projects that depend upon metadata for success
   Creates and maintains local documentation on metadata standards and application guidelines
   Assesses current and emerging metadata standards and tools to determine applicability for adoption by the MSUL
   Keeps abreast of the development of local, national, and international metadata standards and policies

We welcome candidates who meet the minimum requirements to apply and will support their professional development to grow in this position.

Librarians are appointed as regular faculty in the continuing appointment system. Faculty are expected to independently apply judgment; have excellent oral and communication skills; and demonstrate attention to detail; flexibility; collegiality; the capacity for collaboration; and a commitment to diversity and inclusion in performance of their duties. As faculty, they develop a self-directed program of professional development and scholarly activities related to their position; and serve on library and university committees as elected or assigned.

The librarian will work to advance the initiatives in the MSU Strategic Plan and in the MSU Libraries Strategic Plan. In support of these initiatives, the Libraries serve as a center of activity and engagement on campus, with librarians empowered to support both student development and transformative research activities.

The MSU Libraries Strategic Plan guides our current and future work. The candidate will partner with our diverse campus to grow our welcoming multicultural environment. More information on MSU and the MSU Libraries’ dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion is available at: http://www.inclusion.msu.edu/about/index.html.

Michigan State University Libraries serve more than 4,900 faculty, 40,000 undergraduates, and 11,000 graduate and professional students on a park-like campus of over 5,000 acres. 

Closing Date
September 14, 2024

Special Instructions to Applicants
Minimum $60,000. Salary is negotiable. MSU provides generous fringe benefits including health care, dental care, professional development funding, 22 paid vacation days, 9 University holidays, 2 personal observance days, paid sick days, tuition discounts, and relocation reimbursement.

Interested applicants should provide a letter of application, CV/resume, and names, addresses and email addresses of three references (2 must be present/past supervisors) to http://careers.msu.edu. Posting number 980006.

For questions, please contact Jacquelyn Hansen, [email protected], at MSU Libraries' Human Resources Department.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications
   Master’s degree in information or library science from a program accredited by the American Library Association or an equivalent accreditation from an international institution.  
   Demonstrated proficiency in various metadata schema and serializations including but not limited to MODS, DC, MARC, JSON, RDF (e.g. RDFXML, JSON-LD, etc.)
   Demonstrated experience with applications, scripts, or other data manipulation tools (e.g. OpenRefine, Python, XSLT, etc.) for processing metadata.
   Knowledge of linked data principles, including RDF and ontologies
   Aptitude for emerging technologies in batch-processing, automation, machine learning, etc.
   Excellent interpersonal, analytical, organizational, problem-solving, time management, and communication skills, including the ability to work well independently and in a team-based environment
   Preparation and commitment to conducting independent scholarship consistent with a library faculty appointment.
   Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and an intention to work in and foster a collaborative, respectful culture.
   Capacity and commitment to engage independently in continuing professional development.

Desired Qualifications
   Two or more years of experience working with metadata in a library setting
   Experience in MARC cataloging, NACO, and/or identity management
   Experience working with digital repository systems
   Project management experience
   Practical experience in using APIs for metadata workflows
   Demonstrated experience in linked data, semantic web applications, ontologies and RDF and their application to library and cultural heritage projects
   Experience with applying AI/machine learning in metadata work
   Experience creating workflows, policies, guidelines, and other documentation for projects