Metadata Management Librarian

Description

Job Code: 1782

Job Grade: H

A cover letter and resume are required for full consideration.

The Hoover Institution at Stanford University is seeking qualified candidates for the full-time position of Metadata Management Librarian for the Hoover Institution Library & Archives. The position is a full-time career track position for an initial three-year limited term, with the possibility of renewal. 

About Stanford University's Hoover Institution: The Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace is a public policy research center devoted to the advanced study of economics, politics, history, and political economy—both domestic and foreign—as well as international affairs. 

Founded in 1919 by Herbert Hoover before he became the thirty-first president of the United States, the Institution began as a repository of historical material gathered at the end of World War I. The library and archives have grown to be among the largest private repositories of documents on twentieth-century political and economic history. Over time the Institution expanded its mission from collecting archival material to conducting advanced research on contemporary history and economics and applying this scholarship to current public policy challenges. 

With its eminent scholars and world-renowned library and archives, the Hoover Institution seeks to improve the human condition by advancing ideas that promote economic opportunity and prosperity while securing and safeguarding peace for America and all humanity.

JOB PURPOSE:

The Metadata Management Librarian will be an essential contributor to and team member of the Hoover Library & Archives' Digital First/Virtual Library initiative. The position will manage the metadata requirements for Hoover Library & Archives' mass digitization projects ensuring that the entire metadata workflow, from the project assessment phase all the way through to ingest of completed files to the Library and Archives digital preservation system, is completed according to the policies and guidelines of the Digital First/Virtual Library initiative. Leading the metadata aspect of the production workflow, this position takes normally pre-existing descriptive content and enhances its value through its organization and maintenance. This, in turn, will enhance the search, discovery, and access avenues to archival and special collections resources, in a variety of formats, related to twentieth century history in a variety of languages. Specifically, this position will be engaged in analyzing and transforming legacy library cataloging and archival description, developed according to multiple standards over the past decades, into the elements needed to identify digital objects. The work will proceed according to existing and emerging metadata schemas and techniques, such as linked data along with hierarchical, archives-based schema. 

CORE DUTIES*:
 

• Lead the Metadata area for the assessment and implementation phases of mass digitization efforts.
• Manage the scheduling of staff on description projects needed to make materials digitization ready, working collaboratively with a wide range of people.
• Independently analyze, revise and/or improve the data/information/content model for all materials before they move into the active digitization workflow.
• Responsible for associated entity management work as defined by policy for particular schemas.
• Collaborate with team members to evaluate, select, and apply metadata schemas and techniques, standards, data elements, and thesauri to provide description and access to collections.
• Participate in the development of a uniform description environment across Hoover Library & Archives.
• Participate in relevant professional activities.
• Work across teams and with the Hoover Library & Archives curators.
• May assist with ingest of files to the Digital Preservation System.
• May supervise day-to-day work of library, information technology, and/or information analysis specialists, student and/or temporary workers, including scheduling, assigning, and prioritizing workloads, setting appropriate deadlines, reviewing work for quality and timeliness, and providing performance review input.

* Other duties may also be assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Education & Experience:

MLS/MLIS from an ALA-accredited library school or the equivalent of education and experience. 

Two or more years of relevant work experience required, three years preferred. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
 

• Deep appreciation for and demonstrated understanding of the purpose and structure of library and archives-related discovery metadata.
• Broad knowledge of digital repository functions, services, and requirements.
• Demonstrated understanding of EAD, MARC and current archival description and library cataloging practices.
• Familiarity with METS/ALTO, MODS, Dublin Core or other similar metadata standards.
• Familiarity with XML, RDF, and other machine actionable languages; familiarity with, or ability to learn, linked data principles and standards.
• Demonstrated past experience with, or the ability to learn, practices which automate repetitive data manipulation and normalization through tools and techniques such as Open Refine, MARCEdit, Python and/or scripting for text and data parsing.
• Demonstrated ability with, or proven ability to learn, skills such as XSLT or scripting to transform and remediate metadata.
• Experience with ArchivesSpace and/or integrated library systems and discovery platforms preferred.
• Experience with metadata transformations and cross-walking tools to improve metadata interoperability across various schemas and software platforms preferred.
• Knowledge of non-bibliographic metadata standards such as technical, preservation, structural, packaging, and transfer metadata schemes.
• Demonstrated ability to use online and PC-based applications for data analysis and reporting.
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills combined with attention to detail for complex detail-oriented work.
• Excellent oral and written communications.
• Ability to work independently, as a team member, and across organizational boundaries in a highly demanding environment.
• Flexibility to be organized, productive and effective in a dynamic environment, involved with a variety of simultaneous projects.
• Demonstrated ability with supervision or evidence of ability to learn.

Certifications and Licenses:
 

• None

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS*:
 

• Sit a great deal of the time; perform desk-based computer tasks.
• Frequently twist/bend/stoop/squat, grasps lightly/fine manipulation, grasp forcefully, sort/file paperwork or parts, lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh up to 15 pounds.
• Occasionally stand/walk, reach/work above shoulders, writing by hand, kneel/crawl, climb (ladders, scaffolds, or other).
• Occasionally use a telephone, operate hand controls.
• Must be able to push and maneuver a fully loaded cart weighing up to 650 pounds that requires an initial push force up to 50 pounds.

*Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
 

• May work in confined spaces and at heights 4-10 feet; be exposed to dust and mold; work extended hours, evenings and weekends.

WORK STANDARDS:
 

• Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients as well as with external organizations.
• Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
• Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu.

The Hoover Institution at Stanford University is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Additional Information

• Schedule: Full-time
• Job Code: 1782
• Employee Status: Regular
• Grade: H
• Department URL: http://www.hoover.org
• Requisition ID: 82736