HathiTrust Metadata Analyst

Description

Job Summary

Note: This position will be a full-time, three-year term appointment with the possibility of renewal.

HathiTrust Digital Library has an opportunity for a collaborative and service-focused individual with deep knowledge of library and other data to improve and develop metadata structures, policies, and processes that underlie HathiTrust service provision to member libraries and end users. 

HathiTrust is a global partnership of 150+ research libraries hosted at the University of Michigan and working towards the mission to ensure that the cultural record is preserved and accessible long into the future. More than ten years after its founding, HathiTrust holds over 17 million volumes, one of the largest sets of digitized books managed by a non-profit organization, and makes that corpus available for search and discovery to the fullest extent allowable by copyright law and other limitations. HathiTrust maintains a small central staff and relies upon distributed services hosted and maintained by several member institutions. These include the University of Michigan (administration, preservation and access services); Indiana University and the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (HathiTrust Research Center); and the California Digital Library (bibliographic metadata management of library-contributed metadata via the Zephir system).

The Metadata Analyst will work closely with HathiTrust program and operations staff, operational partners, member libraries, and integrated library system vendors to support discovery and delivery of HathiTrust metadata, and analysis of the digital collection for collection development purposes. We expect that this position will identify metadata needs and issues for HathiTrust, and support decision-making for future directions for metadata to make it more powerful for both human and machine use. 

This position at the University of Michigan reports to the HathiTrust Director of Services and Operations. The Metadata Analyst is an employee of the University of Michigan and operates within the rules and policies of the University of Michigan. Relocation to Ann Arbor, MI is required. 

HathiTrust is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and encourages all employees to fully incorporate their diverse backgrounds, skills, and life experiences into their work.

Responsibilities

• Manage flow of bibliographic metadata into and through HathiTrust Digital Library applications and services, after processing by the California Digital Library’s Zephir team.

• Represent the HathiTrust organization to downstream consumers of metadata; work to make metadata flows into member libraries’ catalogs and discovery systems predictable and seamless.

• Troubleshoot and support maintenance of tools and systems that enable these flows, working closely with developers at the University of Michigan Library IT division as well as developers and metadata analysts at the California Digital Library’s Zephir team.

• Provide analysis and reporting support for HathiTrust’s overall collection development strategy, and for targeted collection building efforts such as the HathiTrust U.S. Federal Documents Program and HathiTrust Shared Print Program. Provide information to members as needed.. 

• Collaborate with Zephir team and HathiTrust Collection Services Librarian to support libraries who contribute metadata to HathiTrust.

• Create and manage collaborative metadata quality improvement processes with staff from member libraries, including catalog record error detection and correction; lead the Bibliographic Corrections Group of the HathiTrust User Support team. 

• Participate in the creation of new operational workflows and services, to improve HathiTrust metadata processing and provision in line with changing models and practices in libraries and publishing.

• Participate in and inform HathiTrust metadata policy development, in consultation with staff and HathiTrust member working groups and task forces. 

Required Qualifications

• ALA-accredited master’s degree in library and information science or advanced degree in a related field.

• Demonstrated success in implementing metadata in a cultural heritage context and deep knowledge of library metadata practices.

• Demonstrated knowledge of bibliographic record structure and detailed knowledge of cataloging practices and standards.

• Demonstrated experience working with an integrated library system.

• Knowledge of discovery tools and metadata practices supporting discovery.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong customer service mindset.

• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills. 

• Consistent accuracy and attention to detail while maintaining a high level of productivity.

• Ability to work independently and as a team member in a rapidly changing environment.

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to form successful collaborative relationships across complex organizations involving diverse stakeholders.

• Experience working on metadata cleanup and enhancement projects.

• Advanced knowledge of library cataloging tools and OCLC tools and processes.

• Experience with metadata transformations and crosswalks using technologies like XSLT/XPATH.

• Knowledge of emerging models and formats for bibliographic data and discovery, including the semantic web and open linked data.

• Knowledge of emerging issues and strategies related to the ethical implications of library metadata, cataloging, and classification standards, practice, and infrastructure. 

• Demonstrated knowledge of database structures, data management tools, statistical tools, and data visualization tools and techniques. Ability to combine, manipulate and normalize datasets from diverse sources for purposes of query and analysis. 

• Experience in a Federal Depository Library or a technical services group in processing bibliographic data for U.S. federal documents. 

• Project management skills and demonstrated expertise.

How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position. See https://www.hathitrust.org/metadata-analyst.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. Review of applications will begin July 8 and will continue until the position is filled. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

Additional Information

The University of Michigan offers excellent benefits and wellness opportunities.

This position receives 24 days of vacation a year, paid sick leave with provisions for extended benefits, as well as opportunities for professional development and travel. TIAA-CREF and Fidelity Investments retirement options are available.

Appointment is anticipated at the rank of Associate Librarian or Senior Associate Librarian. Librarian appointments carry with them increased expectations regarding professional development, professional engagement, research, and service, in keeping with the University Library's process for librarian promotion and advancement. The salary offered may vary based on the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate.