Audiovisual Metadata Librarian

Description

NYU Libraries is seeking a tenure-track faculty librarian to support the creation and maintenance of metadata for audiovisual resources. NYU’s growing collections currently comprise 175,000 audio recordings, 75,000 video recordings, and over 100 streaming media subscriptions in addition to ongoing audiovisual digitization projects. This position will be responsible for describing these materials according to national cataloging standards and will contribute towards library initiatives making  audiovisual resources discoverable and accessible to a wider user community. NYU pursues broader library efforts including cooperative cataloging (PCC), authority control (NACO / SACO) and linked data (Wikidata). As a member of the Metadata Strategy Unit, this position reports to the Metadata Strategist, Team Lead of the Metadata Strategy Unit in the department of Knowledge Access (KA) responsible for cataloging and metadata services. 

The Audiovisual Metadata Librarian will develop metadata application guidelines to optimize resource discovery and access, create sustainable metadata strategies to support digital preservation workflows, and promote the development of diverse, inclusive and equitable metadata through strategic community engagement and collaborative description workflows for collections representing traditionally underrepresented communities. In addition, this librarian will work closely with professional communities beyond NYU to promote the development of inclusive and representative metadata schema and vocabularies as well as conduct research in the area of inclusive and anti-racist descriptive practices. Read more about NYU librarians doing this work here: https://guides.nyu.edu/archival-collections-management/inclusive

This position’s responsibilities may include:

·       Cataloging materials in a variety of formats including but not limited to DVDs, analog video, digital audio / video recordings, and electronic resources.

·       Creating MARC and non-MARC metadata in compliance with standards such Anglo-American Cataloging Rules (AACR2) or Resource Description and Access (RDA). 

·       Applying controlled vocabulary terms such as from Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) / Name Authority File (LCNAF) / Genre and Form Terms (LCGFT), Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus (AAT), or Wikidata. 

·       Collaborating with subject specialists to provide alternative solutions for inclusive metadata (e.g. multilingual names and subject headings, SACO lite) in response to the strategic priority of inclusion, diversity, belonging, equity, and accessibility (IDBEA). 

·       Remediating legacy metadata (e.g. the Avery Fisher Center collection) and enriching electronic resource records to support library digitization efforts. 

·       Participating in library committees on metadata policy, documentation, and workflows.

·       Contributing to cataloging and metadata pilot projects including but not limited to Wikidata, authority training, and resource accessibility testing. 

·       Engaging directly with state, regional, and national committees responsible for decision-making and emerging trends within librarianship.

·       Participating in research, publication, and other professional and scholarly activities.

Research

Faculty librarians also explore their own active research agenda, contributing their expertise, experiences, and investigations to build new knowledge in their chosen areas. The Audiovisual Metadata Librarian will be well-positioned to make substantive contributions to research in a number of areas including, but not limited to, critical cataloging and inclusive description, technology for accessing legacy media and playback formats, and collaborative collecting practices around open access resources and consortial metadata creation. 

NYU Cluster Hiring Initiative

NYU Libraries is participating in the NYU Faculty Cluster Hiring Initiative to recruit, welcome, and support new library faculty working across the Division on timely themes of social importance, such as Inequality and Anti-racism, Population Health and Health Equity, Open Science and the Public Good, and Urban Environments and Politics. NYU Libraries will use the cluster-hire approach to address our goal of building a more diverse faculty community in a concerted way, with the full weight of the University’s recruitment and retention toolkit. It also allows us to mobilize our internal resources, including onboarding, cohort mentoring, and measures to protect time for research and service, and bring them to bear to ensure the success of new hires.For full details about the Libraries cluster hiring initiative, see this link.

This particular position is part of our Centering Underrepresented Voices: Anti-Racist Practices in Libraries and Archives cluster. The positions in the cluster are strategically placed in three core areas of librarianship: collections and subject expertise, description and discovery, and engagement and outreach. The cluster will center underrepresented communities' voices by bringing in new collections of African American and Black Diaspora Studies materials in all formats, creating anti-racist descriptive and metadata practices to support the discovery and use of these collections, and promulgating engagement and research services that draw on and support the growth of new knowledge.  By approaching collections curation, description, and research support through a lens of inclusion, diversity, belonging, equity, and accessibility (IDBEA), we create a set of interlocking and cohesive supports that enrich the scholarly lives of our communities.

Qualifications

Required

·       Minimum one graduate degree (master’s level or higher), conferred by start date, for consideration. A second graduate degree will be required to be eligible for tenure. One of the two graduate degrees must be an ALA-accredited MLS or equivalent.

·       Three to five years experience performing original or copy cataloging for a variety of physical and electronic non-print resources.

·       Knowledge of MARC / non-MARC descriptive cataloging standards.

·       Familiarity with library systems and tools such as OCLC Connexion, RDA Toolkit, MarcEdit, or OpenRefine. 

·       Attention to detail and accuracy with strong oral / written communication skills. 

·       Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with colleagues both within and beyond technical services. 

·       Demonstrated commitment to inclusion, diversity, belonging, equity, and accessibility.

Preferred

·       ALA-accredited MLS/MLIS or equivalent.

·       Experience contributing authority data to a national cooperative cataloging program such as the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC NACO / SACO).

·       Knowledge of metadata transformation tools and programming languages such as Python, XSLT, or Ruby. 

·       Fluency in one or more non-English languages (Spanish / Portuguese preferred).

About NYU Libraries
The Division of Libraries values diversity among its faculty, is committed to building a culturally diverse intellectual community, and strongly encourages applications from members of underrepresented communities. We are proud of our organizational culture and are committed​​to​ ​building​ ​and sustaining​​ a​ ​diverse,​ ​inclusive,​ ​and equitable​ ​organization​ that supports a sense of belonging for the staff and communities we serve. For more information regarding the Libraries’ commitment to IDBE, see the Libraries’ Mission & Values Statement, our Diversity and Inclusion Values Statement, and our Commitment to Anti-Racism.

Salary/Benefits: Faculty status, attractive benefits package including five weeks annual vacation. Salary commensurate with experience and background. Faculty at NYU, including in the Division of Libraries, have always enjoyed relative flexibility in their work, allowing for moments of remote work as appropriate.

Application Instructions
We would love to hear from you! To ensure consideration, submit your CV and letter of application, including the contact information of three professional references to http://apply.interfolio.com/101106 NYU Division of Libraries requires all candidates for this position to supply a statement demonstrating their dedication to inclusion, diversity, equity, and belonging as part of their application. Access the Diversity Statement prompt herehttps://nyu.box.com/v/diversity-statement Applications will be considered until the position is filled. Preference will be given to applications received by March 9.

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