Digital Collections and Metadata Coordinator

Description

Job no: 512620
Work type: Staff
Location: San José

Categories: Unit 9 - CSUEU - Technical Support Services, Probationary, Full Time, Library

Job Summary

The University Library Digital Collections Specialist works collaboratively with colleagues at SJSU Library and within the California State University system to catalog and create metadata for digital and physical library collections and artifacts in a variety of platforms. This position reports to the Library’s Director of Data and Resource Management and receives work lead direction from the Library’s Head of Systems and Metadata.  SJSU Library is committed to bringing anti-racism practices into library services and operations. This position advances strategic initiatives in this area and ensures day-to-day business functions are aligned with the library’s core values of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

This position specializes in creating, maintaining, and enhancing metadata for complex and varied digital media types. Format types include audio, video, and 3D assets; Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR) objects and programs; born-digital and digitized documents; and other digital objects. This position may also work with traditional print formats including music scores, ephemera, and periodicals.  The Specialist identifies and implements novel solutions for new and emerging format types, working closely with colleagues to establish policies and practices that enhance discoverability, interoperability, and preservation of the Library’s digital materials. The Specialist creates metadata that is inclusive, culturally accurate, and supports campus EDI principles while adhering to national standards, local policies and procedures, in compliance with the policies and best practices set forth by CSU-side ULMS governance. The Specialist is encouraged to participate in professional organizations, initiatives, and discussions that improve digital collection practices and further inclusive, representative metadata practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Creates metadata using Dublin Core and other appropriate metadata schema for materials contributed to library digitization projects using a digital collection management system
• Assess metadata descriptions and vocabularies in catalog records to ensure the records are inclusive, culturally accurate, in support of the institution’s equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) principles
• Collaborate with colleagues in Special Collections, the Institutional Repository, and other library Units to contribute to metadata projects, cleanup needs, and application of appropriate metadata standards
• Scans materials according the established standards and manipulates images using Photoshop or similar utility for inclusion into the digital collection management system
• Analyzes and researches photographs and other library materials being added to the digital collections to determine specific subject matter and develop descriptive metadata
• Performs original descriptive and subject cataloging and classification, as well as complex copy cataloging, for materials covering a variety of subjects, languages and formats
• Exercises judgment in evaluating and determining appropriate guidelines in applying Resource Description and Access (RDA), Anglo-American Cataloging Rules (AACR2), Library of Congress cataloging guidelines, Library of Congress subject headings, OCLC guidelines, ULMS policies and procedures and local cataloging practices.
• Performs database maintenance in the online catalog by resolving issues with incorrect records and sets of records

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of the structure of the cataloging system and records and how the metadata in the various fields relate to one another
• Thorough knowledge of Dublin Core schema
• Thorough knowledge of OCLC MARC standards for the proper creation of records in OCLC Connexion and the library’s integrated library system
• Ability to work collaboratively with library colleagues and others in support of library initiatives in metadata, cataloging and digital humanities
• Demonstrated visual literacy skills to accurately read and understand photographs and other pictorial materials
• Thorough knowledge of the digital collection management system
• Working knowledge of use and functions of scanning equipment and Photoshop or similar image manipulation software.
• Ability to effectively communicate ideas and concepts in verbal, written and presentation format

Required Qualifications

• High school education or equivalent certification
• Four years of related library and/or clerical experience or an equivalent combination of experience and education

Preferred Qualifications

• 3 years of experience in an academic library setting
• Bachelor’s degree preferred, classwork in library science or digital media helpful
• Experience creating metadata using established schemas - especially Dublin Core, RDF or EAD - using encoding systems like XML, JSON or MARC21
• Experience with creation and quality enhancement of digital objects in a content management system, such as Drupal, Digital Commons and Omeka, or digital asset management system, such as Islandora, Rosetta, or ContentDM
• Experience collaborating across units on digital projects
• Experience scanning materials using best practices for digital and physical item preservation, and in manipulating images using Photoshop or similar utility
• Experience researching library and archival materials to determine subject matter, provenance, and other information needed for the metadata
• Experience working on projects with culturally sensitive content, such as oral histories, in a way that is community-focused and identity-sensitive
• Experience supporting digital humanities initiatives and interdisciplinary digital projects with tools such as Voyant, Tableau, bepress Digital Commons, ExLibris Esploro, and Omeka

Compensation

Classification: Library Service Specialist IV
Anticipated Hiring Range: $5,896/month - $6,200/month
CSU Hiring Range: $3,736/month - $6,893/month

San José State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. For more information on programs available, please see the Employee Benefits Summary.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

• Resume
• Letter of Interest

All applicants must apply within the specified application period: April 11, 2022 through May 1, 2022. This position is open until filled; however, applications received after screening has begun will be considered at the discretion of the university.