Metadata Librarian

Description

The Metadata Librarian is a Faculty Librarian in the University Library System (ULS) Technical Services Department and reports to the Head of the Metadata and Discovery Unit. The Metadata and Discovery Unit is a center for ULS expertise in descriptive, technical, and administrative metadata, with a focus on access, discovery, and stewardship of digital content created, hosted, or published by the ULS. The unit develops and implements metadata strategies, policies, and procedures for such metadata within the Library System and provides expertise to others at the University of Pittsburgh.  

Responsibilities: 

• Creating metadata, applying appropriate schema, creating documentation, and training others for metadata creation. Facilitating the creation and management of descriptive, administrative, and preservation metadata for digital projects and initiatives. 
• Representing ULS expertise in metadata to internal and external partners and seeking opportunities to collaborate with University of Pittsburgh faculty, staff, researchers, and students. 
• Communicating standards and recommendations for metadata development and creation to partners. Providing guidance and training to staff engaged in metadata creation and management. 
• Maintaining a current knowledge of relevant metadata standards and schemas, and interpreting and applying those metadata standards for local purposes. 
• Facilitating standardization across metadata records, including evaluating the quality of legacy metadata and enhancing/improving existing metadata based on current best practices. 
• Reviewing metadata workflows for inefficiencies and inconsistencies. Developing and documenting new workflows for efficiency/consistency. 

A successful candidate for Metadata Librarian will have the following required qualifications: 

• Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited library and information science program or equivalent. 
• Aptitude for complex, analytical work with attention to detail, demonstrated problem-solving skills, and flexibility. 
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively across library departments and with university and community partners. 
• Self-motivation, project management skills, and the ability to multi-task with various deadlines. 
• Effective oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills. 
• Strong commitment to user-centered library service and the ability to work flexibly and creatively in a changing and fast-paced environment with a culturally diverse population. 

The Metadata Librarian will be responsible for various aspects of metadata creation and management and will ideally have two or more of the following skills: 

• Creating and managing metadata in a library or similar setting. 
• Applying metadata standards and schemas such as MARC, Dublin Core, MODS, METS, EAD, linked data, BIBFRAME, RDF and other emerging standards. 
• Developing metadata policies and workflows. 
• Knowledge and understanding of metadata and cataloging principles and best practices related to resource description and discovery. 
• Batch data processing, such as normalization, remediation, transformation, and enhancement through scripting and programming (e.g., Python, PHP, R, XSLT, etc.) and/or data manipulation tools (e.g., MarcEdit, OpenRefine, etc.). 

• Familiarity with principles of authority control and NACO. 
• Experience with library service platforms, such as Ex Libris’ Alma and digital library platforms, such as Islandora. 
• Training and creating documentation. 
• Knowledge of one or more languages beyond English. 

Librarians at the University of Pittsburgh are members of the faculty and are expected to demonstrate continuous professional development in addition to performing their specific responsibilities. This expectation includes such activities as participating in and contributing to departmental, library and campus-wide committees or working groups as well as the profession at a regional, national, and/or international level, maintaining a broad awareness of current and emerging issues that affect their particular areas of expertise, participating in relevant publishing and presentation opportunities, and pursuing knowledge of professional trends and developments that can be applied to evolving research, services and collections. Approximately 10% of the librarian’s time should be directed toward such activities and will be included as part of the annual evaluation. 

Specifically, the incumbent in this position is expected to: 

• Keep abreast of and contribute as appropriate to current developments in the profession, especially as they relate to metadata and cataloging. 
• Contribute to the profession through publications, presentations, teaching, and other professional activities to promote the expertise of the Metadata and Discovery Unit and Technical Services Department. 
• Seek out appropriate roles in professional associations, research and/or publication on the regional, national, and international level. 
• Participate actively in ULS and campus-wide working groups and committees, as appropriate. 

Librarians are also expected to recognize, respect, and work effectively with individuals and groups with diverse perspectives and backgrounds in all aspects of their work and take initiative in learning about issues relating to equity, diversity, and inclusion. 

The University of Pittsburgh Library System 

The University of Pittsburgh's University Library System (https://www.library.pitt.edu/) is a member of the Association of Research Libraries and contains over 4.7 million print and electronic volumes, including access to over 300,000 journals and 570 databases. The University Library System (ULS) consists of 13 libraries and employs 75 faculty librarians and 103 staff. In addition to the ULS, the University of Pittsburgh includes libraries for the health sciences and law school.  

The ULS stands at the center of intellectual life at the University of Pittsburgh, fostering connections and knowledge creation and dissemination that help faculty, students, and researchers from around the world to excel in research, scholarship and creative expression. It supports and enhances faculty and student productivity through its extensive collections, innovative Open Access publishing, and user-centered focus.  

The ULS has recently enacted a major organizational realignment and is currently aggressively hiring in many areas of strategic priority, including research support, digital scholarship and creation, entrepreneurship and innovation.  We are repositioning our services to respond to and anticipate changes in research, teaching, and learning. We are also in the midst of a top-to-bottom renovation of Hillman Library, the central library of the University of Pittsburgh campus which saw 1.9 million visitors in FY17.  The reinvented Hillman (http://library.pitt.edu/hillmanreinvention) will be a light-filled home to spaces, from vibrant to serene, for digital making and exploration, showcasing unique collections, advancing academic study, and fostering energetic, collaborative exchange. 

This is an exciting time to join the Pitt library system and contribute to envisioning the library of the future. 

The University of Pittsburgh 

Founded in 1787, the University of Pittsburgh (http://www.pitt.edu/) is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the United States. Today Pitt is an internationally recognized center of learning and research, strong in the arts and sciences and the professions. Pitt serves approximately 32,000 students, including more than 9,000 graduate students, in the 16 schools at the Pittsburgh campus and the four regional campuses. Pitt attracts, on average, more than $700 million in research funding every year.  It is also one of the nation’s top producers of Fulbright students and scholars for the 2017-18 academic year (according to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs), and is among only 16 institutions in the country to be named a top producer in both the Fulbright U.S. Student and Scholar programs.  In 2018, for the second consecutive year, the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings named Pitt as the best public university in the Northeastern United States. 

The City of Pittsburgh 

The city of Pittsburgh is located in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains in Southwestern Pennsylvania.  Consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in the United States, Pittsburgh is recognized for its natural beauty and unique blend of cultural, education, and technological resources.  Additional information on the city of Pittsburgh can be found at: https://www.visitpittsburgh.com/ 

Salary:  Commensurate with experience.  Comprehensive benefits package including one-month vacation per year; excellent benefit plans; TIAA/ Vanguard; and tuition assistance. 

Successful candidate will meet the criteria for appointment at the rank of Librarian I or II and will be hired on an initial 3-year renewable contract.  For further information, please see:  ULS Guidelines for Faculty Librarians. 

Please apply through the University of Pittsburgh’s Talent Center, requisition number 22002907. In addition to creating a Talent Center account, please upload/attach a cover letter, CV, and three professional references with contact information.  Any questions regarding the application process should be directed to Sharon McMasters (sam989@pitt.edu). 

Visa sponsorship is not offered with this position. 

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until position is filled; primary consideration will be given to those received by May 11, 2022. 

The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer and values equality of opportunity, human dignity, and diversity. EEO/AA/M/F/Vets/Disabled.