Digital Initiatives Metadata Librarian

Description

Position Summary

The Digital Initiatives Metadata Librarian will be responsible for providing expertise and leadership in development, implementation, and assessment of metadata systems, policies, and procedures to support discovery, access, management, and preservation of general and special collections, digital collections and digital repository holdings in the University Libraries.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the selection, use and development of non-MARC metadata standards and policies, including description, administrative, and technical metadata schemas for physical, electronic, and digital collections in collaboration with relevant library stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the stakeholders to extend the capabilities of existing systems for enhanced discovery of library resources across the discovery layer, the catalog, digital platforms and beyond.
• Regularly evaluate metadata schemas, elements, and their implementations, recommending linked data strategies, where appropriate, to ensure WU Libraries are following effective practices for optimal discoverability of digital collections.
• Apply programming and/or scripting skills in support of technical requirements and production needs for metadata creation, conversion, enhancement, normalization, and maintenance. Contribute to metadata creation in partnership with cataloguing colleagues and through the oversight of student employees. Perform batch loads of non-MARC, MARC and other electronic records as needed.
• Work together with other team leaders to assure that the organization, management, and skill levels of staff evolve to meet new challenges, including innovative access points, resource description and subject analysis, support for special and digital collections programs, collection management support, and support of consortial collaborations
• Serve on Libraries committees. Maintain awareness of best practices and technical advances in metadata standards and policies through engagement with national and international professional communities, and other professional development opportunities. Perform other duties as assigned and as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Project management experience with complex digital initiatives involving many stakeholders.
• Supervisory experience, especially for technical operations and project work.
• Experience with open source digital repository systems, such as Digital Commons, Fedora repository framework and Hydra/Samvera.
• Experience with content management system for websites and digital content (e.g., Drupal, DSpace, Omeka).
• Experience working in a large academic, cultural heritage, or research institution.
• Experience with distributed version control, preferably Git/Github, for source code version control and collaboration.
• Strong interpersonal skills, demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative team-based environment, and to communicate well with IT and non-IT staff.
• A strong desire to learn new skills and adeptness to doing so.
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to manage projects.
• Demonstrated ability to write clear documentation.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree from ALA-accredited program in library and/or information science, or an equivalent amount of relevant education and applicable work experience.
• Strong, demonstrated facility with multiple schema for standards-based non-MARC metadata (e.g. Dublin Core, METS, PREMIS) as well as MARC XML.
• Demonstrated experience and in-depth knowledge with OAI-PMI and other relevant data transfer standards.
• Proficiency with well-formed XML; and ability to investigate and learn new metadata standards as required.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently without direct supervision.
• Knowledge of trends, issues, and resources in digital library development, metadata and cataloging standards, and data management in academic libraries.
• Demonstrated knowledge of digital preservation standards and best practices.
• A strong commitment to high quality customer service.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively on projects across a wide range of departments and for varying audiences.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both oral and written.