Assistant Librarian (Metadata Librarian)

Description

Utah State University Libraries invite applications for the position of Metadata Librarian. This new position will play a major role in furthering the success of the Library's digital initiatives by enhancing discovery and access for digital content through metadata creation and enrichment according to local and national cataloging and metadata standards. The Metadata Librarian will document and implement adopted metadata standards, practices, and workflows. He/She will lead efforts to provide metadata for archival and special collections materials, explore innovative ways to enhance metadata, and contribute to making the library's digital content more readily discoverable.

We welcome talented librarians with diverse skills, backgrounds, and creative approaches to their work. Our library fosters strong communication and productive collaboration, and is seeking applicants who welcome the opportunity of working in an environment of change and who have ability to inspire others. The position is a 12-month, tenure-track, faculty appointment with rank of assistant librarian, reporting to the Head of Digital Initiatives. 
Responsibilities  Primary responsibilities in this position are to provide leadership and direction on metadata and metadata practices for Utah State University Libraries in cooperation with a wide range of stakeholders. The Metadata Librarian will develop descriptive metadata schemas appropriate for diverse digital collections in collaboration with catalogers, archivists, and digital initiatives staff, and support and serve as a resource to colleagues on metadata issues and practices, defining data elements, recommending usage and determining mapping among metadata schemas and providing training as needed. The Metadata Librarian will network, collaborate and actively participate in local, regional, national, and/or international organizations contributing to discussions about the emerging and dynamic role of metadata in providing access to information resources and the development of resource discovery tools and services. He/She will help develop new approaches to describing and managing research data and other digital collections to support researchers in various disciplines (e.g., archiving large data sets) and will serve as a liaison between internal and external partners on collaborative metadata projects. Also may serve as a subject librarian to an academic department. 

Minimum Qualifications  - MLS from an ALA-accredited program
- Working knowledge and experience with two or more metadata schemas and protocols such as Dublin Core, EAD, VRA Core, MODS, METS, etc.
- Experience selecting and applying controlled vocabularies and ontologies to digital library projects
- Cataloging experience, with knowledge of cataloging rules, standards, and controlled vocabularies
- Awareness of current issues and trends in metadata and digital library development
- Demonstrated ability to plan, coordinate, organize and lead projects
- Evidence of strong analytic and problem solving skills
- Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills
- Demonstrated ability to meet the university's requirements for promotion and tenure 
Preferred Qualifications  - Familiarity with data interchange standards, such as OAI-PMH
- Knowledge of discovery tools and metadata practices supporting discovery, specifically in a library context
- Knowledge of and experience with MARC
- Experience with ContentDM, bepress, DSpace, or similar digital management and repository systems
- Knowledge of latest practices related to digital identifiers
- Knowledge of preservation metadata schemas and practices
- Ability to work in a continually changing environment
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a collegial, team-based environment and maintain positive working relationships
- Demonstrated ability to learn and implement appropriate new technologies and metadata schemas