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The Boston University Libraries seek a Metadata Services Manager to provide leadership, vision, and expertise for bibliographic description, overseeing a team of cataloging staff and managing cataloging operations for all collections, including general, media, digital, and special collections. This position requires a deep knowledge of bibliographic data and cataloging best practices as well as a thorough understanding of how the catalog impacts resource discoverability. The Metadata Services Manager will oversee the creation, maintenance, and enrichment of metadata in support of robust discovery of library collections.

Reporting to the Head of Technical Services, the Metadata Services Manager will provide original and complex copy cataloging for library materials in all formats, including print, electronic, and digital collections. This position will work closely with colleagues to evaluate and document policies, procedures and workflows for traditional cataloging, database maintenance, and non-MARC metadata creation within the Libraries. They will collaborate with colleagues in Library Technology and Discovery Services, the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, Digital Ventures, and other library departments to establish metadata policies and procedures for digital projects. This librarian will serve as a leader within and beyond the Technical Services department on all matters of bibliographic description and metadata management.

The Metadata Services Manager will:

· Provide leadership and direction to cataloging staff. Perform routine quality control on staff outputs, assuring that all work meets expected standards and conforms to accepted best practices. Provide training for all technical services staff who contribute to cataloging and metadata. Develop training materials and documentation on cataloging workflows for staff. Identify professional development opportunities where appropriate and ensure that staff’s knowledge and abilities are in line with current practice in the field.

· Develop appropriate standards, policies, procedures, and workflows for cataloging with a special emphasis on metadata projects, including those pertaining to descriptive, administrative, and technical metadata schemas for digital collections for the library’s current and future systems. Serve as needed on working groups charged with the coordination of best practices for metadata management and intellectual control of content collections across the libraries. Participate in the development of the library’s discovery system through collaborative work with the Library Technology & Discovery Services unit. Compile and analyze cataloging data for reporting to internal and external agencies.

· Oversee cataloging operations across the BU Libraries. Establish policies and priorities for cataloging and metadata creation. Manage the creation, maintenance, and enhancement of metadata across multiple discovery platforms and library systems including the use of applicable tools for manipulating data (e.g., MarcEdit, Open Refine, Alma normalization rules, XML).

· Collaborate in the broader professional academic library community. Pursue professional development and skills training to meet emerging and ongoing needs from the university community. Actively participate in relevant professional communities, including subject and functionally focused organizations. Participate in working groups, committees, and other service opportunities as a representative of library research services. Collaborate on intramural events with departments or programs.

Required Skills

• Master’s degree in library science, information science, or a related field.

• Minimum three years of post-credentialed professional cataloging and metadata experience.

• Two years of management experience.

• Broad knowledge of cataloging and metadata workflows and services.

• Knowledge of cataloging and classification practices, standards, and schema such as MARC, RDA, AACR2, LCSH, OCLC, LCC, DACS, Dublin Core, and MODS; and Program for Cooperative Cataloging (CONSER, NACO, SACO) standards.

• Experience using relevant tools and services, such as MarcEdit, and Open Refine.

  Preferred Qualifications  

• Familiarity with serials and e-resource management.

• Familiarity with cross-walking, normalizing, and transforming metadata.

• Familiarity with Ex Libris’ Alma.

• Familiarity and experience with rare book cataloging and/or archival description.

  For consideration, please submit a cover letter, CV, and list of professional references. The libraries will begin review of candidate applications on December 13, 2024 . This position will remain open until filled.

  Working at Boston University Libraries

  Boston University Libraries is a learning organization that supports BU librarians, archivists, and information and subject specialists seeking and sharing knowledge, practices, and perspectives that advance library collections services, and their own professional development. In a collaborative, supportive, and engaging work environment, BU Libraries expert staff assist multidisciplinary research and exploration, build distinctive collections and archives of enduring research value, and empower users to thrive amid an ever-changing information environment.

  Located in the heart of Boston, the BU Libraries are embedded in numerous vibrant regional and national library and information specialist networks. The BU Libraries are active members within the Boston Library Consortium (BLC), the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Northeast Research Libraries Consortium (NERL), HathiTrust, and the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI), and library staff at BU serve as engaged thought-leaders on a wide breadth of library management and service areas across diverse communities.

  Boston University, a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), is one of the leading private research and teaching institutions in the world, with three primary campuses in the heart of Boston and programs around the globe. Chartered in 1869, the University is home to more than 33,000 students from more than 130 countries, 375,000 living alumni, 10,000 faculty and staff, and 17 schools and colleges.

  We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Required Experience