Cataloging and Technical Services Librarian

About the role

Collins Library seeks an analytical and collaborative Cataloging and Technical Services Librarian to provide strategic direction, intellectual control, and oversight for the library's physical and digital collections in a team-based environment. Reporting to the University Librarian, this position serves as the library's chief authority on metadata excellence, cataloging standards, and technical services workflows.

Responsibilities

• Perform original and complex copy cataloging for all library formats, including print, digital, electronic, serial, archival, and non-book materials, ensuring high-quality discoverability.
• Apply contemporary cataloging standards, principles, and metadata frameworks, including Resource Description and Access (RDA), Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules (AACR2), Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH), Library of Congress Classification (LCC), MARC21, and Dublin Core.
• Establish, document, and maintain local quality control procedures, authority control configurations, and data standardization policies for bibliographic, holdings, and item data within the Alma environment.
• Resolve complex bibliographic anomalies, data issues, and cataloging errors.
• Lead database maintenance and data remediation projects, running batch data transformations, global updates, and record-enrichment strategies to improve the integrity of the catalog and the user experience.
• Serve as the primary institutional authority on consortial cataloging policies, aligning local procedures with the mandates, guidelines, and best practices of the Orbis Cascade Alliance Cataloging Standing Group.
• Manage data interactions between the library's Institution Zone (IZ) and the Alliance Network Zone (NZ), actively preventing or resolving duplicate records, matching errors, and shared authority discrepancies.
• Collaborate with Alliance peers on cross-consortial metadata initiatives, data validation pilots, and shared cataloging workflows that support smooth operations for Summit resource sharing.
• Formulate and manage efficient physical and digital processing workflows, tracking materials from receipt through invoicing, cataloging, physical processing, and preservation marking.
• Partner with Archives and Special Collections personnel to advise on metadata crosswalks, authority control, and description practices that bridge specialized collections systems (such as ArchivesSpace and JSTOR) with the Primo discovery layer.
• Partner closely with the Systems and Discovery Librarian to analyze how bibliographic data parses, indexes, and displays within the Primo VE interface.
• Advise on the configuration of search normalization rules, display logic, facets, and indexing parameters to ensure that rich metadata properties translate directly into intuitive user discovery.
• Utilize Alma Analytics and system queries to track cataloging statistics, inventory growth metrics, and processing turnaround times to inform operational assessment and institutional reporting.
• Generate descriptive collection data reports to assist liaison librarians with collection development, equity-minded collection audits, and strategic weeding initiatives.
• Maintain currency with emerging metadata trends, including Linked Data, BIBFRAME, and evolving data exchange protocols (XML, JSON, KBART).
• Participate in library-wide strategic planning, administrative discussions, and professional development activities within regional and national organizations.
• Supervise the Cataloging Specialist (1.0 FTE).
• Serve as a leader on the RMS team by developing and overseeing implementation and completion of strategic projects.
• Work closely with the University Librarian and Systems and Discovery Librarian to plan and lead RMS team meetings, training, and cross-team collaboration.
• Coordinate the division of responsibilities for metadata excellence, cataloging standards, and technical services workflows.
• Oversee project staff or student assistants as necessary to support cataloging and technical services workflows and projects.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in library science or information science from an ALA-accredited institution.
• Demonstrated professional or significant copy/original cataloging experience within an academic library technical services department.
• Enthusiasm for user-centered continuous library catalog improvement.
• Ability to spend considerable time using a computer and sitting or standing for extended periods.
• Ability to respectfully work, communicate and provide leadership within a diverse campus community.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience participating in committee or working group structures within a highly collaborative library consortium (e.g., Orbis Cascade Alliance).
• Experience with authority control services and database maintenance tools.
• Proficiency with Alma Analytics or basic SQL for custom inventory reporting.