Discovery and Metadata Librarian

Department: Library

Classification: Professional Faculty

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid eligible; up to 2 days of telework

Salary: 

Salary is commensurate with professional experience and academic qualifications. Salary at appointment is dependent upon related qualifications and associate rank into which the candidate is hired:

Librarian I (no less than $65,000)

Librarian II (no less than $70,000)

Librarian III (no less than $75,000)

Librarian IV (no less than $80,000)

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The University Libraries form an intellectual nexus for George Mason University. It fosters innovation, creativity, and imagination by facilitating access to scholarship and information, providing expert consultation in the research process, and actively teaching the effective and critical use of information. Moreover, it fulfills a critical role in the creation, dissemination, and preservation of knowledge.

The Access & Resource Management (ARM) division works across the Libraries to support the University’s strategic goals and plan by acquiring, managing, and providing access to scholarly resources that enhance curricular and research needs. The division manages the lifecycle of the University Libraries’ scholarly collection from budget development to point of ordering to provision of access and all associated maintenance and assessment. The division is comprised of seven departments: Resource Acquisition (acquisitions, payments, subscription and e-resource management), Resource Licensing & Delivery (licensing and interlibrary loan/resource sharing), Collections Strategy (collections development and analysis), Metadata Services (metadata, cataloging, processing and binding), Database Integrity & Analysis (data collection and analysis, reports, and database cleanup), Preservation Services (physical preservation, stacks, shifts, disaster preparedness and response), and Access Services (Fenwick Information Desk, circulation, consortial loan service, and reserves). We are committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplace, as well as in the systems and services we build, as an inclusive excellence imperative.

Within ARM, the Metadata Services Department (MS) receives and provides in-depth cataloging and high quality description for the University Libraries and for national bibliographic databases of research materials purchased or acquired as gifts by the University Libraries in all formats, in all languages. MS oversees metadata creation across multiple departments within the University Libraries and works closely with Digital Strategies & Systems, the Special Collections Research Center, and Learning, Research & Engagement to ensure accurate metadata that can be repurposed for multiple uses and systems. The department also performs ongoing bibliographic and authority maintenance of the records in these databases as well as physical processing for these materials.

About the Position:

The Discovery and Metadata Librarian plays a critical role in enhancing user access to library resources by overseeing metadata creation, maintenance, and discovery systems. This position works collaboratively across library departments to optimize resource discovery and improve access to physical, digital, and electronic collections. The Librarian also provides leadership in the adoption of emerging trends, standards, and technologies related to metadata management and discovery services, ensuring the library meets the evolving needs of the academic community. This position leads efforts to improve metadata quality of records for electronic resources in the library catalog (Alma), maintains standards for digital collections metadata in external repositories, and develops crosswalks for metadata to be shared and reused across platforms. Additionally, the Discovery and Metadata Librarian works to improve the discoverability of resources in the Libraries' discovery platform (Primo) by configuring display settings and curating collections of records. The Librarian is expected to stay abreast of evolving national and international cataloging trends, assist in the development, documentation, and implementation of new policies and procedures, and work collegially across the Libraries, University, and Washington Research Library Consortium. This position participates in committees and/or workgroups as required to share knowledge, develop best practices, and advance the work of the Libraries.

Responsibilities:

E-Resource Metadata Creation and Enhancement

• Leads efforts to improve MARC metadata for e-resources in the catalog (Alma) by creating metadata records and developing best practices for working with records in batch, using batch cataloging utilities such as MarcEdit. 

Digital Collections Metadata Management

• Establishes procedures for and advises on the creation, maintenance, and reuse of metadata for digital and nontraditional library collections, in collaboration with subject specialists and content creators; and
• Transforms metadata for migration between different library-managed platforms and harvesting by external platforms, creating necessary crosswalks between different data schemas.

Physical Materials Cataloging

• Performs original and complex copy cataloging of monographs, serials, audiovisual materials, and other types of materials as needed by the department, assisting in developing and documenting departmental workflows. 

Discovery System Management

• Ensures that library metadata is accurately displayed to the end user by discovery platforms so that resources are discoverable and shareable; and
• Assesses discovery systems' utility and recommends enhancements to better meet user needs. 

Service and Scholarship

• Participates in the University Libraries' governance activities; and
• Engages in university and professional service, and in research and creative work as outlined in the George Mason University Librarians' Handbook. 

Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

• MLS degree from an ALA-accredited institution or foreign equivalent;
• Experience creating metadata for library resources or completion of significant coursework in this area;
• Experience working with integrated library systems for technical services processes, such as acquisitions, cataloging, or e-resource management;
• Demonstrated knowledge of national and international metadata formats, standards, and controlled vocabularies (e.g., MARC, RDA, LCSH, LCC, Dublin Core, MODS, EAD, etc.);
• Knowledge of metadata processing and automation tools (e.g. OpenRefine, MarcEdit, XSLT, etc.);
• Ability to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and deliverables;
• Analytical, detail-oriented, problem-solving, and creative thinking skills; and 
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with others.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience establishing and implementing standards for library or archival metadata;
• Experience working with library metadata in XML;
• Experience cataloging e-resources in MARC;
• Knowledge of metadata harvesting tools and protocols (e.g. OAI-PMH);
• Working knowledge of digital asset management systems such as DSpace;
• Working knowledge of library discovery layers such as Primo;
• An awareness of current cataloging issues and trends, especially Linked Data/BIBFRAME and RDF/SPARQL;
• Familiarity with authority work; and
• Bibliographic knowledge of one or more languages other than English.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Discovery and Metadata Librarian at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a Cover Letter/Letter of Intent with Resume for review.

Posting Open Date: January 9, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  February 2, 2025

Open Until Filled:  Yes