Manager for Bibliographic Description

Job Details

General Notes

The Ransom Center is an internationally renowned humanities research library and museum at The University of Texas at Austin.

Its extensive collections provide unique insight into the creative process of writers and artists, deepening our understanding and appreciation of literature, photography, film, art, and the performing arts.

Visitors engage with the Center's collections through research and study, exhibitions, publications, and a rich variety of program offerings including readings, talks, symposia, and film screenings.

The Ransom Center encourages discovery, inspires creativity, and advances understanding of the humanities for a broad audience through the preservation and sharing of its extraordinary collections.

The Ransom Center welcomes and respects all individuals and communities by valuing and maintaining awareness of broad perspectives and experiences.

To learn more about our institutional mission and values, visit : .

Purpose

Reporting to the Head of Printed & Published Media and Metadata Services, the Catalog Librarian serves as the lead cataloger of the unit, engaging in original and complex copy cataloging of modern and early printed books, manuscripts, serials, maps, visual materials, and other special formats;

as well as activities geared to assure quality control, maintenance and remediation of the library catalog.

In consultation with the unit head, the Catalog Librarian establishes and monitors departmental workflows related to new acquisitions cataloging and serials receiving, and takes the lead in developing policies and procedures to ensure efficient, accurate, and effective cataloging of rare books and special formats.

This position supervises a library assistant and has an essential role in serving as primary contact for public services staff on issues related to bibliographic descriptions, and maintaining the cataloging manual in the department wiki.

Depending on ongoing projects, the Catalog Librarian might also hire, supervise and provide ongoing training of student assistant(s) and interns.

Success in this position requires a commitment to professional development activities and professional service, in order to stay informed of evolving cataloging trends, and changes in best practices and standards.

Responsibilities

• Performs original and complex copy cataloging according to local and national standards appropriate for modern and early printed books, manuscripts, serials, maps, visual materials, and other special formats.
• Supports quality control of bibliographic records, engaging in catalog maintenance, enhancement and remediation activities, including collaboration with UT Libraries and batch record manipulation with data tools and analytics.
• Contributes to the PCC NACO program, and alternative entity management registries, including wikidata.
• In consultation with the unit head, establishes and monitors departmental workflows related to new acquisitions cataloging and serials receiving.

Serves as primary contact for public services staff on issues related to the library catalog.

In consultation with the unit head, takes the lead in developing policies and procedures related to bibliographic control to ensure efficient, accurate, and effective cataloging of rare books and special formats.

Maintains and systematically updates the cataloging manual in the departmental wiki.

• Supervises and provides ongoing training of library assistant(s), student assistant(s), and interns in the department.
• Takes part in professional development activities, including attending workshops, webinars, and conferences, to stay informed of evolving cataloging trends, and changes in best practices and standards.
• Participates in weekly and occasional weekend public services or reference work.

Required Qualifications

• Masters in Library and / or Information Science from an ALA-accredited institution or equivalent institution
• Experience with the use of current standards for bibliographic control, including MARC21, RDA, and the DCRM suite, as well as authority control practices
• Experience with OCLC Connexion or a similar bibliographic utility and the technical services related functions of a library services platform
• Experience working in a special collections technical services environment
• Demonstrated ability to manage time effectively, balance multiple responsibilities, and adjust accordingly to changing priorities, needs, and deadlines
• Demonstrated willingness to learn new technologies and data / metadata formats

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using Ex Libris' Alma-Primo LSP
• Experience contributing to the PCC NACO program
• Experience with data cleanup and transformation tools such as OpenRefine, MarcEdit, etc.
• Experience documenting technical processes
• Experience hiring, training, and mentoring students
• Knowledge of linked data principles and other emerging non-traditional cataloging standards and schemas
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills to effectively work with curators, catalogers, librarians, and researchers
• High level of initiative and self-motivation
• Demonstrated commitment to the RBMS Code of Ethics

Salary Range

$60,000

Working Conditions

May work around standard office conditions

Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation

Use of manual dexterity, climbing of stairs, and lifting and moving

Work Shift

Standard M-F, 40hrs a week, 8 : 00am-5 : 00pm

Required Materials

Resume / CV

• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers : You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications.

Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section;

you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.

Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers : As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs.

If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply.

This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume.

In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.

that were noted above.

Employment Eligibility :

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers.

Staff who are promotion / transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility :

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks :

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.