Metadata and Cataloguing Librarian (2) vacancies

Overview

Term: 2 Years

The Cataloguing and Metadata Librarian, as a specialist, plays a key role in the investigation and application of metadata standards at UWaterloo. In addition to theoretical knowledge, they are responsible for managing a team of colleagues, by providing staff training, quality control, procedural documentation, and guidance on emerging technologies and standards. The Cataloguing and Metadata Librarian enables the discovery and access to unique and complex resources through the creation, maintenance, and management of bibliographic records and related inventory. As a metadata expert, they will consult and collaborate with other library units, campus partners, and across institutions within a consortial environment.

The Metadata and Cataloguing Services Department has two Cataloguing and Metadata Librarians who work together closely and are each responsible for one of the following portfolios:

• Descriptive Cataloguing
  • Oversee a team of Cataloguing Associates who perform original cataloguing on physical and electronic resources, including subject analysis, and classification and the creation and maintenance of authority records
  • Address complex cataloguing decisions by using sound judgement to apply descriptive cataloguing rules
  • Develop internal and consortial, policy for metadata and cataloguing practices
• Record and Material Maintenance
  • Oversee a team who perform Derived Cataloguing and database maintenance activities such as the addition, updating, and withdrawing of material
  • Oversee the physical flow of material in the department, including physical processing of catalogued items
  • Develop projects and workflows for database clean up and inventory maintenance

There are 2 positions available.

To ensure consideration for this role, please submit your application by August 8, 2022.

Responsibilities

Management and leadership

• Organize, prioritize, assign, manage, and report on metadata projects to ensure that user needs are met
• Analyze and solve complex problems to establish effective workflows
• Mentor staff through coaching and training, to support their goals for learning and personal growth
• Adjust priorities and manage workloads for simultaneous projects, and support staff as they transition to new tasks
• Demonstrate strong leadership, including a commitment to equity, shared responsibility, and accountability
• Foster a positive, and open team environment where department members work individually, collaboratively, and collectively towards achieving departmental and library goals
• Participate in hiring both as a recruitment lead, and member of hiring committees, and facilitate onboarding and orientation of new department members, including co-op students, contract, and permanent staff
• Represent the Head, Metadata and Cataloguing Services in their absence

Record creation and maintenance

• Perform original cataloguing, including the creation and maintenance of authority records, subject analysis, classification, holdings maintenance, and regular cataloguing duties
• Complete quality control checks on records created by team members, and provide feedback and resources to support their personal growth and development
• Manage a library database in an integrated library system, and ensure that information correctly interfaces with discovery layers
• Construct and run analytical reports on the library database to update records to current metadata standards
• Assist the Head in the development and documentation of metadata standards, procedures, and Department policies
• Develop processes and apply metadata batch editing software to automate the maintenance and enhancement of bibliographic records and the library database
• Integrate equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) principles into daily operations, and work with an awareness of the importance of ethics in metadata creation
• Create and advise on descriptive metadata for digital asset management, and work with campus partners to develop and promote best practices for interoperable metadata
• Act as an expert resource for the department, library, and campus on metadata principles including areas such as access, retrieval, classification, taxonomies, database development, scalability, etc.

Professional development

• Participate in the determination, documentation, and implementation of local cataloguing policy and best practices
• Maintain a working knowledge of current cataloguing and metadata standards, and an awareness of emerging areas and alternative schema
• Serve on Library committees & task groups, attend conferences, and participate in discussions to support idea sharing and discuss issues relating to providing access to library collections and electronic resources

Communication and outreach

• Operate as a member of a cross-departmental team to meet user discovery needs, and consult with campus representatives to ensure University goals and objectives are being supported
• Work collaboratively to create a positive user-experience, including timely service and resolution of access issues
• Liaise with departments across campus to provide expertise and support for their information and metadata needs
• Operate as a collaborative member of the Ontario Council of University Libraries consortium to assist with information sharing and decision making
• Thoughtfully engage with library users and aid with their information needs by providing reference services
• Act as a liaison between the University of Waterloo authors and departments, and Library and Archives Canada to acquire Cataloguing in Publication Data

Qualifications

• A Master’s degree in library information studies from an ALA- accredited or equivalent institution
• Demonstrated descriptive metadata expertise, including MARC/RDA, subject analysis, controlled vocabulary, and classification
• Supervisory or training experience
• Asset: experience with metadata application profiles
• Working knowledge of current cataloguing principles and standards as defined in FRBR, RDA, and MARC formats, as well as an understanding of emerging standards, such as, the principles of linked data
• Commitment to continued learning and growth, including the ability to develop expertise in the field of metadata and cataloguing, and act as a resource to the department and library community
• Awareness of technologies, such analytic reports and bulk editing tools, and how they can be effectively applied to workflows
• Commitment to treating others with respect, kindness, and inclusivity, and the ability to build a supportive work environment
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to oversee complex, detail-oriented work, and an aptitude for applying creative solutions
• Ability to assess processes, create documentation for metadata standards, and implement new practices
• Demonstrated ability to support staff success through providing coaching, training, and identifying opportunities for their growth
• Time management skills, and the ability to balance multiple responsibilities, and adjust according to changing priorities

Vaccination Requirement Statement

Effective May 1, 2022, the University suspended its Vaccination Requirement. Prior to May 1, pursuant to this Requirement, all University employees were required to submit proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 (subject to the University’s obligations under the Human Rights Code to accommodate employees who were unable to receive a vaccination). The University’s Vaccination Requirement website can be found here: https://uwaterloo.ca/coronavirus/return/vaccination-requirement.

The pandemic is ongoing and public health advice continues to evolve. Accordingly, the University reserves the absolute right to reinstate the Vaccination Requirement on short notice, and upon such reinstatement you will be required to comply. You shall also be required to comply with any new health and safety policies/requirements implemented by the University from time to time, including new policies/requirements related to mandatory employee vaccination. As the University may need to reinstate the Requirement on short notice, it will continue to collect and maintain up-to-date information on employee vaccination status. Please submit your Covid-19 vaccine status (QR code) to: https://checkin.uwaterloo.ca/

Failure to comply with the Vaccination Requirement if it is reinstated, including failure to comply with any future amendments to the Vaccination Requirement, or failure to comply with new health and safety policies/requirements implemented by the University, including those related to new mandatory employee vaccination, shall result in discipline up to and including termination of employment.

The requirement to be vaccinated, if reinstated, will be subject to the duty to accommodate pursuant to the Human Rights Code. If you are unable to be vaccinated for reasons related to a ground protected under the Human Rights Code, you may submit a written request for accommodation with an explanation of the reasons and/or any supporting documentation. If you request accommodation, the University may follow up with you for further information if necessary.

Equity Statement

The University of Waterloo is committed to implementing the Calls to Action framed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion.  As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca  or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.