Head Cataloging Librarian jobs in Massachusetts

Job Title: Head of Cataloging Services

Department: Cataloging Services

Reports to: Associate Librarian

FLSA status: Full-time, Exempt, 35 hours/week

Salary Range: $70k – $77k, annually

Location: Worcester, MA

Deadline to apply: Applications accepted on a rolling basis; role will be listed until filled

Start date: As soon as possible

Organization Description: The American Antiquarian Society (AAS) cultivates a deeper understanding of the American past, grounded in its ever-growing collection of printed and manuscript sources. The Society fosters a broad community of inquiry through inclusive programs and generous support of scholarship. A national research library and learned society founded in 1812 by Revolutionary War patriot and printer Isaiah Thomas, AAS is located in Worcester, Massachusetts. The AAS library today houses the largest and most accessible collection of books, pamphlets, broadsides, newspapers, periodicals, children's literature, music, and graphic arts material printed before the twentieth century in what is now the United States, as well as manuscripts and a substantial collection of secondary texts, bibliographies, and digital resources and reference works. AAS was presented with the 2013 National Humanities Medal by President Obama in a ceremony at the White House. The Society is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels of the institution, as expressed in Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility: a statement from the Council and Staff of the American Antiquarian Society.

Website: https://www.americanantiquarian.org/

We are seeking an efficient, passionate individual to join our team providing leadership, strategic direction, and expertise in overseeing and supporting the activities of the cataloging department. The Head of Cataloging Services is responsible for supervising 6 full- and part-time rare materials catalogers, as well as support staff and interns, as necessary. This individual will create original and copy cataloging for 17^th- to 21^st-century printed materials, primarily books and pamphlets, while coordinating with curators who oversee the cataloging of materials in other formats (e.g., manuscripts, visual materials, etc.). The right candidate will work closely with the Acquisitions team to facilitate the processing of newly acquired materials, the Systems Librarian to support catalog maintenance, and with AAS staff responsible for explaining and interpreting the catalog to library users. The Head of Cataloging Services assists in the training of any AAS staff who work in the catalog and strive to cultivate a supportive and collaborative work environment.

Essential Functions

• Work with Associate Librarian and curators to determine cataloging priorities in connection with the Society's Strategic Plan and inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA) commitments.
• Proofread catalog records, both as a means of making the records more accurate and as a means of providing instruction and training.
• Establish and maintain standards for the Society’s catalog records. Keeping abreast of changes and developments in the areas of rare book cataloging by monitoring online lists (e.g., AUTOCAT, ExLIBRIS, OCLC-CAT and the PCC List), reviewing relevant literature, and attending webinars and seminars.
• Determine and implement strategies for catalog maintenance, including maintenance of authority records, reparative work in connection with institutional IDEA initiatives, collections inventories, resolving cataloging conflicts such as duplicate and/or incorrect records and clean-up of imported data from past projects and partnerships.
• Create original rare book level bibliographic records and upgrade existing minimal-level records in the cataloging client, applying the rules and standards of AACR2, RDA, DCRM(B), the MARC21 Format for Bibliographic Data, and the Society's NAIP Manual.
• Prepare and manage the departmental budget (including vendor services/contracts, cataloging staff supply needs, training, and travel)

Travel: Occasional travel to attend conferences and/or workshops.

Qualifications/Skills

• Master’s degree in library/information science required.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience cataloging rare materials.
• Supervisory experience and ability to lead a diverse team to achieve departmental and institutional goals.
• Understanding of cataloging rules and standards (AACR2, RDA, DCRM, etc.) and thorough familiarity with MARC format and familiarity with BIBFRAME.
• Exposure to NACO and name authority work.
• Experience with ExLibris’s Voyager Integrated Library System or similar ILS system and OCLC Connexion Client.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills.
• Capacity to contribute to grant proposals, and draft documentation and reports as needed.

Language Skills

Ability to read, understand, speak, and write in Standard English; ability to communicate effectively in English with individuals in person, over the telephone, and via the printed word.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Duties require periods of standing, walking, sitting. Duties require occasional periods of climbing or balancing, pulling/pushing items including book trucks with materials, lifting/carrying items weighing up to approximately 30 lbs., reaching with arms and hands. Vision and hearing at or correctable to “normal ranges.” Other physical tasks include use of hands for basic grasping/manipulation, use of hands for fine manipulation, occasional reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching, keyboarding. Physical duties are subject to change. Must be able to transport oneself to work-related meetings, workshops, etc.

Applicants, as well as position incumbents, who become disabled as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act must be able to perform the essential job functions (as listed) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by management on a case-by-case basis.

Most duties are performed indoors in an office environment with artificial light and cool, thermostatically controlled temperatures. The noise level is low. May be exposed to dust, mold, and/or other organic material or other irritants. Hazards are considered minor and controllable.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

As an equal opportunity employer, we value diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to equal employment and promotion opportunity regardless of ability, age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status. A successful candidate will demonstrate the ways in which they bring value to and will work towards supporting a broadly diverse community.

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary range for this position is $70,000 to $77,000 per year.

Examples of benefits for this role include annual paid leave [4 weeks’ vacation time, personal time, sick time, 10-13 holidays (depending on year), 1 day off in your birthday month, and paid time off for full office closure for approximately one week in December]. We also offer an employer-sponsored health insurance, life insurance, disability coverage, retirement plans [including an employer match after 1 year of service], professional development funds, and access to dental and vision insurance, among other benefits.