Manager for Bibliographic Description

Job Posting Title:
Manager for Bibliographic Description

Job Details:

General Notes
About the Harry Ransom Center: 

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: https://www.hrc.utexas.edu/about/#mission-values. 

Purpose
Reporting to the Head of Printed & Published Media and Metadata Services, the Manager for Bibliographic Description 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 Manager for Bibliographic Description 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 Manager for Bibliographic Description 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

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

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

For further information and to apply for the position, please see the full job posting: https://utaustin.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UTstaff/job/UT-MAIN-CAMPUS/Manager-for-Bibliographic-Description_R_00033104

https://utaustin.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UTstaff/job/UT-MAIN-CAMPUS/Manager-for-Bibliographic-Description_R_00033104