Distinctive Collections Catalog Librarian

Distinctive Collections Catalog Librarian

Technical Services - Pennsylvania-Pittsburgh - (23005030)

Distinctive Collections Catalog Librarian

Technical Services

University Library System

University of Pittsburgh

The University Library System (ULS) seeks to fill the position of Distinctive Collections Catalog Librarian, a full-time, faculty librarian position in the ULS’s Technical Services department. Reporting to the Head of Cataloging, the successful candidate will focus primarily on cataloging materials acquired for Archives & Special Collections, Center for American Music, select materials from the Helen Clay Frick Fine Arts Library (Frick), Theodore M. Finney Music Library (Music), area studies collections, and other specialized materials. The candidate will also develop and participate in catalog maintenance and enhancement projects related to these collections. Together, these efforts support user discovery of and access to these materials as well as accurate collection analysis and reporting for these areas.

The Distinctive Collections Catalog Librarian will collaborate with colleagues in Technical Services, Archives & Special Collections, Center for American Music, Frick, Music, and area studies collections to facilitate the timely and efficient movement of materials and to ensure that user needs are met and local procedures are followed. The candidate may oversee and supervise part-time student assistants, temporary employees, or graduate school interns on special projects or initiatives. As a member of the Catalog Management Unit, the candidate will also contribute to cataloging workflows and projects outside of the distinctive collections area whenever time allows or there is an urgent need to do so.

Responsibilities:

• Provide original and enhanced copy cataloging for new distinctive collection acquisitions, including, but not limited to, early imprints, rare books, manuscripts, scrolls, codices, incunabula, broadsides, decorative bindings, dime novels, chapbooks, pulp press, fine and limited press, broadsides, early printed editions of music, comics, zines, graphic novels, artists’ books, and moveable books, in a variety of Western languages and from multiple time periods.

• Handle special projects, such as cataloging of backlog collections, published materials from archival collections, or gifts from donors, and management of outsourced cataloging for distinctive collections materials.

• Develop and contribute to catalog maintenance and enhancement projects, particularly those involving records for items in distinctive collections.

• As needed, recruit, train, and manage student assistants or temporary employees to support cataloging, catalog maintenance, physical processing, or outsourcing efforts.

• Manage catalog data specific to distinctive collections, such as gift and collection notes.

• Develop and update documentation for distinctive collections cataloging and processing.

• As time allows and needs dictate, contribute to other Catalog Management Unit workflows and projects.

• Stay current with trends and developments in academic library cataloging, including such areas as art resources, rare books, and other types of distinctive collections.

Qualifications

Required:

• Master’s degree in library or information science from an ALA-accredited program or another advanced degree in a relevant field

• Two years of recent enhanced copy cataloging experience; one year of recent original cataloging experience.

• Based on this experience, familiarity with principles of cataloging, classification, and authority control; a bibliographic utility (e.g., OCLC) and an integrated library system; and standards, vocabularies, and systems such as MARC, Resource Description and Access (RDA), Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH), and Library of Congress Classification.

• Experience handling art, rare books, archival, or other distinctive collection material.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to be flexible, adapt to change, and initiate learning and skill development.

• Ability to identify cataloging problems and carry out solutions independently or collaboratively.

Preferred:

• Experience cataloging zines, artists’ books, realia, or 19th- and 20th-century Western imprints.

• Knowledge of Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials (DCRM), RBMS-controlled vocabularies, or other descriptive standards for rare materials.

• Experience with bibliographic description or research for rare publications.

• Experience handling or describing materials with sensitive or offensive imagery or language.

• Experience with bibliographic maintenance and batch updating of records.

• Reading knowledge of one or more non-English languages, adequate for bibliographic description.

• Strong planning and project management skills and experience.

• Knowledge of trends and issues in academic library cataloging.

Librarians at the University of Pittsburgh are members of the faculty and are expected to demonstrate continuous professional development in addition to performing their specific responsibilities. This expectation includes such activities as participating in and contributing to departmental, library and campus-wide committees or working groups as well as the profession at a regional, national, and/or international level, maintaining a broad awareness of current and emerging issues that affect their particular areas of expertise, participating in relevant publishing and presentation opportunities, and pursuing knowledge of professional trends and developments that can be applied to evolving research, services and collections.

The University of Pittsburgh

Founded in 1787, the University of Pittsburgh (http://www.pitt.edu) is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the United States. Today Pitt is an internationally recognized center of learning and research, strong in the arts and sciences and the professions. Pitt serves approximately 32,000 students, including more than 9,000 graduate students, in the sixteen schools at the Pittsburgh campus and the four regional campuses. Pitt attracts, on average, more than $700 million in research funding every year. Pitt is ranked No. 23 on the U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 list of Top Public Schools in the nation. In 2021, the Wall Street Journal / Times Higher Education College Rankings again named the Pittsburgh campus as the No. 1 public university in the Northeastern United States. For the ninth time in 10 years, Pitt in 2019 was named one of the nation’s top institutions for producing Fulbright students by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

The City of Pittsburgh

The city of Pittsburgh is in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in the United States, Pittsburgh is recognized for its natural beauty and unique blend of cultural, educational, and technological resources. Additional information on the city of Pittsburgh can be found at: https://www.visitpittsburgh.com/

Salary: Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. Hiring for this position begins at $55,000. Comprehensive benefits package including one-month vacation per year; excellent benefit plans; TIAA/ Vanguard; and tuition assistance. Comprehensive benefits package including one-month vacation per year; excellent benefit plans; TIAA/ Vanguard; and tuition assistance.

Successful candidates will meet the criteria for appointment at the rank of Librarian I or II and will be hired on an initial 3-year renewable contract. For further information, please see ULS Guidelines for Faculty Librarians.

Please apply through the University of Pittsburgh’s Talent Center, requisition number 23005030. In addition to creating a Talent Center account, please upload/attach a cover letter, CV, and three professional references with contact information. Any questions regarding the application process should be directed to Sharon McMasters ([email protected]).

Visa sponsorship is not offered with this position.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled; primary consideration will be given to those received by August 21, 2023.

Contact information for 3 professional references.

The University of Pittsburgh is committed to championing all aspects of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within our community. This commitment is a fundamental value of the University and is crucial in helping us advance our mission, which includes attracting and retaining diverse workforces. We will continue to create and maintain an environment that allows individuals to discover, belong, contribute, and grow, while honoring the experiences, perspectives, and unique identities of all.

The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and values equality of opportunity, human dignity and diversity. EOE, including disability/vets. The University of Pittsburgh requires all Pitt constituents (employees and students) on all campuses to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved exemption. Visit coronavirus.pitt.edu to learn more about this requirement.

Assignment Category Full-time regular

Campus Pittsburgh

Required Attachments Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae, Other (see posting for additional details)