Metadata Librarian, Cornell University Library

Job Description

Cornell University Library’s Metadata Services department within Library Technical Services is seeking a Metadata Librarian. Under the general direction of the Head of Metadata Services, the Metadata Librarian focuses on the creation, maintenance, and enrichment of metadata representing Cornell’s digital, physical, and virtual collections. In cooperation with other library staff, the Metadata Librarian provides expertise in the development, implementation and assessment of metadata policies and procedures to Cornell while monitoring external developments, standards development and changing needs in these areas. This position focuses on metadata maintenance activities, primarily the integration of metadata between systems and extending relationships between resources. The Metadata Librarian will holistically consider metadata across Cornell’s collections, including MARC and non-MARC metadata.

The Metadata Librarian actively participates in local and national discussions relating to the access,retrieval, description, and management of library resources and in in the library’s research and development efforts.

Duties and Responsibilities

Metadata Management and Coordination (70%)

• Serves as a metadata consultant, including but not limited to advising on metadata standards and assisting in development and implementation of best practices,tools, procedures and workflows
• Works with colleagues both within CUL and across Cornell to strategically assess metadata quality; plans and coordinates metadata enhancement and remediation to address better discovery for library users. Maintains an ongoing working relationship with LTS Batch Processing in these areas
• Creates and maintains local documentation on metadata standards and application guidelines; develops and provides training to library staff regarding resource description,metadata remediation and metadata management

Metadata Outreach and Consultation (20%)

• Maintains strong working relationships and communicates regularly with staff across Cornell, fostering collaborative efforts between Metadata Services and the greater Cornell community as well as the strategic alliance between Cornell and Columbia University Libraries (2CUL)

Professional Activities (10%)

• Monitors and contributes to the development of local, national, and international metadata standards and policies; conducts research and contributes to professional publications and forums
• Actively participates in CUL and professional working groups, task forces, instruction programs, and committees; maintains strong working relationship and communicates regularly with staff in CUL departments and divisions and at other institutions

Qualifications

• ALA-accredited MLIS or equivalent advanced degree and experience
• Knowledge of a variety of MARC and non-MARC metadata standards and schema
• Experience in creating, editing and transforming metadata
• Demonstrated skills with scripting languages and/or tools for data manipulation (e.g.OpenRefine, Python, XSLT, etc.)
• Understanding of linked data principles, including RDF and ontologies
• Aptitude for learning new technologies and metadata standards
• Excellent organizational and project management skills
• Strong service orientation and interest in library users’ values and needs
• Excellent communication and analytic skills, including the ability to work well in a team-based environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Two to three years of experience working with metadata in a library setting
• Practical experience in the use of MARC and non-MARC principles, standards and tools
• Demonstrated experience creating and working with authority data (e.g.LC authorities, Getty vocabularies, ORCID, ISNI, etc.)
• Experience with linked data, semantic web applications, ontologies and RDF
• Experience migrating and remediating legacy metadata

Application Procedure