Cataloging and Acquisitions Assistant , Library Administration

Cataloging and Acquisitions Assistant (6759C), Library Administration - 83139

Posted 4 days ago. Be among the first 25 applicants.

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff. As a world‑leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice.

Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values & Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.

The Bancroft Library is the primary special collections library at UC Berkeley and one of the largest and most heavily used libraries of manuscripts, rare books, and unique materials in the United States.

The Cataloging and Acquisitions Assistant plays a vital role in ensuring both intellectual and physical access to Bancroft Library's collections. Working cross‑functionally between the Acquisitions and Cataloging Units, this position independently performs copy and original cataloging, maintains catalog records, supports bibliographic acquisitions and collections control, collects cataloging and acquisitions statistics, and assists with preparing materials for shelving. The role also provides oversight and training for student employees.

The First Review Date for this job is 12/30/2025. For full consideration please apply by 01/20/2026.

• Perform complex copy cataloging of books in a variety of languages; add descriptive metadata to brief records, as needed; assign subject headings and form/genre terms; assign classification and/or cutter call numbers based upon existing subject headings or local guidelines.
• Evaluate local collection information determined by curatorial and acquisition staff for treatment of provenance and acquisition history; add provenance notes and access points to individual records.
• Perform original cataloging for items without existing records, including monographs, broadsides, audiovisual materials, and multi-volume sets.
• Complete bibliographic searching, ordering and receiving of materials for the acquisitions unit; verify and assess condition of bibliographic materials relative to catalog or seller descriptions.
• Receive and confirm items, unpacking boxes, scanning invoices and updating internal tracking logs for incoming materials.
• Occasionally support work in the field on bibliographic collections.
• Support acquisitions and cataloging workflows by ensuring a strong integration between the two units.
• Support the collection of bibliographic acquisition and cataloging statistics.
• Process and resolve issues with vendor-supplied records.
• Perform complex bibliographic maintenance in Alma.
• Verify and update catalog records for changes in title, publisher, or frequency.
• Receive, check in and process newly received serial issues.
• Claim missing issues with the vendor or publisher.
• Perform original or copy cataloging for newly acquired serial titles.
• Update and maintain serial holdings records; create summary holdings notes.
• Hire, train and supervise 2–4 student employees working on projects in both the Acquisitions and Cataloging units.
• Oversee student projects including serials receiving and processing, as well as marking and labeling of books and other materials.
• Train students in safe handling of rare and special collections materials.
• Provide quality control and coordinate with stacks management staff to move materials into circulation.
• Serve one two‑hour shift per week on Bancroft's Reading Room desks.

• Knowledge of MARC
  21 Bibliographic Formats, RDA, DCRM, LC Classification, LC Subject Headings, and genre/form terms from various thesauri (e.g., LCGFT, RBMSCV).
• Familiarity with OCLC Connexion and Integrated Library Systems (ILS).
• Advanced problem‑solving skills and decision‑making ability.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to determine correct classification, resolve cataloging discrepancies, and perform record maintenance.
• Applican…