Rare Materials Metadata Specialist

Georgetown University comprises two unique campuses in the nation’s capital. With the Hilltop Campus located in the heart of the historic Georgetown neighborhood, and the Capitol Campus, just minutes from the U.S. Capitol and U.S. Supreme Court, Georgetown University offers rigorous academic programs, a global perspective, and unparalleled opportunities to engage with Washington, D.C. Our community is a close-knit group of remarkable individuals driven by intellectual inquiry, a commitment to social justice, and a shared dedication to making a difference in the world.

This is a 40 hour per week, full-time term position. It is a one-year appointment with the possibility of reappointment for an additional year. Working in the Technical Services department and office area under the direction of the Unit Head of Metadata Services, the Rare Materials Metadata Specialist will work to complete the creation of bibliographic metadata for the Nicholas Scheetz Book Collection held in the Booth Family Center for Special Collections.

The bibliographic metadata will be added to the Library’s integrated library system (Alma) by June 30, 2027.

Primary duties include creation of original bibliographic records; searching the Library’s system (Alma) as well as OCLC Connexion for specific bibliographic records; updating item records in the Library’s system (Alma), enhanced copy cataloging, and physical processing of the items using rare book s, Tyvek envelopes, and barcodes; assists with reference questions and exhibition descriptive text. This position will also have shared supervision from the Curator of Rare Books in the Booth Family Center for Special Collections.

• Works closely with librarians, specialists, and paraprofessionals in the Technical Services Department and the Booth Family Center for Special Collections
• Works with staff at other WRLC (Washington Research Library Consortium) institutions

This position has been designated as On-Campus. Please note that work mode designations are regularly reviewed in order to meet the evolving needs of the University. Such review may necessitate a change to a position’s mode of work designation. Complete details about Georgetown University’s mode of work designations for staff and AAP positions can be found on the Department of Human Resources website: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

• Master’s degree in Library or Information Science from ALA-accredited institution and/or an advanced degree in a relevant discipline with previous cataloging experience
• 2 or more years of experience in performing original and enhanced copy cataloging, enhancement and enrichment of bibliographic materials
• Demonstrated knowledge of MARC and non-MARC metadata formats, standards and schema
• Working knowledge of special collections and rare book metadata standards including Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials and Books (DCRM(B)), Descriptive Cataloging of Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance, and Early Modern Manuscripts (AMREMM), and RBMS (Rare Books and Manuscripts Section) genre terms
• Working knowledge of descriptive bibliography and issues specific to rare materials
• Experience with a national bibliographic utility, such as OCLC, and a local integrated library system, such as Alma
• Working knowledge of current metadata standards such as FR , Resource Description and Access (RDA), Program for Cooperative Cataloging/Library of Congress Policy Statements, Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH), Library of Congress Classification (LCC), and other emerging standards
• Strong research skills to support the description of rare materials including provenance, binding information, and publishing information
• Knowledge of preservation practices for rare books
• Strong writing and oral skills to assist with donor correspondence, weekly reports, and departmental updates
• Ability to work in a continually changing environment, to exercise initiative, and to work independently as well as part of a team

• Knowledge of issues and emerging trends in metadata, discovery tools,…