Associate Museum Librarian, Cataloging and Metadata at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Thomas J. Watson Library is The Met’s research library. With its collection of more than one million volumes, extensive digital collections, and online resources, Watson Library is one of the world’s most comprehensive art libraries. The library’s holdings reflect the global and encyclopedic nature of The Met, with books ranging in date from the late fifteenth century to current scholarship, in all fields covered by The Met.

The library’s mission is to support the research activities of the Museum staff and to offer access and outstanding services to an international community of students and scholars. The staff of the Sherman Fairchild Center for Book Conservation are responsible for the preservation of Watson’s collection, and for other Met departmental collections.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

This position performs original and complex copy cataloging adhering to current national and international standards (e.g., RDA, LCNAF, LCSH, PCC); engages in name authority record creation (NACO); contributes to the department’s continued engagement with reparative cataloging practices; and increases awareness, discoverability, and use of the library’s collections through publications, presentations, programs, digitization, and social media.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

• Applies specialized subject and metadata expertise, and performs original and complex copy cataloging of library material;
• Creates high-quality descriptive and technical metadata in MARC and non-MARC formats for physical and digital collections, including serials;
• Performs original and complex copy cataloging for print and electronic materials following RDA standards in all subjects collected by the library, including materials in Romance and other European languages;
• Creates and enhances LC/NACO records, and participates in linked data initiatives involving NACO, Wikidata, and other vocabularies;
• Creates TMS records for library material that is exhibited publicly;
• Plays a leading role in cataloging material from all Departmental Libraries, as well as managing projects related to the handling of Departmental Library projects;
• Increases awareness, discoverability, and use of the library’s collections through publications, presentations, programs, and social media;
• Contributes to the metadata creation of the library’s digital collections;
• Assists in coordinating the cataloging and processing of library materials by Watson staff, interns, and volunteers;
• Provides reference assistance and research support to Museum staff and visiting researchers in Watson, including 3-4 weekend days per year;
• Maintains a course of professional development through participation in professional associations or other professional activities external to the library, and brings best practices and innovative approaches to Watson Library;
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS:

• ALA-accredited master’s degree in library or information sciences required; M.A. in Art History or significant experience working in the humanities preferred
• Five years’ experience in a professional position in a museum or academic library required
• At least five years of experience in original and complex copy cataloging, with demonstrated fluency in cataloging print, digital, continuing resources, and online resources required
• Experience with OCLC Connexion, Marc Edit, Open Refine, and an integrated library system required
• Experience creating records in TMS preferred
• Experience creating and updating NACO records and coordinating linked data initiatives that involve NACO records preferred
• Experience with automated methods to improve or enhance bibliographic records and metadata at scale preferred
• Excellent…