Catalog Maintenance Assistant

Unit: VCU Libraries MBU

Department: Cabell Library

Department Summary: VCU Libraries supports learning, research, and creativity across Virginia Commonwealth University. With locations at James Branch Cabell Library on the Monroe Park Campus and the Health Sciences Library on the MCV Campus, we help students, faculty, and staff access the information, spaces, and services they need to succeed. Our team values collaboration, innovation, and service, creating an environment where ideas thrive and learning flourishes.

The Resource Acquisition and Metadata Services department is the foundation of discovery at VCU Libraries. We manage the lifecycle of the libraries' vast collections, ensuring that physical and digital resources are acquired, organized, and described accurately. By maintaining a highly precise catalog, our team enables students, faculty, and global researchers to seamlessly locate and access the information they need.

Beginning in July 2026, VCU Libraries will consolidate selected collections into a dedicated high density storage facility. Under the direct supervision of the department head, the Catalog Maintenance Associate will serve as the primary catalog maintenance liaison for this consolidation project. This role requires active daily collaboration, including attending daily on‑site check‑in meetings with project stakeholders to keep operations moving smoothly.

In this role, you will be responsible for the daily review of exceptions arising from the consolidation project, routing them to the responsible departments, and performing routine corrections to catalog data for selected collections spanning both the James Branch Cabell and Health Sciences Libraries.

• Catalog Maintenance:
  Perform bibliographic searching and edit bibliographic and physical inventory records to ensure absolute data integrity.
• Systems & Tools:
  Work primarily within Alma, our integrated library management system, alongside Google applications such as Sheets, Google Meet, and Gmail.
• Workflow Coordination:
  Monitor the routing of catalog exceptions to ensure their timely return to the active project workflows and resolve catalog reviews of physical inventory.

• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.
• Familiarity with library collections demonstrated by the ability to identify bibliographic information from handling physical materials.
• Aptitude for accuracy, manipulating detailed data, data fields, and multistep workflows.
• Ability to follow detailed procedures, working both independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrated experience in recognizing and communicating problems and seeking input from stakeholders and supervisor for process improvement.
• Demonstrated excellence in time management, including prioritizing and continuously monitoring tasks to resolution.

• Familiarity with academic libraries and searching library resources.
• Experience with Alma or other integrated library system catalog.
• Familiarity with MARC bibliographic and holdings records.
• Familiarity with Library of Congress (LC) classification and CUTTER Expansive Classification.
• Familiarity with the physical processing of library materials, especially barcode and spine labels.
• Ability to push a 50‑lb cart.

This is a 100% onsite position, hence reliable transportation is required.

Salary Range: $18.00 hourly

Benefits
:
All full‑time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax‑deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well‑being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Non‑Exempt

Restricted Position: No

Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite