Open position: Senior Cataloger for Portuguese and Spanish Language Resources
Although the position will remain posted until filled, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by end of day on January 2, 2024.
Information and Technical Services actively supports the teaching and research mission of the Harvard Library by managing monograph, serial and e-resource acquisitions, metadata creation, and metadata management for the Harvard Library.
Under the supervision of the unit manager in Metadata Creation, the incumbent provides timely access to Harvard Library collections by providing original cataloging, and coordinating various cataloging activities for monographic Portuguese and Spanish language materials, in all formats.
Develops sustainable metadata creation practices that leverage technology and tools in service of equitable representation and increased access to library collections.
Priorities will be set to maximize contributions to the overall goals of the Information and Technical Services Department of the Harvard Library. Due to the varied nature and volume of the work in ITS, all ITS staff may be called upon to contribute to work in any unit or team of the ITS department, as organizational needs warrant.
Position Description
- Performs original and complex copy cataloging for monographic Portuguese and Spanish language materials in all formats. Does subject analysis and classification, and creates supporting authority records following national standards and local practice. May also contribute to other language materials as needed.
- Determines level of cataloging required for diverse materials, including the use of collection level records.
- Contributes to national programs, such as BIBCO, NACO, and SACO, as appropriate.
- Performs database maintenance, resolving problems of incorrect, incomplete, or conflicting bibliographic, holdings, and item data.
- Develops and adapts Metadata Application Profiles as needed based on resource format and significance.
- Stays informed of technical services trends, changing practices, new cataloging software applications, and local technology changes. Participates in local meetings and discussion groups. Participation in professional organizations and attendance at regional and/or national conferences is valued.
- Manages in-process Spanish/Portuguese language materials, monitoring current volume, and implementing strategies to reduce processing time.
- Initiates changes to systems and procedures and implements and executes approved changes; collaborates with manager and staff in planning of new projects and work initiatives.
- Suggests innovations and generates ideas for improving workflows and creating efficiencies, creating and updating training and procedural documentation as needed.
- Serves as a principal source of information on established technical/professional and administrative policies and procedures; as well as a principal resource for all issues related to metadata for Spanish/Portuguese materials.
- May assist in hiring, scheduling, and distributing work to other staff and student workers, including supervision of student workers as needed. May also train staff in advanced metadata creation methods and procedures as appropriate.
- Critically assesses metadata in light of diversity, equity and inclusion, and makes changes as appropriate.
- Increases subject access to resources by and about underrepresented groups by identifying gaps in LCSH coverage and developing relevant SACO proposals in coordination with internal and external subject specialists, with a focus on Latin America.
- May act as liaison with other related library units within or outside the University.
Basic Qualifications
- MLS or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Two or more years experience cataloging in an academic library technical services environment required.
- Experience with cataloging Portuguese and Spanish language materials.
- Proficiency in Spanish.
- Demonstrated understanding of RDA, LC PCC Policy Statements, Library of Congress Subject Headings, Library of Congress Classification, and MARC 21 bibliographic formats.
- Strong English language communication skills.
- Demonstrated understanding of authority control, including the creation and use of authority records.
Additional Qualifications and Skills
- Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging, and anti-racism.
- Familiarity with Latin American publishing practices.
- Working knowledge of Portuguese.
- NACO independence and experience developing SACO proposals, desirable.
- Demonstrated understanding of the cataloging of non-book format materials.
- Demonstrated experience cataloging in OCLC Connexion and ExLibris Alma.
- Demonstrated experience resolving complex bibliographic problems and communicating results.
- Demonstrated ability to work productively and cooperatively in both a team environment as well as through individual contributions with limited oversight, demonstrating strong initiative.
- Must be able to resolve complex bibliographic problems and effectively communicate results with colleagues and patrons.
- Demonstrated facility working with tools for metadata analysis and enhancement in batch, e.g, MarcEdit, OpenRefine, etc.
- Working knowledge of non-MARC metadata schemas, including Wikidata and Wikibase, desirable.
- Degree in Latin American studies or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience with vendor cataloging, including quality assessment.
- Experience working with the Seminar on the Acquisition of Latin American Library Materials (SALALM), desirable.
- Additional working knowledge of indigenous Central American languages, desirable.
Physical Requirements
- Keyboarding for at least 6 hours a day may be required.
- Employee must be able handle books and other library material, including moving and shifting these materials between workstations, shelves, book trucks and boxes.
Working Conditions
- The position is based on site in Cambridge, MA. There may be the opportunity for a flexible or hybrid work model compliant with Harvard University remote work policies.
- May interact with collections that may contain dust, mold, or other contaminants.
Work Format Details
This position is based primarily on-campus, in Massachusetts. This may include in-person during emergency situations (if applicable). Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.
Benefits
We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:
- Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
- Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
- Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
- Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
- Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
- Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
- Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
- Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
- Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.
Annual Salary Range
$74,200 to $126,200
Union
00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary
Time Status
Full-time
Pre-Employment Screening
Criminal, Education, Identity
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Across the Harvard Library, our work is enriched by our diverse campus community. Our unique and wide-ranging abilities, experiences, and perspectives are integral to achieving Harvard University's mission of excellence in research, teaching, and learning for our patrons, our collections, and our workplace. We believe that an inclusive environment that cultivates and promotes understanding, respect, and collaboration across our diverse workforce enables our success.
We invite individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and abilities to be a part of our community of over 700 staff members. Our work with faculty, students and researchers to explore answers to intellectual questions, enduring and new, and to seek solutions to the world's most consequential problems, requires that we not only reflect, but also champion our diverse society.
Harvard Library inspires collaboration, reflection, experimentation, and discovery connecting users to related disciplines and to University-wide teaching resources. The Library engages users through curated discovery, digital collections, reimagined physical space, and specialized research support. Today, Harvard Library's holdings range from traditional print collections to rapidly expanding access to digital resources. Harvard Library provides the University's faculty, students, and researchers-now and in the future-with exceptional experiences and comprehensive access to these materials.
Learn more about our contributions to the academic enterprise by visiting us at http://library.harvard.edu and about the Harvard University community at http://hr.harvard.edu/why-harvard.
The Harvard Library is a proud member of the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) Diversity Alliance.
EEO Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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Honor Moody
Metadata Creation Manager
Harvard Library
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