Head, Serials Cataloging

position Summary

Indiana University Libraries seeks a creative, collaborative, and innovative Head of Serials Cataloging to lead the cataloging of IU Libraries’ rich collection of continuing resources. We envision the librarian who enters this tenure-track position as having demonstrated success in managing metadata projects or personnel and possessing knowledge of MARC-based metadata, gained through experience working in an academic context.

Serials Cataloging is one of six managerial teams in the Cataloging Department, which resides within the Technical Services division of IU Libraries. The work of the Cataloging Department makes the IU Libraries’ rich collections discoverable and supports the IU Libraries’ active programs of collection development & management, reference services, instruction, document delivery, scholarly communication, and preservation. The Head of Serials Cataloging will lead 3-4 staff members responsible for cataloging print and electronic serials, as well as integrating resources.

The successful candidate will join a robust local community of metadata practitioners who are deeply committed to serving the IU community’s discovery needs and making reusable, high-quality metadata available to libraries worldwide. IU Bloomington Libraries is a member of the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) and cataloging staff actively participate in the BIBCO, CONSER, NACO, and SACO programs (https://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/), as well as the OCLC National Level Enhance (https://www.oclc.org/en/worldcat/cooperative-quality/authorization-levels.html) and OCLC Member Merge programs.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Head of Cataloging and working closely with fellow team leaders, the Head of Serials Cataloging:

• Directs, coordinates, and manages Serials Cataloging’s activities, including hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating staff.
• Fosters a collaborative work culture and promotes opportunities for professional growth, scholarship, and service.
• Collaborates with other Technical Services and Cataloging Department managers to plan and implement strategic and operational goals.
• Explores, plans, implements, and evaluates projects and workflows that enhance user services.
• Monitors developments in international cataloging standards, electronic resources, and open-access publishing, and adapts local policies, procedures, and workflows accordingly.
• Serves as the liaison between the Cataloging department and collection management librarians and archivists who collect continuing resources, including print and electronic serials, and integrates these resources.
• Collaborates with all IUB Libraries divisions and departments, including Collection Management and Library Technologies, as well as other cataloging agencies within IU’s complex library system, to advance the discovery and access of continuing resources.
• Represents Indiana University Libraries as the institutional liaison to the Program for Cooperative Cataloging’s (PCC) Cooperative Online Serials Program (CONSER).
• Coordinates Technical Services’ participation in cooperative initiatives, including the CONSER Open Access Journal Project, among others, and participates in the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) Library Initiative’s Cooperative Cataloging Partnership.
• Creates original bibliographic records for continuing resources and performs associated name, series, and subject authority control work. Contributes PCC-authenticated records to CONSER, Name Authority Cooperative Program (NACO), and Subject Authority Cooperative Program (SACO) programs.
• Engages in service and professional development activities that enrich the librarian’s practice and contribute meaningfully to the profession.
• Ability to meet the requirements of a tenure/tenure-track position at the IU Libraries (https://libraries.indiana.edu/promotion-tenure)

Basic Qualifications

Applicants are encouraged to explain how their work and experiences meet the minimum qualifications in ways that may not be immediately apparent.

• ALA-accredited graduate degree in library or information science, or an international equivalent; candidates with an advanced degree in a relevant subject area and relevant experience in an academic setting will also be considered.
• A minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience in original cataloging, including cataloging of electronic resources, in an academic setting.
• Experience managing people, workflows, or significant projects as demonstrated by evidence of effective planning, document writing, training, performance coaching, and assessment.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of cataloging standards, best practices, tools, and emerging trends within the field.
• Knowledge of serials cataloging and familiarity with the lifecycle of continuing resources, as well as the discovery needs of users accessing these resources.
• Demonstrated commitment to learning about a wide range of resource formats and languages as a means of understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by Serials Cataloging staff and catalog users.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and knowledgeably in multiple modalities.
• Sound interpersonal skills, including the ability to participate as an effective member of the departmental management team and to direct the work of catalogers in a collaborative environment.
• Evidence of commitment to ongoing professional development and contribution.
• Ability to articulate and implement strategies for fostering an inclusive work culture.

Department Contact for Questions

Questions regarding the position or Application process can be directed to libhire@iu.edu.

Additional Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

Candidates do not need to meet all preferred qualifications to be considered for this position.

• Demonstrated understanding of the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) best practices and its national programs for shared bibliographic (CONSER) and authority records (NACO or SACO).
• Knowledge of South Asian, East Asian, or additional foreign languages processed by the team.
• Demonstrated familiarity with and interest in applying technologies that support established and emerging workflows for creating and managing metadata.

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