The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) Libraries invites applications from collaborative and innovative candidates for the position of Special Materials Cataloging Section Lead/Principal Cataloger!

University of Colorado Boulder Libraries

Job Announcement

Special Materials Cataloging Section Lead/Principal Cataloger

The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) Libraries invites applications from collaborative and innovative candidates for the position of Special Materials Cataloging Section Lead/Principal Cataloger! The Special Materials Cataloging Librarian Section Lead/Principal Cataloger is a tenure-track faculty position that provides inclusive leadership and guidance for a section comprised of 1 tenured faculty librarian, 1 non-tenure track librarian, and approximately 2 0.5 FTE staff. The members of the Special Materials Cataloging (SMC) Section are primarily responsible for cataloging rare books, maps, and special collections, archival, and other unique materials. The Section Lead also acts as the University Libraries’ principal cataloger, serving as a resource on issues of cataloging practice and policy and playing key roles in developing inclusive cataloging practices, implementing the FOLIO library services platform, and preparing the team for the transition to a linked data production environment. This individual will perform original and complex cataloging in addition to contributing to the team’s Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) cataloging efforts.

As a member of the University Libraries faculty, the Special Materials Cataloging Librarian Section Lead/Principal Cataloger will be expected to maintain a record of scholarly research/creative work, participate in professional service activities, and actively engage in faculty governance. This is a tenure track, faculty position that will be hired at the Assistant Professor rank and report to the Lead of the Resource Description Services Team. The Special Materials Cataloging Librarian Section Lead/Principal Cataloger will be a member of the Libraries’ Resource Description Services Team which is part of the Research & Innovation Strategies Chapter. Please see the Libraries’ organizational chart.

What We Require

Please address each of these qualifications in your application materials:

  • Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited institution;
  • Two or more years of relevant professional cataloging experience with evidence of increased responsibilities;
  • Two or more years of supervisory experience, with demonstrated success in promoting teamwork, collaboration, project management, and/or support for professional growth;
  • Demonstrated knowledge of trends and best practices in both traditional and linked data resource description;
  • Demonstrated working knowledge of cataloging rules, standards, and tools such as MARC, RDA, and a variety of controlled vocabularies;
  • Experience cataloging in OCLC and an Integrated Library System (ILS) cataloging module;
  • Knowledge of PCC (NACO, BIBCO, SACO, or CONSER) and OCLC Enhance standards;
  • Demonstrated potential for research, scholarly work, and professional achievement.

What You Will Need

  • Experience with a national cooperative cataloging program such as PCC (NACO, BIBCO, SACO, or CONSER) and OCLC Enhance;
  • Bibliographic knowledge of one or more non-English languages;
  • Demonstrated experience with a variety of materials or formats (rare books, government publications, and/or cartographic);

What We Would Like You to Have

Evidence of any of the following will enhance a candidacy:

  • Demonstrated initiative in investigating new ideas and implementing change;
  • Familiarity with inclusive cataloging practices;
  • Demonstrated ability to train others to catalog or other instruction experience;

Who We Are

Mission

We are a knowledge catalyst. We fuel inquiry, discovery, collaboration, creation, and the dissemination of knowledge. We welcome everyone, wherever they are on their educational journey.

Vision

An information-empowered world.

Values

Empower | Connect | Learn | Inspire

Our values define our interactions within the Libraries and radiate outwardly. This means that we develop a culture that compassionately and authentically embodies our values in all aspects of our work.

Diversity Statement

We affirm diversity and inclusive excellence to be vitally integral to the Libraries’ mission and vision. We strive to model this in recruitment and retention, building collections, and offering services and spaces to develop a receptive social, intellectual, and physical environment for all. Learn more about our dedication to diversity and inclusivity.

The University Libraries encourage applications from women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job and that person may be one who comes from a less traditional background. As you review the qualifications, please think about how your qualifications are transferable if (at first) they do not seem directly related. Share how your skills translate in your cover letter. We encourage you to apply, even if you don’t meet every preferred qualification.

What We Can Offer

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit, and an ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment.

The successful candidate will be appointed as a full-time (12 month) tenure track faculty member at the Assistant Professor or Associate Professor rank depending on experience. The salary range is $67,000-$77,000.

What You Should Know

University of Colorado Boulder employees are required to follow the campus COVID-19 vaccine requirement. New employees must provide proof of vaccination or receive a medical or religious exemption within 30 days of employment.

Application Process

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. It is recommended that applications be submitted by 11:59pm on April 23, 2023 in order to receive full consideration. The application must be made online at CU Boulder Jobs (posting 47028) and must include the following:

  • A cover letter of application specifically addressing qualifications for the position
  • CV/Resume
  • Diversity Statement
  • This should be a brief (1-2 pages) discussion of your vision for diversity, equity, and inclusion relating to the responsibilities of this position and within the University of Colorado Boulder Libraries in general. (Please see the Libraries’ Commitment to Diversity and Inclusive Excellence and The CU Boulder Campus Definition of Inclusive Excellence.) This statement could include a statement of values, relevant information about one’s background and experiences, ideas for serving a diverse campus community, particularly in libraries, or plans for bringing new points of view to your librarianship, research, and service. Be as specific as possible.

References will be requested at a later stage in the search process.

Questions may be directed to George Karpoff, Search Coordinator, at George.Karpoff@Colorado.EDU.

Direct Link to Apply: https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/?jobId=47028 

The candidate selected for this position must be able to meet eligibility requirements to work in the United States at the time the appointment is scheduled to begin. The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community. To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include reference checks, a criminal history record check, and, when appropriate, a financial and/or motor vehicle history.

About the University and the Libraries

As the flagship University of a multi-campus system in the State of Colorado, CU Boulder is a dynamic community of scholars and learners situated on one of the most beautiful college campuses in the country. As one of 35 U.S. public institutions belonging to the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU) we have a proud tradition of academic excellence, with five Nobel laureates and more than 50 members of prestigious academic academies.

CU Boulder is committed to Colorado communities through collaborative research, innovation and entrepreneurship. Our faculty, staff and students work with the broader community to establish unique connections that have lasting outcomes—both across Colorado and around the world. Today, with our sights set on becoming the standard for the outstanding comprehensive public research universities of the new century, we strive to serve the people of Colorado and to engage with the world through excellence in our teaching, research, creative work, and service. The CU Systemwide Lands Recognition Statement, arrived at after connecting with Native American groups on all CU campuses, as well as with campus chief diversity officers, chancellors and system leadership, is available at https://president.cu.edu/statements/cu-systemwide-lands-recognition-statement.

The University Libraries faculty and staff are diverse, dedicated, and passionate people who share this vision and mission. Librarians participate at all levels of the campus and hold full faculty status and rank. The Libraries are a member of the Association of Research Libraries and hold the largest collection in the Rocky Mountain region with over 12 million books, periodicals, government publications, audiovisual materials, microforms, maps, manuscripts, papers, and computer-based resources. The Libraries faculty and staff collaborate internally, with colleagues beyond the campus and with our clients to advance information literacy, intellectual freedom, lifelong learning, the disciplinary growth of information, and the amplification of knowledge.

About Boulder, Colorado

Boulder and the surrounding area are known as one of the best places to live because of the spectacular setting, acres of open space, and vibrant atmosphere. At 5,430 feet above sea level, acres of vast open space entwine into Boulder's cityscape nestled into the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Home to approximately 90,000 residents, Boulder has a mild, dry climate with more than 300 days of sunshine per year. Boulder offers activities for every interest. In 2021, the Boulder City Council voted unanimously to adopt the city’s Racial Equity Plan, a document that puts forth the city’s commitment to change with actions and measurable outcomes to advancing racial equity, while facing the history and policies that have impacted people of color. Penfield Tate II, the City of Boulder’s first Black mayor elected in 1974, is quoted as saying, “The measure of a great city and a great country is not the size of its greenbelt but how it treats its people.”

Special Materials Cataloging Section Lead/Principal Cataloger

Position Description

The Special Materials Cataloging Librarian Section Lead/Principal Cataloger is a tenure-track faculty position reporting to the Team Lead for the Resource Description Services (RDS) Team who manages a section comprised of 1 tenured faculty librarian, 1 non-tenure track librarian, and approximately 2 0.5 FTE staff. Members of the Special Materials Cataloging (SMC) Section are primarily responsible for cataloging rare books, maps, and special collections, archival, and other unique materials. The Section Lead ensures that SMC members collaborate and work successfully to implement and execute the strategic priorities of the organization. The Section Lead assesses the section’s operations and makes recommendations for improvements to established processes, policies, or tools, particularly in the area of inclusive cataloging practices. The Section Lead also acts as the University Libraries’ principal cataloger, serving as a resource on issues of cataloging practice and policy. As the principal cataloger, this individual will play key roles in implementing the FOLIO library services platform and preparing the team for the transition to a linked data production environment. This individual performs original and complex copy cataloging for all formats with an emphasis on special materials; duties may also include cataloging other types of resources depending on team needs. They also participate in the Name Authority Cooperative (NACO), the Subject Authorities Cooperative (SACO), and the Bibliographic Cooperative (BIBCO) of the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC), creating and modifying bibliographic and authority records in addition to creating Cataloging in Publication (CIP) records. As the principal cataloger, this individual will eventually assume coordinator duties for the BIBCO and NACO programs. Significant responsibilities of this position include scholarly research/creative work and service in keeping with the tenure standards of the University of Colorado Boulder.

 

Position Responsibilities:

 

  • Provides responsive and inclusive leadership of the Special Materials Cataloging Section with responsibility for the performance management process (planning, training, coaching, and performance evaluations) of SMC members;

  • Oversees the development, evaluation, and documentation of policies, procedures, and workflows related to special materials cataloging in collaboration with other RDS members and library units;

  • Collaborate with other Libraries units, particularly the Rare and Distinctive Collections Team, to ensure that their cataloging needs and priorities are being met;

  • Fosters an environment that supports staff professional development and advocates for resources as needed to position the section for success;

  • Serves as Libraries principal cataloger, keeping abreast of national cataloging policy developments, recommending local cataloging best practices, and providing cataloging training;

  • Develops best practices for reparative and inclusive cataloging within the University Libraries;

  • Actively contributes to the development and implementation of the FOLIO library services platform, including participation in FOLIO project-level groups like the Metadata Management Special Interest Group (SIG);

  • Prepares RDS for the future transition to a linked data production environment and participates in RDS linked data initiatives;

  • Performs original and complex copy cataloging for all formats, including print, non-print, and digital resources, according to established national and local guidelines and standards in accordance of RDS needs;

  • Creates BIBCO monograph records, CIP records, NACO authority records for names and series, and SACO records for subjects;

  • Pursues an active program of continuing education to remain current in national cataloging standards and technology;

  • Participates in building a diverse and inclusive campus environment;

  • Significant responsibilities of this position include research and creative work and service in keeping with the tenure standards of the University of Colorado Boulder;

  • Participates in faculty governance; and

  • Participates in Libraries meetings, activities, and events and represents the RDS Team in appropriate venues.