Technical Services Librarians – Monographs and Special Projects Cataloger (#379), and Rare Books and Special Formats Cataloger (#380)

USC Libraries at the University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA) invites creative, collaborative, and outstanding candidates to fill the two full-time continuing appointment-track technical services faculty positions listed below with an anticipated start date of October 2022. Faculty rank commensurate with experience. 

We are looking for candidates with experience and demonstrated knowledge in cataloging, metadata management and development, collection management and assessment, and management or supervision experience in an academic or research library.

Minimum qualifications : MLIS degree from an ALA-accredited program or non-U.S. equivalent is typically required. For the Monographs & Special Projects Cataloger (#379) position: one year professional experience and demonstrated experience in one or more of the areas outlined above is required. For the Rare Books & Special Formats Cataloger (#380) position: three years professional experience and demonstrated experience in one or more of the areas outlined above is required.

Desirable qualifications for these positions include :

Monographs & Special Projects Cataloger (#379): Experience with or demonstrated knowledge of metadata management tools such as MarcEdit, Match MARC and OpenRefine; experience with or knowledge of using project management tools to manage a variety of ongoing tasks; practical experience with original and copy cataloging, ideally in a variety of languages and formats; experience hiring and supervising student workers; training non-catalogers; working with outsourced cataloging; reading knowledge of at least one language other than English.

Rare Books & Special Formats Cataloger (#380): Experience with complex descriptive cataloging of rare and unique materials; proven record of cataloging a variety of materials, and juggling priorities in order to manage backlogs and new acquisitions; collaborative, collegial, and flexible approach to working with a wide variety of materials for multiple collections; reading knowledge of at least one language other than English, preferably      one or more Western European languages, such as  German, Latin, or French.

Duties and Responsibilities for each position and some additional Desirable Qualifications are listed at the end of the posting.

We value qualified candidates who can bring to our community a diversity of backgrounds and experiences who are motivated by a passion to develop transformative library services and an investment in the future of librarianship and archives, and who are creative in identifying and solving problems within a collegial and collaborative environment.

Faculty Appointment Rank and Salary

Continuing appointment-track candidates are expected to demonstrate their ability to have a significant positive impact on the development of innovative library and information services as they pertain to the specific position, growth in professional expertise, and professional development. For more on criteria and qualifications for the appointment, promotion and continuing appointment of librarians at USC, visit: https://libraries.usc.edu/sites/default/files/2021-09/USC_Libraries_Criteria_Document_Approved_1-31-20.pdf

Starting minimum salary for faculty at USC: $72,000. Salary and rank commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Benefits

For information about USC’s benefits visit: https://employees.usc.edu/benefits-perks/

Application Procedure

Interested candidates should submit a single PDF with the following documents: 1) Cover letter expressing interest and describing experiences and qualifications for a particular position or positions; 2) Curriculum Vita; 3) Names and contact information of three individuals who may be contacted by USC for a letter of reference; and 4) Succinct statement describing your efforts to encourage equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism.

Closing date for applications: October 3, 2022 or until filled.

For more information about this position, contact Marje Schuetze-Coburn, Chair of the Standing Search Committee, at schuetze@usc.edu.

USC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, proudly pluralistic, and firmly committed to providing equal opportunity for outstanding persons of every race, gender, creed, and background. USC is building a diverse faculty that embraces a range of disciplinary traditions. The University will consider all candidates for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring ordinance.

Monographs & Special Projects Cataloger (#379)

Position Responsibilities and Duties:

Reporting to the Head, Acquisitions and Cataloging, the Monographs & Special Projects Cataloger will:

• Serve as project manager for cataloging projects of unprocessed collections and other projects as required
• Play an active role to assess unprocessed collections for retention utilizing an assessment rubric
• Perform original and copy cataloging and bibliographic maintenance with responsibility for cataloging material based on language, format, or subject expertise as needed
• Oversee the coordination of receiving, processing, cataloging, and distributing all library material types for specified collections
• Provide support in acquisitions and collection preparation as needed
• Oversee and maintain manuals and documentation related to the collections that are processed during project(s) and ensure compliance with library procedures
• Supervise student work and lead student recruitment, screening, hiring, and training efforts as needed
• Participate in library and other committees as assigned
• Stay up-to-date on relevant library and scholarly information trends and practices and apply
• Engage in professional and/or subject discipline organizations, research, or publishing that will have a significant, positive impact on the unit and the libraries and advance the strategic plans of USC Libraries and the university
• Evening and weekend work may be required
• Other duties as assigned

Additional Desirable Qualifications

• Experience with or knowledge of metadata management tools such as MarcEdit, Match MARC and OpenRefine
• Experience with or knowledge of using project management tools to manage a variety of ongoing tasks
• Practical experience with original and copy cataloging, ideally in a variety of languages and formats
• Experience hiring and supervising student workers; training non-catalogers; working with outsourced cataloging
• Reading knowledge of at least one language other than English

Rare Books & Special Formats Cataloger (#380)

Position Responsibilities and Duties

Reporting to the Head, Acquisitions and Cataloging, the Rare Books & Special Formats Cataloger will:

• Perform original and complex copy cataloging, metadata, and authority work for special collections materials. This will include rare books, artists’ books, or other special format monographs, including manuscripts
• Create bibliographic records using standards including DCRM(B), RDA, MARC 21 and LCSH, following relevant guidelines and policies
• Identify bibliographic remediation activities and projects to enhance description, address harmful and oppressive description, and facilitate discovery of special collections materials
• Work collaboratively with members of other departments, primarily but not limited to, Specialized Collections
• Identify materials in need of conservation treatment, implement initial stabilization and recommend further treatment when needed
• Participate in the development, maintenance, and implementation of cataloging procedures and documentation to facilitate the stewardship of special collections materials, such as post-acquisition assessment, post-cataloging treatment and preservation, and security and storage
• Serve as a resource for technical expertise and problem-solving within USC Libraries Specialized Collections on cataloging issues
• Participate in Libraries Working Groups and Committees to represent the specific needs of special collections metadata in Library databases including the USC catalog
• Work closely with colleagues in Acquisitions and Cataloging to ensure consistent cataloging procedures across the USC Libraries; may assist in training other cataloging staff within the Technical Services unit
• Assess and prioritize existing backlogs in collaboration with colleagues in order to expedite processing of important collections
• Oversee and maintain manuals and documentation related to specialized collections and ensure compliance with library procedures
• Supervise student work and lead student recruitment, screening, hiring, and training efforts as needed
• Participate in library and other committees as assigned
• Stay up-to-date on relevant library and scholarly information trends and practices and apply      this knowledge to have a significant, positive impact on the Technical Services & Collection Development department
• Engage in professional and/or subject discipline organizations, research, or publishing that will have a significant, positive impact on the unit and the libraries and advance the strategic plans of USC Libraries and the university
• Evening and weekend work may be required

Additional Desirable Qualifications

• Experience with complex descriptive cataloging of rare and unique materials
• Proven record of cataloging a variety of materials, and juggling priorities in order to manage backlogs and new acquisitions
• Collaborative, collegial, and flexible approach to working with a wide variety of materials for multiple collections
• Reading knowledge of at least one language other than English and reading fluency of one or more Western European languages, preferably German, Latin, or French