Working/Functional Title

Metadata Librarian, Librarian I/II Continuing

Position Summary

Michigan State University (MSU) Libraries invites applications for the position of Metadata Librarian.  The innovative, dynamic, and collaborative professional is responsible for creating, maintaining, and enriching metadata of MSUL’s digital collections of maps, posters, photographs, audio/visual, serials, monographs, ETD, etc., primarily housed in the digital repository. Reporting to the Head of Metadata Strategies and Technologies within the Digital Initiatives Division and as a member of the digital repository team, the Metadata Librarian collaborates with library colleagues and stakeholders to create accurate descriptions, facilitate discoverability, and provide stewardship for digital assets. The candidate should be knowledgeable in different metadata standards and provides expertise in the development, implementation and assessment of metadata policies and procedures while monitoring trends, standards development and changing needs in these areas. The candidate also identifies and incorporates emerging technologies and tools like AI/machine learning, APIs, scripting, etc. to automate and enhance metadata workflows and improve content discoverability.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Creates, maintains, and enriches metadata of MSUL’s digital collections; migrates and remediates legacy content
• Strategically assesses metadata quality, plans and executes metadata enhancement and remediation, and advocates linked open data principles and other emerging technologies and tools to improve discovery for library users
• Serves as a metadata consultant, including but not limited to advising on metadata standards and assisting in development and implementation of best practices, tools, procedures, and workflows
• Maintains strong working relationships and communicates regularly with staff across the library especially the Digital Development and Strategies unit, the University and beyond, on services and projects that depend upon metadata for success
• Creates and maintains local documentation on metadata standards and application guidelines
• Assesses current and emerging metadata standards and tools to determine applicability for adoption by the MSUL
• Keeps abreast of the development of local, national, and international metadata standards and policies

We welcome candidates who meet the minimum requirements to apply and will support their professional development to grow in this position.

Librarians are appointed as regular faculty in the continuing appointment system. Faculty are expected to independently apply judgment; have excellent oral and communication skills; and demonstrate attention to detail; flexibility; collegiality; the capacity for collaboration; and a commitment to diversity and inclusion in performance of their duties. As faculty, they develop a self-directed program of professional development and scholarly activities related to their position; and serve on library and university committees as elected or assigned.

The librarian will work to advance the initiatives in the MSU Strategic Plan and in the MSU Libraries Strategic Plan. In support of these initiatives, the Libraries serve as a center of activity and engagement on campus, with librarians empowered to support both student development and transformative research activities.

The MSU Libraries Strategic Plan guides our current and future work. The candidate will partner with our diverse campus to grow our welcoming multicultural environment. More information on MSU and the MSU Libraries’ dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion is available at: http://www.inclusion.msu.edu/about/index.html.

Michigan State University Libraries serve more than 4,900 faculty, 40,000 undergraduates, and 11,000 graduate and professional students on a park-like campus of over 5,000 acres.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Masters -Library and Information Science

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree in information or library science from a program accredited by the American Library Association or an equivalent accreditation from an international institution. 
• Demonstrated proficiency in various metadata schema and serializations including but not limited to MODS, DC, MARC, JSON, RDF (e.g. RDFXML, JSON-LD, etc.)
• Demonstrated experience with applications, scripts, or other data manipulation tools (e.g. OpenRefine, Python, XSLT, etc.) for processing metadata.
• Knowledge of linked data principles, including RDF and ontologies
• Aptitude for emerging technologies in batch-processing, automation, machine learning, etc.
• Excellent interpersonal, analytical, organizational, problem-solving, time management, and communication skills, including the ability to work well independently and in a team-based environment
• Preparation and commitment to conducting independent scholarship consistent with a library faculty appointment.
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and an intention to work in and foster a collaborative, respectful culture.
• Capacity and commitment to engage independently in continuing professional development.

Desired Qualifications

• Two or more years of experience working with metadata in a library setting
• Experience in MARC cataloging, NACO, and/or identity management
• Experience working with digital repository systems
• Project management experience
• Practical experience in using APIs for metadata workflows
• Demonstrated experience in linked data, semantic web applications, ontologies and RDF and their application to library and cultural heritage projects
• Experience with applying AI/machine learning in metadata work
• Experience creating workflows, policies, guidelines, and other documentation for projects

Required Application Materials

Interested applicants should provide a letter of application, CV/resume, and names, addresses and email addresses of three references (2 must be present/past supervisors) to http://careers.msu.edu.

Special Instructions

Minimum $60,000. Salary is negotiable. MSU provides generous fringe benefits including health care, dental care, professional development funding, 22 paid vacation days, 9 University holidays, 2 personal observance days, paid sick days, tuition discounts, and relocation reimbursement.

For questions, please contact Jacquelyn Hansen, aholajac@msu.edu, at MSU Libraries' Human Resources Department.

Website

http://lib.msu.edu

Department Statement

The Libraries are at the center of academic life at Michigan State University, providing expertise,collections, and infrastructure for discovery and creation. We facilitate connections that support research, teaching, and learning in our local and global communities.

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.

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About Michigan State University

Spartans work every day to advance the common good in uncommon ways.Together, we tackle some of the world?s toughest problems to find solutions that make life better?from alternative energy to better food safety to breakthrough medical and environmental applications achieved through rare isotope research.We teach. We explore and we discover. We collaborate and lead. We innovate, inspire, and empower. We achieve our potential and create circumstances that help our students and others achieve theirs.We're good at it, and we've been at it for more than 150 years.The nation?s pioneer land-grant university, MSU began as a bold experiment that democratized higher education and helped bring science and innovation into everyday life. The revolutionary concept became a model for the nation.Today, MSU is one of the top research universities in the world?on one of the biggest, greenest campuses in the nation. Home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college, and service-learning programs, we?re a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists and leaders.In ways both practical and profound, we work to create a stronger, more sustainable, and more hopeful future for all.

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