[LIBJOBS] Open Position: Metadata Librarian, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania

Metadata Librarian
The Pennsylvania State University Libraries

The Pennsylvania State University Libraries seek an innovative and highly motivated librarian to provide creative leadership and expertise in the development of metadata for effective access to our digital and web resources. This is a tenure-track faculty position, reporting to the Head of the Cataloging and Metadata Services Department.

The University Libraries has a program of cutting-edge development in scholarly publishing, data curation and digital content management. The first product of this program is ScholarSphere, Penn State’s repository service based on Hydra/Fedora infrastructure. The Libraries plans to extend ScholarSphere as well as to develop other Hydra/Fedora-based products, such as services for long-term preservation and access to archival records.  This development is done in a highly collaborative environment, based on use cases created in consultation with the researchers whose data is being curated.  The Metadata Librarian will contribute appropriate leadership and expertise to this program, our digitization program, our web-based resources, and other local, national, and international programs where metadata expertise is required.

Responsibilities:

• Provide expertise and leadership for improved discovery and access to the Libraries’ digital collections, scholarly communications initiatives and web resources by planning, implementing, and assessing metadata strategies appropriate to these initiatives
• Collaborate with other librarians and library staff, Penn State Press staff, Information Technology Services staff, Penn State faculty, and colleagues in other research institutions to evaluate and apply appropriate metadata schemas for digital collections, held by the Libraries and University  
• Provide leadership in the development of relevant metadata standards, policies and procedures, with particular responsibility for digital resources
• Contribute standards-based knowledge and practices towards metadata prototyping for a range of scholarly publishing projects; help evaluate platforms for storage, discovery, and delivery of such resources
• Manage and coordinate the process of implementing metadata strategies, including needs assessment, metadata scheme adaption, metadata interoperability, project management, and working with partners from various units
• Participate in consultations with researchers and in outreach opportunities, including presentations, informal talks, and demonstrations for data curation and scholarly communications products and services
• Engage in research, scholarly publication, and professional service activities in areas appropriate to academic librarianship
  

Required Qualifications:

• MLS/MLIS from an ALA accredited program or equivalent degree in a related field
• Experience using emerging technologies for metadata management and delivery such as RDA and linked data; knowledge of metadata and encoding standards used in libraries and in scholarly publishing (Dublin Core, EAD, MODS/METS, XML, TEI, MARC 21)
• Strong technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and experience in data modeling and conceptualization
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communications skills. Able to translate abstract concepts effectively to a variety of user communities
• Strong commitment to excellent service and the ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Ability to work well with a diverse employee and user community and to work within a collegial environment
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Two years’ experience with initiatives to provide access to digital resources

Environment:

The Pennsylvania State University serves as the land grant institution for Pennsylvania, incorporating a strong outreach mission into its instructional and research activities. Ranked among the top ten research libraries in North America according to the Association of Research Libraries Expenditure Index, Penn State University Libraries support the University’s 97,000 students and 6,000 faculty system-wide.  Located at University Park and 22 other campus locations throughout the commonwealth, the Libraries aim to advance the intellectual discovery, information literacy, and lifelong learning of all faculty, students and patrons. The University Libraries' Digitized Collections, close to 100 in all, cover a wide range of subject areas, including agriculture, the Civil War era, geology and geography of Pennsylvania, labor history, Pennsylvania history, Penn State history, and political protest. Many of these collections were digitized from holdings in the Special Collections Library.

The University Park campus is home to approximately 44,000 students and is set in the State College metropolitan area, a growing university town located in central Pennsylvania. Set in a picturesque rural environment, the State College area offers a vibrant community with outstanding recreation facilities, a low crime rate, and excellent public schools.  The campus is within a half-day drive to Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, or Pittsburgh.  The University Park Airport is served by three major carriers with flights to Washington, Philadelphia, and Detroit.  For more information please visit http://www.libraries.psu.edu and http://www.cbicc.org.

Compensation and Rank:  Salary and rank commensurate with experience. Excellent fringe benefits include liberal vacation, excellent insurance, state or TIAA/CREF retirement options, and educational privileges.

To Apply: Send a letter of application, resumé, and the names and contact information of three professional references to Search Committee, The Pennsylvania State University, Box META-LIBJ, 511 Paterno Library, University Park, PA 16802. Applications and nominations may also be sent to lap225@psu.edu.  Please reference Box META-LIBJ in the email subject line.  Review of candidates will begin on August 19, 2013 and continue until the position is filled.  Employment will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and diversity of its workforce.