Authority Control and Bibliographic Maintenance Librarian

Code4lib

Los Angeles (CA)

On-site

USD 60,000 - 85,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

A leading research institution in Los Angeles seeks an Authority Control and Bibliographic Maintenance Librarian. The successful candidate will coordinate authority control functions and perform cataloging for library materials. This role emphasizes collaboration across metadata-focused teams, requiring advanced skills in cataloging standards and knowledge of emerging trends like linked open data. Candidates must possess essential degrees and relevant professional experience.

Qualifications

ALA-accredited MLIS is required.
BA or graduate degree in Art History or a related discipline preferred.
Minimum 2-3 years professional experience for MS II.
Minimum 5 years professional experience for MS III.

Responsibilities

Perform complex metadata creation and editing.
Implement strategies for managing authorities and entities.
Develop contributions to Wikidata and other data initiatives.
Collaborate on metadata quality and identity management.

Skills

Advanced-level facility with systems required to perform work duties

In-depth knowledge and application of RDA/AACR2, MARC, LC cataloging standards

Knowledge of cataloging issues and trends

Experience with controlled vocabularies

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Effective interpersonal and collaborative skills

Education

ALA-accredited MLIS

BA or graduate degree in Art History or a related discipline

Tools

OCLC Connexion

MarcEdit

Integrated library systems (Alma preferred)

Job description

Authority Control and Bibliographic Maintenance Librarian

The Getty Research Institute (GRI) seeks a creative, forward-looking, collaborative, and service-oriented cataloger to coordinate authority control and bibliographic maintenance functions and provide original and complex copy cataloging for published materials handled within the Getty Library.

As part of a key institutional priority, the GRI is advancing a transformative, program-wide approach to metadata strategy. This initiative includes the development and hiring of multiple metadata-focused positions designed to work collaboratively across domains to transform metadata governance, improve data quality, and prepare for a linked data future at GRI. This role, which resides in Published Materials Cataloging & Metadata, will work in close partnership with the open Digital Stewardship and Metadata Optimization (DiSMO) Authorities & Entity Management Metadata Specialist to ensure alignment between strategic planning and operational workflows for both published and archival materials.

Together, these roles will:

Coordinate cross-domain projects that unify bibliographic and archival metadata practices
Develop shared governance frameworks for metadata quality, identity management, and interoperability.
Collaborate on enrichment strategies that leverage external authorities.
Identify opportunities for linked data integration across systems and collections.

This collaborative model ensures that strategy and execution are tightly connected, fostering innovation and consistency across GRI’s collections.

The position takes a leading role in the workflows that establish and maintain discovery of and access to the library’s published materials in a variety of formats. The position accomplishes this by creating and processing various metadata independently and collaboratively to provide and enhance access to resources. The position uses professional judgment, applies bibliographic metadata standards and principles to clearly describe materials in order to provide effective access to them using a variety of scholarly research tools. The position works collaboratively in a metadata team with other catalogers, with various units in the GRI and in other Getty divisions, and with external organizations that provide or use the metadata.

Major Job Responsibilities:

Performs complex metadata creation, selection, evaluation, and editing for resource access, description, and record management in Ex Libris Alma and OCLC Connexion systems, using professional judgment in the application of standards, best practices, research, and analysis.
Edits, aggregates, maps, enhances, transforms, and disseminates existing bibliographic and controlled vocabulary metadata in the GRI catalog and other databases as appropriate.
Implements strategies for the management of authorities and entities in the GRI catalog and related applications by assessing, enhancing, and remediating metadata to meet standards and local requirements.
Develops and manages contributions to Wikidata, ULAN, and other shared data initiatives.
Working with DiSMO, the Getty Digital team and other GRI units as needed, prepares the GRI for implementation of BIBFRAME and Official RDA.
Works with the Digital Collection Development Librarian to manage metadata preparation and bibliographic maintenance related to the Getty Research Portal.
Solves bibliographic access problems and reviews bibliographic metadata created by section staff.
Reviews bibliographic and controlled vocabulary metadata created by other catalogers, other internal units, and external organizations.
Revises and supervises the work of others in the unit and helps with training needs.
Prepares name authority metadata for submission to NACO and bibliographic metadata for submission to BIBCO and eCIP, according to the standards of these cooperative cataloging programs.
Recommends, creates, and updates bibliographic and controlled vocabulary metadata policies, procedures, and guidelines.
Participates in section meetings and other meetings as appropriate.
Serves on Getty, GRI, and Library committees, task forces, working groups, as needed.
Engages in continuing professional development by attending and participating in professional conferences and training opportunities related to position responsibilities.
Assists in maintaining and updating the unit’s website content.

Qualifications:

ALA-accredited MLIS
BA or graduate degree in Art History or a related discipline preferred
For MS II*: Minimum 2-3 years professional experience
For MS III*: Minimum 5 years professional experience

*This position will be filled as Metadata Specialist II (MS II) or Metadata Specialist III (MS III), contingent upon professional experience and qualifications.
Please note: This position is not eligible for employer-based immigration sponsorship. Applicants must have authorization to work for Getty in the United States without the need for sponsorship, currently or in the future.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Advanced-level facility with systems required to perform work duties, including OCLC Connexion, MarcEdit, and integrated library systems (Alma preferred)
In-depth knowledge and application of RDA/AACR2, MARC, LC cataloging standards, and LC classification
Knowledge of cataloging issues and trends, particularly emerging standards such as linked open data, Open Access, and BIBFRAME
Deep appreciation for and demonstrated understanding of the purpose and structure of library-related authority metadata
Experience with working with controlled vocabularies, through participation in an authority program such as NACO and/or through data remediation/update activities; broad experience with different types of vocabularies
Knowledge of or experience with non-MARC formats and non-RDA metadata standards
Familiarity with other content management systems such as those used for collection management, digital materials management and transformation, digital repository management, digital asset management, data management, data set management, data integration, communications, resource discovery, and social media
Experience with industry standard software suites as appropriate to assigned duties
Experience handling fragile or brittle materials preferred
Ability to meet deadlines, apply policies and procedures consistently, conduct research, and present recommendations
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Effective interpersonal and collaborative skills
Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as collaboratively
Supervisory or project management skills preferred
Reading knowledge of at least one non-English language preferred