Cataloger

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 38,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary seeks a Cataloger to perform copy cataloging of books and materials in accordance with RDA and MARC 21, primarily in the OCLC system. After gaining experience, the cataloger may contribute original records and help maintain local holdings and authority linkage.

You will verify record accuracy, classify items using Dewey and Library of Congress systems, label and shelve materials, and support library operations in a quiet office environment.

Qualifications

• Attention to detail, proofreading skills, and strong reading comprehension are essential.
• Experience with library technical services or bookstore environments is helpful.
• Familiarity with foreign language assets (German and Latin) is beneficial for cataloging.

Responsibilities

• Select correct bibliographic records during receiving to ensure accurate local holdings.
• Upgrade minimal level records and add contents notes where appropriate.
• Classify and shelve items with existing editions and translations.
• Search call numbers to avoid duplicates in the catalog.
• Link name, subject and series fields to authority records.
• Count and record gift items and complete cataloging for them.
• Assign Dewey Decimal and Library of Congress classifications; assign Cutter and accession numbers as needed.
• Label and laminate materials and apply jackets to bindings.
• Move items between collections and withdraw lost items as directed.
• Support the mission and goals of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and its library.
• Maintain daily, monthly, and annual statistics of completed items.
• After two years, train new hires in cataloging procedures.

Skills

Attention to detail

Proofreading

Reading comprehension

Training new hires

Education

High school education

Some college education preferred

Familiarity with German and Latin

Biblical studies or church history knowledge

Job description

JOB SUMMARY:

The Cataloger mostly performs copy cataloging for books and other materials, which entails editing records found on the OCLC database of cataloging records. After gaining the appropriate amount of experience, the cataloger performs some original cataloging, which entails contributing new records to the OCLC database. Cataloging is completed according to standardized rules for cataloging (e.g. Resource Description and Access (RDA), and MARC 21).

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

The employee in this position will have the following essential job functions:

• To make sure the correct bibliographic records were chosen during the receiving (Acquisitions) process for newly purchased items, and to make sure information in the local holding records for new items is complete and correct.
• To upgrade minimal level bibliographic records and enhance records with contents notes and other fields where appropriate.
• To make sure that newly added items are classified and shelved with any other editions, translations, copies or volumes of the title that are already owned by the library.
• To search the call number of each new item in the library’s database to make sure it does not duplicate the call number of a different title.
• To make sure name, subject and series fields in records are linked to their authority records.
• To count and record the number of gift items, search for matching bibliographic records and complete the cataloging process for them.
• To help select classification numbers in the Dewey Decimal and Library of Congress Classification systems depending on the various collections. To assign author (Cutter) numbers and accession numbers as needed.
• To label books and other items. To laminate paperback books and apply jacket covers to hardback books.
• To change classification numbers, relocate books from one collection to another, and to withdraw lost books from the library collection when directed to do so.
• To support the mission and goals of the Seminary and the library.
• To keep daily, monthly, and annual statistics of items completed.
• After two years in the position, the Cataloger can train new hires in the above procedures.

Performs other duties as may be assigned by supervisor.

EDUCATION:

The person in this position should have a high school education. Some college education is preferred as is familiarity with a foreign language: German and Latin are more useful. If the person catalogs music materials, he/she should be knowledgeable in classical music forms and contemporary Christian music. It is helpful when the cataloger is knowledgeable in biblical studies or church history.

EXPERIENCE:

The person in this position should have experience which would show attention to detail, proofreading skills, and good reading comprehension for understanding directions and manuals. Library experience in the technical services side or bookstore experience would be helpful.

SUPERVISION:

The person in this position will supervise: no one. After two years in the position, the Cataloger can train new hires in the above procedures.

The person in this position will report to: the Director of Technical Services.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The person in this position will work in: an office, sitting at a computer all day. The person moves books from shelves to carts during the week. The concentration required for cataloging materials for extended periods of time can be mentally fatiguing and straining on the eyesight. Extreme accuracy is required to describe each item, to make sure the call number on each item matches the bibliographic record created for the item in order for patrons to find the material on the shelves. It is a quiet environment.

EQUIPMENT:

The person in this position will use the following equipment: computer, copier/printer, book carts.