Music Collections Specialist

University of Michigan Library; Michigan; On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Michigan Library is seeking a Music Collections Specialist to manage processing and access of music materials, focusing on undescribed special collections backlog. You will collaborate with music librarians to sort, rehouse, and route materials for retention, processing, or deaccessioning, and perform technical processing in Alma.

Responsibilities include collection support activities, condition assessments, and preparation of materials for storage.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent and 3+ years in a library setting.
• Ability to read music and interpret music terminology.
• Experience with library catalogs and online resources.

Responsibilities

• Manage collection support activities including gift evaluation, deselection, and related tasks.
• Process and prepare music materials for housing, binding, and cataloging in Alma.
• Collaborate with staff to manage technical processing workflows for scores.
• Participate in library meetings and staff development activities.

Skills

Read music

Music terminology

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Three years of library experience

Tools

Alma (library system)

Job description

The Music Collections Specialist will manage project work supporting the selection, processing, access, and disposition of music materials, focusing on the Music Library's backlog of undescribed special collections. In collaboration with the music librarians, you will help sort, review, rehouse, prepare, and route materials for retention, processing, offsite storage, or deaccessioning. The Music Collections Specialist will carry out the technical processing of musical scores to prepare them for circulation. This includes physical processing and associated tasks in our library management system, Alma. You will report to the Head of the Music Library as part of the Arts & Humanities team.

Responsibilities*

Collection support activities including the following or similar (55%):

• Collaborate with Music Librarians to support collection development through gift evaluation, print and electronic resource management, materials deselection, and related activities
• Perform condition assessment, sorting, rehousing, inventories, and other related activities involved in the processing of undescribed music special collections
• Finding aid creation or other basic description work
• Other targeted activities to support music collection development

Process music materials, including the following (40%):

• Prepare materials for binding and ensure housing or rehousing of physical materials, including placing work orders in Alma
• Inscribe materials with their call number Insert circulation notes into Alma Verify item details for accuracy within their Alma records
• Process incoming material shipments, sorting materials for cataloging, shelf preparation, serials check-in, etc.
• Work with other library departments, such as preservation/conservation, labeling, and cataloging, to manage technical processing workflows for scores

Professional Development (5%):

• Participation in library meetings, appropriate staff development workshops, and other relevant events
• Collaboration with staff across the library to promote unit and library goals

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
• Three years of experience in a library setting or equivalent professional environment
• Ability to read music, distinguish among printed music formats, and interpret music terminology
• Experience using online catalogs, databases, and web-based resources in a networked environment
• Demonstrated ability to complete complex and detail-oriented procedures accurately and efficiently

Desired Qualifications*

• Experience using a library management system, preferably Alma
• Advanced bibliographic and subject knowledge of the field of Western classical music, demonstrated through a music degree or relevant experience
• Bibliographic knowledge of German, French, and/or Italian