Religious Collections Cataloging Librarian

PeopleAdmin, Inc.; Bloomington (IN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Indiana University Bloomington's Lilly Library seeks a collaborative Religious Collections Cataloging Librarian to describe and make available religion-related materials in all formats. This tenure-track position is funded by a dedicated endowment and requires ongoing professional development and service.

Reporting to the Head of Cataloging & Description, the successful candidate will work with the Curator of Religious Collections and Lilly Library staff to advance access to religion and

Qualifications

• ALA-accredited graduate degree in library or information science.
• Minimum of 2 years' professional cataloging experience.
• Knowledge of MARC21, RDA, and LC classification/subject headings.
• Reading knowledge of one or more languages represented in Lilly Library collections.
• Clear, multi-modal communication abilities.
• Familiarity with current cataloging standards and trends.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary cataloger for religion and spirituality materials.
• Organize and lead special projects for intellectual/physical control.
• Collaborate with Curator of Religious Collections on interpretation.
• Participate in departmental policy development and documentation.
• Stay current with national cataloging developments and best practices.
• Engage in service and professional development activities.

Skills

Cataloging experience

Communication

Collaboration

Project management

Languages knowledge

Education

ALA-accredited library degree

Latin reading (preferred)

Tools

MARC21

RDA

LCC classifications

Authority control (NACO/SACO)

Job description

Religious Collections Cataloging Librarian

Location

Bloomington

Position Summary

Indiana University Bloomington Libraries’ Lilly Library seeks a collaborative, enthusiastic, and innovative librarian to serve as the inaugural Religious Collections Cataloging Librarian. Funded by a dedicated endowment, the cataloger will work closely with the Head, Cataloging & Description, and the Curator of Religious Collections to describe and make available Lilly Library materials relating to religion and spirituality in all formats.

The Lilly Library is Indiana University’s principal rare books, manuscripts, and special collections library. The library’s actively used and dynamically growing collections encompass manuscripts, printed books, and devotional objects spanning a wide chronological and geographical span. Core strengths include European medieval and Renaissance religious manuscripts, early printed Bibles in many languages, hymnological resources, and rare works produced in the Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch colonial worlds. The collections also feature significant materials from Asian and Islamic religious traditions. Active collecting areas include pilgrimage, religious materials created for and by children, and religious narratives related to disability. The majority of these collections are in English, Latin, Italian, French, German, and Spanish, with other languages represented in smaller numbers.

The successful candidate will work in a collaborative environment with colleagues within the Lilly Library and the IU Libraries system. This is a tenure-track position with requirements for ongoing professional development and service.

Please note:

• The expected start date is September 21, 2026, but it is negotiable.
• H-1B sponsorship is not available for this position.
• Initial online interviews will occur from late April through mid-May; on-campus interviews will take place between May 27 and July 2.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Head, Cataloging & Description, the Religious Collections Cataloging Librarian will:

• Serve as the primary cataloger for all Lilly Library materials relating to religion and spirituality in all formats.
• Organize and lead special projects relating to intellectual and physical control of Lilly Library materials relating to religion and spirituality.
• Collaborate with the Curator of Religious Collections on interpreting and increasing awareness of the Lilly Library’s collections relating to religion and spirituality.
• Participate in departmental conversations and contribute to internal policy development and documentation.
• Keep abreast of national developments in cataloging standards and best practices as they emerge and develop.
• Engage in service and professional development activities that enrich the librarian’s practice and contribute meaningfully to the profession.

Basic Qualifications

Applicants are encouraged to think broadly and communicate how their skills and experiences transfer to the qualifications in ways that may not be obvious.

• ALA -accredited graduate degree in library or information science or international equivalent. Candidates with an advanced degree in a relevant subject area and relevant experience in a library setting will also be considered.
• A minimum of 2 years’ professional cataloging experience, including original and complex copy cataloging.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of the following metadata content standards and tools: MARC21; Resource Description and Access ( RDA ); Library of Congress classification and subject headings.
• Reading knowledge of one or more languages represented in the Lilly Library’s collections of religion and spirituality.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of cataloging standards, best practices, tools, and emerging trends within the field.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and knowledgeably in multiple modalities.

Additional Qualifications

Candidates do not need to meet all preferred qualifications to be considered for this position.

• Demonstrated experience using one or more of the Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials ( DCRM ) manuals and/or Descriptive Cataloging of Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance, and Early Modern Manuscripts ( AMREMM ) to create original catalog records.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of the Program for Cooperative Cataloging ( PCC ) Name Authority Cooperative Program ( NACO ) and/or the PCC Subject Authority Cooperative Program ( SACO ).
• Experience with Anglo-American Cataloging Rules (2nd ed.).
• Demonstrated experience with medieval, renaissance, and/or early modern European manuscripts.
• Reading knowledge of Latin.
• Previous experience or academic work in the history of religion and/or religious studies, broadly defined.
• Supervisory and/or project management experience.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with multiple stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience communicating with and/or writing for a non-specialist audience.
• Demonstrated engagement in service and professional development activities on a local and/or national level.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements

• Must be able to travel between work locations; free public transportation is available between the Lilly Library and the Auxiliary Library Facility ( ALF ).
• Ability to lift and move boxes (up to 25 pounds); handle large, unwieldy books; and push book trucks.
• Possibility of encountering mold or other allergens during routine work tasks.

“Before a conditional offer of employment with tenure is finalized, candidates will be asked to disclose any pending investigations or previous findings of sexual or professional misconduct. They will also be required to authorize an inquiry by Indiana University Bloomington with all current and former employers along these lines. The relevance of information disclosed or ascertained in the context of this process to a candidate’s eligibility for hire will be evaluated by Indiana University Bloomington on a case‑by‑case basis. Applicants should be aware, however, that Indiana University Bloomington takes the matters of sexual and professional misconduct very seriously.”

Salary and Rank

Salary and rank depend on the candidate's qualifications and experience. The starting salaries are as follows: Assistant Librarians, $62,500; Associate Librarians, $64,500; and Full Librarians, $82,500

For Best Consideration Date

04/15/2026

Expected Start Date

09/21/2026