What are the responsibilities and job description for the Metadata Management Librarian position at University Of Oregon?
Department Summary
About the University
The University of Oregon is one of only two Pacific Northwest members of the Association of American Universities and holds the distinction of a “very high research activity” ranking in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The UO enrolls more than 20,000 undergraduate and 3,600 graduate students representing all 50 states and nearly 100 countries. The University of Oregon is guided by a diversity framework that involves a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members. In recent years, the university has increased the diversity of its student body, as well as campus-wide efforts to build a welcoming, inclusive community. The UO’s 295-acre campus features state-of-the-art facilities in an arboretum-like setting within the traditional homelands of the Kalapuya people. The UO is located in Eugene, a vibrant city of 157,000 with a wide range of cultural and culinary offerings, a pleasant year-round climate, and a community engaged in environmental and social concerns. The campus is within easy driving distance of the Pacific Coast, the Cascade Mountains, and Portland.
About the UO Libraries
The University of Oregon Libraries is an essential partner in the University of Oregon’s educational, research, and public service mission. With five locations on the Eugene campus and branches at UO Portland and the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, the UO Libraries offers many flexible service- and technology-rich environments for our users’ research, learning, and publishing needs.
The UO Libraries’ mission is informing research and learning breakthroughs for Oregon. We strive to realize our vision of being a model for the enduring, positive impact that research libraries can have on their academic and civic communities. We do that with an unwavering commitment to our values. Learn more about the UO Libraries’ strategic design, our values, and our goals at library.uoregon.edu / strategy
The University of Oregon Libraries is a member of the Big Ten Academic Alliance, the Orbis Cascade Alliance, SPARC, the Center for Research Libraries, DuraSpace, the Coalition for Networked Information, EDUCAUSE, and other major organizations.
About Resource Description Services
Resource Description Services supports original and copy cataloging for all types of materials in a variety of languages, as well as metadata management and authority control for MARC and non-MARC collections. The department works closely with Collection Strategies, Special Collections and University Archives, the Beach Lab, and others within the Libraries and UO campus to provide intellectual and physical access to collections, as well as cataloging and metadata solutions that support the management and discovery of scholarly resources. The department builds strong relationships with external partners to lead advances in practice and to contribute expertise to regional, national, and international associations related to cataloging and metadata.
The department overseen by the Director of Resource Description Services includes Career Faculty Librarians, Officers of Administration, and Classified Staff. Key activities include : analyzing and describing the content of library resources for the public catalog; batch-loading records for e-resource collections; ensuring the quality of data in the Libraries’ public catalog; creating and maintaining authority records to ensure consistency in name and subject access points; preparing physical materials for use; and withdrawal of material from the collection.
Position Summary
The Metadata Management Librarian plays a pivotal role in ensuring discovery and access to the University of Oregon Libraries' collections by coordinating and providing expertise in metadata management, batch processing, and quality control. This position emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and professional growth, making it an exciting opportunity for candidates passionate about transforming library metadata to meet the evolving needs of users.
In this role, the Metadata Management librarian will design, manage, and enhance metadata workflows within Ex Libris' Alma, the UO Libraries' integrated library system. They will lead metadata transformation and enhancement projects that align with the strategic goals of the library. A key component of the role is providing training and development opportunities for staff, empowering colleagues with knowledge of best practices in metadata management and batch processing.
The Metadata Management Librarian will develop and maintain documentation to ensure clear, comprehensive guidance for metadata workflows. Analyzing and streamlining cataloging processes to optimize efficiency will also be a central part of the work. The librarian will coordinate and troubleshoot batch processes—such as loading, exporting, and transforming metadata—ensuring data consistency and accuracy. Additionally, this position will play a leadership role in electronic resources cataloging, contributing to the effective management of the UO Libraries’ collection.
The Metadata Management Librarian participates in appropriate professional development activities and organizations to stay current with trends and practices in the field, and to meet criteria for promotion and retention. This position contributes to the University’s goals regarding equity and inclusion.
We seek candidates who thrive in collaborative environments, enjoy innovative problem-solving, and are excited about professional growth opportunities. Applicants with a passion for metadata, batch processing, and teamwork are encouraged to join us and help shape the future of library services at the University of Oregon.
We are aware that some people are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every preferred qualification in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job and recognize that a successful candidate may come from a less traditional career trajectory, such as having skills and abilities gained outside a classroom context, or an equivalent skill set. We encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our preferred qualifications.
Minimum Requirements
Minimum Qualifications for the Rank of Assistant Librarian :
- Master’s Degree in Library / Information Science from an ALA-accredited institution or equivalent international terminal degree -OR- Terminal degree in a relevant field (e.g., PhD or equivalent, depending on discipline).
- One year post-degree experience copy and / or original cataloging in an academic library.
Minimum qualifications for rank of Associate Librarian :
