Catalog Librarian

Information about the organization

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is a federally chartered, nonpartisan institution that was created by the US Congress to serve as America’s national memorial to the victims of the Holocaust and an educational institution dedicated to the history and lessons of the Holocaust. The Museum seeks to educate Americans from all 50 states and all walks of life as well as international audiences. The Museum has three areas of expertise: Holocaust remembrance, Holocaust scholarship and education, and genocide prevention.

In carrying out its important memorial and educational mission, the Museum is guided by its institutional values for our workplace: Honor the memory of the victims; carry out our work with dignity, humility, integrity and respect for others; and strive for excellence through teamwork, rigor, and a culture of continuous learning. Consistent respect for others is the foundation for trust, collegiality and inclusion.

Information about the role

The David M. Rubenstein National Institute for Holocaust Documentation’s major responsibility is to collect, preserve, and make available the historical record of the Holocaust and to support with its stewardship of the Collection of Record the Museum's wide-ranging efforts in the areas of research, exhibition, publication, education, and memorialization.

The Catalog Librarian position is responsible chiefly for providing library cataloging services for a wide range of users engaged in various aspects of Holocaust research. The employee investigates and analyzes data sources to perform a variety of duties related to bibliographic access (cataloging) as well as conducting preservation and conservation assessments on fragile paper-based materials as needed. In addition, the employee leads or assists with one or more library functional areas such as acquisition, collection development, and collections management.

The position is located at the David and Fela Shapell Family Collections, Conservation and Research Center in Bowie, Maryland. This position is eligible for limited hybrid telework, within the local commuting area of the Museum worksite and is a full-time donated position (non-Federal) paid with the Museum’s private funds. Salary is commensurate with experience.

Duties, and Responsibilities for the role

• Performs original and copy cataloging, including descriptive cataloging, subject cataloging, classification assignment, and shelflisting, for published materials in a variety of languages and formats including books, serials, electronic resources, online resources, audio and video recordings, and microforms.
• Applies current national and institutional library cataloging rules, standards, and practices, and utilizes the full range of cataloging tools to make comprehensive cataloging information pertaining to the Holocaust and genocide available to libraries and library users worldwide.
• Applies national library cataloging and metadata standards including MARC 21, RDA, AACR2, SUDOC, LCSH, Dublin Core, MODS, and other metadata schemas as appropriate.
• Performs authority control and maintenance on metadata records associated with published materials.
• Develops and documents institutional practices regarding cataloging policies, procedures, and workflows.
• Participates in and oversees projects to catalog special collections, develops training materials, and creates procedural documentation.
• Reviews cataloging work of technicians, interns, volunteers, and contractors for accuracy and completeness.
• Responds to inquiries regarding cataloging practices and performs database maintenance.
• Resolves and reports cataloging problems in consultation with experts within the Museum and within the broader library and research communities as needed.
• Maintains currency with national cataloging standards and with innovations in the functionality of cataloging systems.
• Reports cataloging statistics.
• Identifies print and non-print resources for the Library’s specialized collection.
• Establishes and maintains contacts with potential donors and vendors located throughout and outside the United States.
• Obtains additional information regarding material availability and purchasing terms. Evaluates resources and makes informed recommendations regarding purchase and/or suitability of material.
• Serves as liaison for Museum staff, volunteers, visiting researchers, other libraries, the private sector, and/or research groups in order to promote the Library’s resources.
• May conduct preservation and conservation assessments on fragile paper-based materials.
• Serves on cross-office teams, projects, and initiatives to advance the Rubenstein Institute’s priorities and goals, as needed.
• Coordinates and communicates with colleagues and key stakeholders to share resources and integrate efforts across the Rubenstein Institute.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications for the role

• Master’s degree in Library Science from an American Library Association (ALA) accredited program.
• At least three years of experience with library cataloging.
• Reading knowledge of German and at least one non-English European language, Hebrew or Yiddish.
• Working knowledge of OCLC cataloging utilities and modern integrated library system applications.
• Demonstrated experience conducting preservation and conservation assessments on published materials.
• Strong organizational skills demonstrated by the ability to plan and execute multiple tasks and projects independently.
• Demonstrated ability to use independent judgment and discretion.
• Record of flexibility and constructive teamwork.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to embrace and implement new technologies and innovative organizational practices.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a diverse range of people in various circumstances.
• Basic knowledge of the Holocaust and modern European history.
• Time management skills, attention to detail, and ability to multitask.

Preferred Qualifications for the role

• Experience maintaining and creating name and subject authority records locally and through the Program for Cooperative Cataloging.
• Demonstrated experience executing conservation treatments for paper-based collection materials.
• Project management experience.
• Knowledge of the basic historiography of the Holocaust and 20th century European history.
• Knowledge of the Voyager integrated library system.
• Reading knowledge of multiple non-English European languages and/or Hebrew.

The application deadline for this position is February 17, 2025.

Interested applicants must send their resume and cover letter; applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

The Museum is committed to cultivating and maintaining a culture of diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion (DEAI). Please click here to view the Museum Statement on Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion (PDF).

Benefits Highlights:

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum values employee wellness, work-life balance and the diversity of what this means for individual employees in life and work. We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package for benefits-eligible employees that includes generous paid leave benefits, health, dental, and vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, a health savings account with an employer contribution, 403(b) retirement plan with a generous employer match and contribution, group term and supplemental life insurance, short and long-term disability, commuter subsidy, access to two employee assistance programs, as well as voluntary critical illness and accident insurance coverage, long-term care and pet insurance options. Our policies also support telework and other flexible schedule options based on the job, work and team collaboration requirements.