POSITION TITLE: Metadata Specialist (Bilingual – Spanish)
CLASSIFICATION: Library Associate 2
REPORTS TO: Metadata Librarian
SALARY: $43,195 minimum salary; The Smathers Libraries offer a salary commensurate with experience and credentials.
The University of Florida offers a competitive benefits package including health, retirement, paid time off, discount programs, professional development and worklife support. Learn more.
JOB NUMBER: 528205 (Apply online)
DEADLINE DATE: August 31, 2023 – applications will be reviewed as received
JOB SUMMARY
The Metadata Specialist position is part of the Resource Description Department and is responsible for creating and enhancing metadata structure and descriptions for the Libraries’ collections in Spanish and/or English, as appropriate collections are identified and prioritized. This position will support efforts to bring existing Spanish language collection materials into alignment with new standards. This will include developing and maintaining, in collaboration with internal team members and partners at other institutions, a Spanish language thesaurus using established procedures.
To support all students, staff and faculty, and foster excellence in a diverse and collaborative society, the Libraries are actively seeking candidates who bring culturally-rich lived experiences to work with individuals of diverse backgrounds, experiences, races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientation, and perspectives
RESPONSIBILITIES
Metadata Creation
Creates and enhances metadata for the University of Florida Digital Collections (UFDC) and collaborative projects, applying local content guidelines and national controlled vocabularies and standards;
Enhances and transforms metadata to ensure optimal user access to materials and/or for output to other platforms and formats, using a variety of tools and scripting solutions, and a variety of schemas/encoding formats;
Performs quality control review of metadata prior to ingesting records into UFDC,
as well as reviews the digital records once they have been imported to ensure fields mapped correctly;
Reviews, and when necessary, performs corrections and enhancements on metadata submitted by partner organizations;
Reviews authority access points, which assist researchers in referencing and locating materials;
Edits and provides additional access points and applies local standards when necessary;
Creates holding and item records in the ILS (currently Alma) on an as needed basis;
Keeps current with policies and procedures, and makes recommendations for changes as needed;
Developing and Implementing Spanish Language Thesauri
Work with internal and external partners to manage the ongoing development of a generalized Spanish language thesaurus;
Translates English language descriptions to Spanish for Spanish language materials.
Implement work plans to accomplish these efforts, making use of automated tools where possible;
Maintains documentation supporting workflows and processes as they are developed;
Schedule and run regular team meetings
Metadata Standardization
Works with the Metadata Librarian, and the department Chair to identify and prioritize collections in UFDC and affiliated collections where impactful metadata correction and enhancement work can be performed;
Creates and implements work plans to accomplish such efforts, making use of XML editors and automated tools where possible;
Assists with training of other staff as necessary;
Other Duties as Assigned
Participates in departmental and special projects as they arise.
Attends training as needed.
Serves on library committees and task forces as needed
QUALIFICATIONS
We value a range of experience and perspectives. Applicants are encouraged to communicate in their application materials and subsequent interview conversations how their work and other experiences satisfy the following qualifications in ways that may not be obvious.
Required:
High School diploma or equivalent and seven years of library, or relevant experience; or an Associate’s degree and five years of relevant experience; or a Bachelor’s degree and three years of relevant experience; or a Master’s degree and one year of relevant experience; or any equivalent combination of experience, training and/or education.
Preferred:
Reading and writing fluency in both Spanish and English
Familiarity with principles of taxonomy and metadata schema.
Knowledge of MARC formatted bibliographic information as found in OCLC/WorldCat and Integrated Library Systems
Knowledge of Anglo-American Cataloging Rules 2nd Rev., Resource Description & Access and Library of Congress Subject Headings, or other information classification systems and cataloging methods
Experience working with digital collections in libraries and/or cultural heritage institutions.
Analytical skills and ability to record, to report statistical data, and to develop and implement procedures
Experience managing team projects
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Ability to work collaboratively to accomplish goals
Flexibility, and ability to adapt and work in a rapidly changing environment
Ability to determine, define, and prioritize work responsibilities and make independent decisions;
Commitment to contributing to a respectful and caring community for all, including individuals of diverse backgrounds, experiences, races, ethnicities, gender, sexual orientation and perspectives
Research indicates that applicants with marginalized identities are hesitant to apply for positions if they do not meet all of the required and preferred qualifications. We want to emphasize that the preferred qualifications are not required and that we are committed to helping our future colleague develop these preferred skills. We strongly encourage those who are passionate about metadata and improving digital access apply.
RESOURCE DESCRIPTION SERVICES
The Resource Description Services Department supports the University’s academic programs and research by providing metadata description and processing for physical and digital collections held by the George A. Smathers Libraries. The department catalogs approximately 20,000 titles per year in compliance with national standards of bibliographic control and in keeping with established cataloging priorities. Original record contributions to OCLC, an international bibliographic database, number around 5,000 annually. The department participates in international cooperative cataloging programs including CONSER, BIBCO, NACO, and SACO. Currently comprised of three librarians and fifteen staff members, RDS consists of five units: Contributed Cataloging, Copy Cataloging, Government Documents Cataloging, Metadata, and the Serials Cataloging Unit. They collaborate to create efficient workflows and apply the latest technologies to meet user needs. The department works with the Acquisitions and Collections Services department to load e-resource packages, which add thousands of records to the library catalog each year. Original record contributions to OCLC, an international bibliographic database, number 5,000 annually. Department units collaborate to create efficient workflows and apply the latest technologies to meet user needs.
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA LIBRARIES
The libraries at the University of Florida form the largest academic information resource system in the state of Florida with seven libraries and two off-campus facilities. The George A. Smathers Libraries are comprised of six campus libraries and off-site facilities. In addition to this system, the Lawton Chiles Legal Information Center is part of the Levin College of Law. The Libraries hold over 6.27 million print volumes, 1.5 million e-books, over 197,000 full-text journals, over 1000 electronic databases, 1.3 million documents, and 1.4 million maps and images. Distinctive holdings include the Isser and Rae Price Library of Judaica, Latin American and Caribbean Collection, Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature and the P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History. The Libraries maintain partnerships and participate in a variety of collaborative, international projects while engaging with the UF community. We are a member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and other regional library consortia.
The library staff consists of more than 300 FTE librarians, technical/clerical staff and student assistants. The George A. Smathers Libraries are strong advocates for inclusion and intellectual freedom. The Libraries’ commitment to both is articulated in the Inclusion and Intellectual Freedom Statements. The Smathers Libraries will foster and maintain a culture that supports DEI, as values are foundational and permeates all aspects of our organization per Strategic Directions 4: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Support for professional development is central to the Smathers Libraries. Supports include a formal mentoring program, a robust training program, release time for research and professional service, a comprehensive grants program, and funding for professional development travel.
LIBRARIES LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The Smathers Libraries acknowledge that the main (Gainesville) campus of the University of Florida is located in the ancestral territory of the Potano and later the Seminole peoples. The Smathers Libraries acknowledge its obligation to honor the past, present, and future Native residents and cultures of Florida.
BENEFITS
University benefits for this position include retirement plan options, insurance benefits, paid family leave (parental and medical), tuition fee waiver program, and employee assistance program, as well as paid time off and holidays. Gainesville, Florida, has no state or local income tax. The University of Florida provides ongoing guidelines and resources related to COVID-19.
APPLICATION PROCESS
To apply, submit
a cover letter detailing your interest in, and qualifications for this position
your current resume or CV
a list of three references including their contact information (telephone number and email address)
Apply by 11:55 pm (EST) on August 31, 2023 (applications will be reviewed as received). Submit all application materials through the Jobs at UF online application system at Job Number 528205. If you have any questions or concerns about this process, please contact Tina Marie Litchfield, George A. Smathers Libraries Human Resources Office, at tlitchfield@uflib.ufl.edu