Position: Library Technician (Metadata)
Location: Library of Congress
Salary: $49,157 to $63,906
Full vacancy announcement available on USAJOBS.
Summary
This position is located in the Digital Resources Division, Global Legal Collection Directorate, Law Library.
Responsibilities
The Library Technician (Metadata) is supervised by the Chief of the Digital Resources Division, Global Legal Collection Directorate, Law Library of Congress. The incumbent’s duties include creation of descriptive metadata for legal documents, including primary and secondary source materials, based upon an examination of the materials. The incumbent also assigns metatags for each document based upon analysis of elements including: description, type, creator, subject, spatial coverage, temporal coverage, and collection; develops familiarity with the Law Library’s established metadata standards and guidelines, in order to apply such guidelines to a variety of digitized legal materials to facilitate online searching; works with standard office software to update, organize, and track metadata for digital legal materials; and serves as a resource for information about Law Library metadata standards and creation.
The incumbent generates descriptive metadata for a large volume and wide-range of digital legal documents including primary and secondary source materials; reads document content and assigns appropriate metatags that may reflect any or all of the following elements: description, type, creator, subject, spatial coverage, temporal coverage, and collection; develops knowledge of Law Library’s metadata standards and guidelines, in order to assign appropriate metatags to specific documents.
The incumbent uses various software tools to enter and update descriptive metadata in documents and web pages; and utilizes spreadsheets or similar tools to organize large amounts of metadata and transfers information to metadata fields in digital files, including PDF documents.
Based on work with legal documents, the incumbent may recommend new terms or updates to existing terms for the Law Library’s controlled vocabulary list; and finds examples to justify proposed changes to terminology and may be directed to present this information to the Controlled Vocabulary Committee for their consideration.
The incumbent uses pre-designed spreadsheets or similar tools to organize and track information about digital legal documents and related metadata. As directed, updates information and maintains version control of spreadsheets containing metadata; maintains integrity of digital legal documents and ensures that metadata status of documents is apparent through a file-naming convention or similar methods; and helps develop organizational schemes for ongoing metadata projects that will facilitate review and updates on project status.
The incumbent organizes digital legal collection materials to facilitate the provision of online access; uses appropriate folders and files to organize digital objects; works from samples provided by legal subject matter experts to create additional spreadsheets that reflect the organizational structure of different types of legal materials that will be used to provide online access to such materials; and follows webpage templates and web posting guidelines to publish and maintain digital files and metadata online.
The incumbent assists with the lifecycle management of digital legal collection materials through the creation and addition of metadata that facilitates access; processes digital legal materials in PDF or other format by adding metadata in applicable fields using appropriate software tools. As directed, participates in metadata remediation efforts based on new institutional standards; and implements procedures for processing new digital collection materials, especially in recommending appropriate descriptive metadata.
The incumbent assists in the implementation of projects related to digital collection management; performs work assignments to support achievement of project goals; serves as a member of project teams and may serve as team leader to provide guidance in the creation project-related metadata and provide quality review of the work of team members. As directed, tries out work flows and work procedures to establish productivity benchmarks and identify potential bottlenecks.
The incumbent maintains effective working relationships with various individuals in the Division and across the Law Library; participates in Division meetings and contributes to discussions related to search and retrieval of legal materials via the Law Library’s website; serves as a resource for information about Law Library metadata creation and standards.
The position description number for this position is 344548.
The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.
The incumbent of this position will work a flextime work schedule.
This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.
Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.
This position is not eligible for permanent remote telework.
Position: Supervisory Library Technician
Location: Library of Congres
Salary: $60,129 – $78,167
Full vacancy announcement available on USAJOBS.
Summary
This position is located in the Physical Collections Services, Serial and Government Publications Division, General and International Collections, Library Services.
Responsibilities
This position is located in the Physical Collections Services Section of the Serial and Government Publications Division, General and International Collections Directorate. The position reports to the Head, Physical Collections Services Section. The Serial and Government Publications Division is custodian for and provides public access to newspapers, current periodicals, comic books, and various types of government publications in the Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room. The incumbent serves as a Supervisory Technician for the Collections Management and Retrieval Team or the Collections Processing Team and is responsible for a variety of activities in support of serials collections management and preservation activities, serials binding and reformatting preparation, and related inventory and description of the serial collections in the Library of Congress integrated library system (LC-ILS). The incumbent may supervise the work of staff in a combination of serial processing technicians, vault technicians, deck attendants, contract technicians, interns and volunteers. The incumbent ensures the preparation and quality review of materials temporarily housed in the division as well as the preservation, housing, and access to the permanent custodial collections of the division. The incumbent may edit or review bibliographic records in OCLC Connexion, enter or edit bibliographic holdings and item records in the LC ILS, search the ILS, binding preparation software, and other computerized systems, and uses common spreadsheet and database software.
Supervises a group of employees performing work up to the GS-08 level. Provides administrative and technical supervision. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets and adjusts short-term priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work. Assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments and the capabilities of employees. Observes workers’ performance; demonstrates and conducts work performance critiques. Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff and clearly communicates these through the formal employee performance management system. Provides informal feedback and periodically evaluates employee performance. Resolves informal complaints and grievances. Recommends appointment, promotion, or reassignment and develops work improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary.
Searches and transcribes information from computerized and manual files. Organizes and completes complex manual and computerized searches in multiple systems. Prepares automated access/inventory records for single items or collections. Compiles, prepares and analyzes statistical information. Effectively utilizes spreadsheet and database software to maintain records and compile reports.
Effectively searches online LC and external databases for automated records corresponding to newly received materials, including the OPAC and cataloguing and acquisitions modules of the Library of Congress integrated library system (LC-ILS), identifying specific types and problematic materials; and importing and editing records as needed. Understands and properly utilizes MARC fields as they pertain to serials and serial government documents.
Determines appropriate treatment for physical collection items, including those routed for library binding, reformatting, and items that require labeling, additional repair or support prior to final processing.
Working with the section head, monitors and coordinates procedures for routing materials for preservation treatment and for preparation of materials to be added to the collections. This includes examining any items in the custody of the division and recommending treatments such as binding, rebinding, boxing, reformatting, tip-in, and repair. Serves as an expert in serials reformatting and preservation for the division. Recommends technical specifications for binding such as method of leaf attachment, cover material, or spine lettering.
Identifies and searches for requested items that are vague or not readily found, using an array of extensive knowledge of bibliographic tools and procedures. Responds to reference inquiries (telephone, written, electronic means and in person) relating to serials holdings, bibliographic information, binding status for unbound periodical issues, microfilm status of newspapers and special collections of the division
The position description number for this position is 415088.
The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.
The incumbent of this position will work a flextime work schedule.
This is a supervisory, non-bargaining unit position.
Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.
This position is not eligible for permanent remote telework.
Position: Librarian (Serials)
Location: Library of Congress
Salary: $60,129 – $78,167
Full vacancy announcement available on USAJOBS.
Summary
The U.S. Serials Social Sciences Section of the U.S Arts, Sciences, and Humanities Division in the Acquisitions and Bibliographic Access Directorate of Library Services is seeking a Librarian (Serials). The U.S. Arts, Sciences, and Humanities Division catalogs Copyright and CIP materials and manages the selection process for U.S. imprints coming through the workflows.
Responsibilities
Catalogs a variety of materials in an automated cataloging environment where the bibliographic characteristics of the material are relatively easy to determine and cataloging decisions are made within established standards. Searches entries in automated and manual catalogs. Assigns headings to catalog entries. Selects and assigns classification numbers. Establishes personal and corporate names and uniform titles for inclusion in the name authority file.
Establishes and recommends subject headings for inclusion in the subject authority file and classification schedule. Creates and revises bibliographic records, authority records, and classification schedules. Performs content designation of bibliographic and authority records. Performs research in the cataloger’s reference collection, online databases, the world wide web, and the collections of the Library. Recommends resolutions to problems and inconsistencies in the cataloging process.
Provides services and deals with materials that are non-technical in nature, of limited technical complexity, or easily acquired. Coordinates proper purchasing information, correct bibliographic identification, and correct coding in the information system. Contacts dealers, subscription agents, vendors, overseas offices, government agencies, and/or exchange partners to coordinate the order process. Consults acquisition reference material to determine whether recommended item is appropriate for purchase, copyright claim, exchange, gift, loan, or other type of acquisition. Examines recommendations for acquisition to identify processing and custodial requirements and to identify acquisition of out-of-scope materials. Maintains liaison with recommending officials and subject specialists to understand their needs. Consults acquisition reference material to determine whether recommended item is appropriate for purchase.
Obtains, analyzes, and organizes information using standard reference tools and established techniques and practices. Analyzes and organizes standard subject data to determine its relationship to the existing collections, for proper main entry, and the need for added entries. Analyzes material to determine subject content. Applies standard rules, guidelines, and reference tools and established techniques and practices. Participates in formulating plans for changes and improvements to cataloging-related issues
Uses standard methods, techniques, concepts, and principles to perform assignments related to collection development support, with review by supervisor, senior staff and/or recommending officers. Assists in examination of incoming shipments to select items appropriate for the collections, in accordance with established guidelines. Assists in examination of recommendations for acquisition to identify processing and custodial requirements, and to ensure conformity with established guidelines. Participates in formulating plans for changes and improvements to collection development policies.
Works to maintain personal contacts and cooperative work relationships in order to provide or exchange information. Consults with Team Leader and cataloging policy staff to recommend changes and additions in descriptive and subject cataloging rules. Offers suggestions and advice to Team Leader on operational and technical problems. Collaborates with Team Leader and other staff in planning and implementing team activities including: workflow procedures, team priorities, cataloging projects of an experimental nature, goal setting and strategies for meeting team production goals. Assists others inside and outside the Library with language, subject and cataloging problems.
The position description number for this position is 058498.
The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.
The incumbent of this position will work a flextime work schedule.
This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.
Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement
This position is not eligible for permanent remote telework.
Position: Librarian (Cataloger)
Location: Library of Congress
Salary: $72,750 – $94,581
Full vacancy announcement available on USAJOBS.
Summary
This position is located in the Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Special Collections Directorate, Library Services.
Responsibilities
The Cataloger position is located in the American Folklife Center, including the Veterans History Project, of Library Services. The purpose of this position is to assist in providing services associated with the Center’s archival collections. The cataloger is under the supervision of division leadership, who determines overall objectives of the work, including deadlines, priorities, and definitions of the work to be done: these are not however, accompanied by detailed preliminary instructions regarding sources of information or the methodology to be employed. Work is reviewed for completeness and accuracy, adequacy of planning, soundness of judgment, and conformance to professional standards. Personal work contacts with more experienced catalogers, archivists, and others responsible for the cataloging and processing of materials.
Catalogs a variety of difficult material sometimes requiring specialized knowledge of folklife, ethnomusicology, oral history, a foreign language and/or considerable knowledge of specialized bibliographic areas (serials, rare books, maps, photographs, audiovisuals, software, etc.). Performs the full range of original cataloging duties for a variety of materials or specializes in a particular subject-area, technical field, or language.
Performs content designation of newly created and updated bibliographic and name authority records, supplying tags, indicators, subfield codes, delimiters, and fixed and variable field information. Establishes new personal and corporate names and uniform titles, with appropriate cross-references, for inclusion in the name authority file.
Searches entries in appropriate machine and manual catalogs. Selects and assigns a classification number. Analyzes material to determine its relationship to the existing collections, for proper main entry, and the need for added entries. Assists in ensuring that records adhere to appropriate national and international standards. Interprets present and past cataloging rules. Identifies the need for revision to a classification scheme and the tools which describe it. Recommends additions and clarifications to the existing authority files, both name and subject.
The position description number for this position is 012616.
The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.
The incumbent of this position will work a flextime work schedule.
This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.
Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.
This position is not eligible for permanent remote telework.
Position: Librarian
Location: Library of Congress
Salary: $60,129 – $78,167
Full vacancy announcement available on USAJOBS.
Summary
This position is located in the Mexico, Central America & Caribbean Section, African, Latin American & W European Division, Acquisitions & Bibliographic Access Directorate, Library Services.
The position description number for this position is 058498.
This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.
A reading knowledge of French is desirable.
Responsibilities
Catalogs a variety of materials in an automated cataloging environment where the bibliographic characteristics of the material are relatively easy to determine and cataloging decisions are made within established standards. Searches entries in automated and manual catalogs. Assigns headings to catalog entries. Selects and assigns classification numbers and performs shelflisting. Establishes authorized access points for inclusion in the name authority file.
Establishes and recommends subject headings and classification numbers for inclusion in the subject authority file and classification schedule, respectively. Creates and revises bibliographic records, authority records. Performs content designation of bibliographic and authority records. Performs research in the cataloger’s reference collection, online databases, the world wide web, and the collections of the Library. Recommends resolutions to problems and inconsistencies in the cataloging process.
Provides services and deals with materials that are non-technical in nature, of limited technical complexity, or easily acquired. Coordinates proper purchasing information, correct bibliographic identification, and correct coding in the information system. Contacts dealers, subscription agents, vendors, overseas offices, government agencies, and/or exchange partners to coordinate the order process. Consults acquisition reference material to determine whether recommended item is appropriate for purchase, copyright claim, exchange, gift, loan, or other type of acquisition. Examines recommendations for acquisition to identify processing and custodial requirements and to identify acquisition of out-of-scope materials. Maintains liaison with recommending officials and subject specialists to understand their needs. Consults acquisition reference material to determine whether recommended item is appropriate for purchase. Reviews and approves invoices for payment for all formats of material. Determines availability of funds.
Obtains, analyzes, and organizes information using standard reference tools and established techniques and practices. Analyzes and organizes standard subject data to determine its relationship to the existing collections, for proper main entry, and the need for added entries. Analyzes material to determine subject content. Applies standard rules, guidelines, and reference tools and established techniques and practices. Participates in formulating plans for changes and improvements to cataloging-related issues.
Uses standard methods, techniques, concepts, and principles to perform assignments related to collection development support, with review by supervisor, senior staff and/or recommending officers. Assists in examination of incoming shipments to select items appropriate for the collections, in accordance with established guidelines. Assists in examination of recommendations for acquisition to identify processing and custodial requirements, and to ensure conformity with established guidelines. Participates in formulating plans for changes and improvements to collection development policies.
Works to maintain personal contacts and cooperative work relationships in order to provide or exchange information. Consults with Team Leader and cataloging policy staff to recommend changes and additions in descriptive and subject cataloging rules. Offers suggestions and advice to Team Leader on operational and technical problems. Collaborates with Team Leader and other staff in planning and implementing team activities including: workflow procedures, team priorities, cataloging projects of an experimental nature, goal setting and strategies for meeting team production goals. Assists others inside and outside the Library with language, subject and cataloging problems.
This position is not eligible for permanent remote telework.
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