RANK: Associate University Librarian or University Librarian
REPORTS TO: Chair of Resource Description Services
SALARY: $67,820 minimum salary at the Associate University Librarian rank
$77,003 minimum salary at University Librarian rank
The Smathers Libraries offer a salary commensurate with experience and credentials
JOB SUMMARY
The George A. Smathers Libraries seek an experienced Authorities and Bibliographic Metadata Librarian,
skilled in bibliographic metadata management for a tenure-track, 12-month faculty librarian position. This
position will be responsible for bringing focus and care to our authority and broader bibliographic metadata
efforts, ensuring diversity and inclusion are guiding factors in our metadata practices. This position will have
two primary responsibilities: provide leadership for developing and applying best practices and international
standards for the management of authorities’ metadata across the Libraries’ resource discovery platforms;
and to identify, prioritize, and strategically implement data remediation projects for catalog records and
other metadata managed by the Resource Description Services (RDS) department. This position will
collaborate across the RDS department on efforts related to the creation, remediation, and enhancement, of
bibliographic and authority data. The incumbent will engage with others in the Technical Services Division
for the development, implementation, and assessment of authority metadata infrastructure, policies, and
procedures.
More about the position:
The University of Florida’s George A. Smathers Libraries participates in all four Program for Cooperative
Cataloging (PCC) programs, contributing bibliographic and authority records under BIBCO, CONSER, NACO,
and SACO. The Authorities and Bibliographic Metadata Librarian will serve as the Libraries’ PCC liaison and
also acts as the NACO Florida Funnel coordinator, which currently works with eleven libraries in Florida,
Alabama, and South Carolina to coordinate their NACO activities. PCC activities include providing
coordination, training, and review for the bibliographic, subject, name, and series authority work of other
catalogers. This position will focus on unifying the use of authority terms and names locally and shaping the
process of contributing more names and terms to known authority files. The incumbent will also lead
departmental efforts supporting large scale data remediation for bibliographic metadata utilized in the
An Equal Opportunity Institution
Libraries’ Alma ILS, OCLC (Online Computer Library Center), and for the department’s work supporting the
metadata found in the University of Florida Digital Collections (UFDC). In collaboration with the Metadata
Librarian and RDS unit heads, this position will develop solutions for large- and small-scale remediation
projects. This position will perform analysis of OCLC and Alma data for quality control and identify issues
with the accuracy and usefulness of Alma data, especially those affecting discoverability in Primo VE. The
incumbent will recommend and consult on the remediation of Alma data cleanup projects.
As a member of the RDS department and faculty member in the Technical Services Support (TSS) tenure
home, the incumbent will have support to actively participate in local, state, national, and international
activities relating to the access, retrieval, description, and management of library resources; further, the
Authorities and Bibliographic Metadata Librarian will apply this work to UF's research and development
efforts. The position will contribute to departmental policy and procedure decisions, develop and assess
workflows, and perform shared authorities cataloging using Resource Description and Access (RDA)
guidelines to PCC standards. Collaborating closely with the Metadata Librarian, the incumbent will provide
leadership in developing creative, linked data-friendly practices for the management of named entities in
the libraries’ metadata. Example applications include integration of Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs with
existing metadata) and linking authority and contextual resources to the library catalog and archival finding
aids. As an active participant in developing linked data-friendly systems and processes, this expert will also
seek innovative solutions for working with identifiers and entity management in library and other data
stores, such as Wikidata, International Standard Name Identifier (ISNI), and Open Researcher and
Contributor ID (ORCID).
The library encourages broad participation in reaching decisions; consequently the Resource Description
Librarian will contribute to discussions, provide input, and serve on various committees and teams.
The Resource Description Librarian will pursue professional development opportunities, including
research, publication, and professional service activities to meet library-wide criteria for tenure and
promotion.
The Smathers Libraries is committed to creating a thoughtful, equitable, and inclusive culture that
provides space for innovation and creativity. We support that commitment by offering a fulfilling work
experience that allows for collaboration, growth, and development as well as shared perspectives.
To support all colleagues, students, faculty, and staff 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 orientations, and
perspectives.
RESPONSIBILITIES
• Serve as primary liaison for PCC-related activities (NACO, CONSER, SACO, and BIBCO) for the
Libraries.
• Provides local training and oversight for staff in the Libraries in creating, modifying, and applying
authority records for personal names, corporate names, series, bibliographic, and subject headings
adhering to current PCC and local practices, and for personnel in other libraries through the NACO
Florida Funnel Project.
• Leads name authority and identity disambiguation work in the Libraries.
• Provides leadership in the statewide effort to implement authorities-related aspects of the
Integrated Library System (ILS).
• Performs shared authority and bibliographic cataloging using Resource Description and Access (RDA)
guidelines to PCC standards.
An Equal Opportunity Institution
• Coordinates the libraries efforts, with the Principal Cataloger and Metadata Librarian on Wikidata
activities and projects. Coordinates bibliographic analysis activities by leading data remediation
efforts for the libraries’ catalog records and metadata.
• Collaborates with the Metadata Librarian on issues affecting the metadata in UFDC records.
• Participates in the management of the RDS department as a member of the department’s
management group
• Actively pursues professional development opportunities, including research, publication, and
professional service activities to meet library-wide criteria for promotion.
QUALIFICATIONS
Research indicates that applicants from underrepresented groups are hesitant to apply for positions if
they do not meet all the required and preferred qualifications.1 We want to emphasize that the preferred
qualifications are not required and that we are committed to helping our future colleague develop the
preferred skills. Additionally, applicants are encouraged to communicate how their work and other
experiences satisfy the required qualifications in ways that may not be obvious.
Required:
• Master’s degree in Library or Information Science from an ALA-accredited (or foreign equivalent)
program, or other relevant advanced degree in subject specialty
• Appointment at the Associate University Librarian rank requires eight years of relevant experience
• Appointment at the University Librarian rank requires 12 or more years of relevant experience, with
at least four years of experience at an advanced level
• Direct experience creating, modifying, and applying authority records for personal names, corporate
names, series, bibliographic, and subject headings adhering to current PCC standards
• Demonstrated expertise managing data within Alma and/or Alma Analytics or other ILS environments
• Experience designing and implementing data remediation projects for metadata records in a variety
of formats
• Record of including individuals of various backgrounds, experiences, races, ethnicities, gender
identities, sexual orientation, and perspectives in research, teaching, service, and other work
• Strong potential to meet the requirements for tenure and promotion outlined in the departmental by-
laws and guidelines
Preferred:
• Experience training others on shared authority and bibliographic cataloging using Resource
Description and Access (RDA) guidelines to PCC standards
• Experience leading consortial or large-scale data remediation projects
• Demonstrated expertise with Alma and/or Alma Analytics
• Evidence of excellent interpersonal skills including oral and written communication
• Record of contributing to academic research and trends in the areas of library technical services
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with a wide range of project partners
• Initiative, flexibility, and the ability to adapt and work creatively in a complex academic environment
• Experience managing staff and student workers
• Experience in the Wikidata environment
1 Schmaling, K. B., Blume, A. W., & Baker, D. L. (2017). Characteristics of Faculty Position Advertisements Associated with
Applicant Diversity. Journal of Higher Education Theory & Practice, 17(8), 10–17. Collier, D., & Zhang, C. (2016). Can We Reduce
Bias in the Recruiting Process and Diversify Pools of Candidates by Using Different Types of Words in Job Descriptions? Mohr, T. S.
(2014). Why Women Don’t Apply for Jobs Unless They’re 100% Qualified. Harvard Business Review, 25.
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 professional references including their contact information (telephone number and email
address)
Apply by 11:55 pm (EST) on May 17, 2023. Applications will be reviewed as received. Submit all application
materials through the Jobs at UF online application system at Requisition 526627. Failure to submit the
required documents may result in the application not being considered. If you have any questions or
concerns about this process, please contact Joseph Piazza, George A. Smathers Libraries Human Resources
Office, at jpiazza@ufl.edu.