Library Collections Specialist VI - Princeton University

Overview:

The Library Collections Specialist VI works as a part of a team to support all collection development, discovery, access and related activities across the Collections and Access Services Division.  The scope of work includes gifts, brittle materials, and pre-order searching. Included also are items ephemeral in nature to be added to the Library’s general collections, are born digital and are selected to be added to the PUL digital repository collections, or are to be digitized for Digital PUL (DPUL).

 

Princeton University Library, one of the world’s leading research libraries, has a dedicated, knowledgeable staff of 300 in a large central library, 9 specialized branches and 3 storage facilities. PUL supports a diverse community of 5200 undergrads, 2700 graduates, 1200 faculty, and many visiting scholars. Holdings include more than 7 million printed volumes, 5 million manuscripts, 2 million non-print items, and extensive collections of digital text, data and images.

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with and provides specialized support to the Near Eastern Studies Librarian, including managing acquisitions and collection maintenance functions for the Near Eastern periodicals and the Near Eastern Graduate Study Room, and providing specialized assistance for users of those collections; processes and catalogs ephemeral material (pamphlets, fliers, bulletins, posters, and other non-traditional formats). 
• Processing may involve physical handling and/or creating or editing metadata for individual digitized items and collections.
• Regularly address and independently resolves complex problems and is expected to assist the Near Eastern Studies Librarian in establishing goals, policies and procedures.
• Identification and management of bibliographic acquisitions and other library and vendor records; participation in workflows of gift, brittle materials, and pre-order processing; gathering and organizing data, creating and searching lists and decisions to support ReCAP transfer, de-duplication and collection assessment projects and replacement decision-making for brittle, damaged and missing books and serials.
• Create metadata for born-digital PDFs and other documents selected for the repository and print or digital replacements for brittle and damaged materials and conducting PUL, ReCAP, Borrow Direct and WorldCat pre-order searching to inform and enable selection decisions by selectors across the Library system, and creating item-level metadata for ephemera collections. 
• Maintenance of specific graduate study rooms (if applicable); and general operational support for bibliographers, curators and subject selectors. 
• Work closely with and is supervised by the CAS Operations Unit Supervisor. Also, may be assigned work from professional staff in the Division. May occasionally provide general collection development support for the selectors outside CAS, and provide specialized assistance as needed to other library departments requiring subject knowledge and language skills.
• Responsible for hiring, training and supervising student assistants if needed to support the specialized subject work.

Qualifications:

   

Essential Qualifications:

• Minimum 2 years library or related experience.
• High School Diploma
• Strong reading knowledge and comprehension of one or more of the following languages: Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, or Turkish
• Ability to communicate effectively in English with a variety of Library staff in written and oral form, to be organized and detail-oriented, 
• Ability to work effectively in a team-based environment.
• Bibliographic competency in Near Eastern languages.
• Flexibility - anticipate workflow changes and adjust priorities accordingly.
• Familiarity with ILS / ALMA functions (ACQ, CAT), and searching OCLC Select and other major bibliographic databases, or the willingness and ability to develop this familiarity.
• Familiarity with cataloging and metadata record structures (including the MARC21 metadata schema) and content standards (including RDA and authority structure and standards), or the willingness and ability to develop this familiarity.
• Ability to move boxes of books (up to 25 pounds) from book trucks to shelves (and the reverse). This position requires frequent bending and reaching.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Minimum Associate degree in BA in any field, preferred Middle Eastern/Near Eastern languages, literatures, or history.
• General knowledge of the history, politics, and culture of the Near Eastern countries/regions
• Proficiency with searching OCLC (WorldCat, First Search) and other major bibliographic databases. 
• Familiarity with a broad range of Alma functions (including search and cataloging functions), integrated discovery systems, and authority file functions.
• Basic HTML coding and editing skills and familiarity with the Springshare LibApps platform.
• General navigational skills

 

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Standard Weekly Hours:36.25Eligible for Overtime:YesBenefits Eligible:YesProbationary Period:Per union contractEssential Services Personnel (see policy for detail):NoPhysical Capacity Exam Required:NoUnion Code:LIB-Amer Fed State County Mun EmpsValid Driver’s License Required:No:#LI-SB1