Careers

Job Description

The Healey Library seeks a collegial and service-oriented person to join our small, dynamic technical services team. The Library Reserves Manager and Cataloger Librarian will be responsible for the tasks involved in making library materials accessible to our patrons, including acquisitions, cataloging, and reserves management. Duties include: 1) Ordering, receiving, and issuing payment for library materials; 2) Maintaining accurate tracking of library materials purchases; 3) Cataloging new materials to be available to patrons; 4) Managing course reserves operations to ensure the availability and accessibility of reserve and/or instructional materials. The Library Reserves Manager and Cataloger should have demonstrated expertise in one or more of the areas covered in this position, and working knowledge of another area, and the aptitude and willingness to acquire expertise through training in the other areas covered in this position. This position reports to the Head of Technical Services.

1. Example of Duties:
   
   

Library Materials Acquisitions:

• Purchase and oversee the acquisition of library Reserves book and audiovisual materials, including using ordering platforms, such as GOBI, RIALTO, Amazon, and on-demand purchasing
• Adhere to University purchasing standards, and best practices, to acquire library materials
• Track and follow-up on purchases made

• Coordinate with the Systems & Discovery department to implement new software and tools related to acquisitions processing and management

• Collaborate with the Library Administration Office and Collection Development Librarian on library material purchases

Cataloging:

• Perform quality original and copy-cataloging of monographs, serials, audiovisual, music, and electronic materials using library standard best practices for the main library and University Archives and Special Collections.
• Create quality original bibliographic records in OCLC, provide descriptive information, assign subject headings and call numbers, add and verify authority access points, and import into Alma/Primo library system.
• Search and retrieve records from OCLC or other bibliographic sources for copy-cataloging, editing and enhancing records as needed (checking classification numbers, verifying subject headings, adding into Alma/Primo library system)
• Receive new print materials in Alma/Primo library system.
• Perform end-processing to prepare library materials to be shelf-ready
• Troubleshoot issues with records and materials in Alma and OCLC, edit and correct bibliographic, holdings, and item records to ensure access and discovery

Print and Electronic Reserves:

• Serve as the primary course reserves contact in Healey Library
• Communicate reserves policies and procedures to faculty across all schools
• Monitor and process incoming course reserves requests from faculty, in a timely, and efficient way
• Maintain workflow guidelines and procedural documentation that is consistent with customer service standards, copyright compliance, and fair use 
• Modify reserves policy, procedure, and service, as needed, in consultation with the Head of Technical Services and library administration
• Maintain and apply current knowledge of fair use and copyright laws for course reserves
• Coordinate with Classroom Technology team to provide streaming media files for course use
• Manage the list of Controlled Digital Lending (CDL) titles so they follow copyright compliance
• Coordinate with the Systems & Discovery department to implement any new software and tools related to reserves processing and management

General Duties:

• Contribute to the development of documentation and training materials
• Meet with faculty as needed to discuss their acquisitions requests and course reserves needs
• Manage all incoming periodicals and annual monographs by checking them in, processing them for shelving, and reporting missing issues to the appropriate entity 
• Manage the library book binding program, collaborate with Head of Collections and Scholarly Communications for selection, communicate with binding vendor, prepare materials for binding, and coordinate shipping and receiving of materials
• Organize and manage special projects to improve system quality and patron discovery and access as assigned by the Head of Technical Services
• Contribute to department planning in short and long range goal setting
• Participate in the wider library community through local, regional, or national library organizations
• Pursue professional development opportunities to stay up-to-date on changing standards and procedures
• Co-supervise department intern and/or student worker
• Serve as department head in the absence of the Head of Technical Services
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Head of Technical Services
  

1. Minimum Qualifications
   

• Master degree in Library Science or related field required.
• Three to Five (3-5) years of library or related experience with knowledge of library technical services, systems, procedures, methods and techniques, record keeping, and software programs. The incumbent must be detail oriented, able to manage and effectively prioritize shifting responsibilities. Must be able to track expenditures. Ability to work independently and as part of a team, multitask, operate under tight deadlines, and work with minimal supervision a must. Strong interpersonal skills required, and the ability to work effectively and efficiently with library vendors, librarians, staff, faculty and members of the University Community at large. 
• Requires regular lifting and moving of materials from bookcases and storage areas at a variety of heights, including materials weighing up to 40 pounds and pushing heavily loaded book trucks through multiple doors

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced knowledge of cataloging schemas such as MARC, RDA and AACR2
• Advanced knowledge of and use of Library of Congress Classification and subject headings

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Advanced knowledge of integrated library system (preferably Alma/Primo) and library software such as MarcEdit
• Advanced knowledge of library acquisitions workflows
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot technical problems and proactively learn new technical skills
• Demonstrated ability to create, contribute to, and adapt to new workflows and policies for efficiency and effectiveness
• Strong experience with Microsoft Office suite including Word mail merge, Excel tables and calculation functions.
• Ability to interact competently with a diverse population of students, staff and faculty
• Be able to apply excellent time management skills to ensure work is completed on-schedule and juggle multiple projects at a time

This position may be hired at a Librarian I, II, III, depending on the qualifications and experience of the successful applicant. To view the current contract governing Faculty & Librarians, please see https://hr.umb.edu/media/umassboston/editor-uploads/human-resources/documents/2023-2024_FSU_Agreement___FINAL_Ammended_Agreement_1.11.24.pdf. Salary floors are listed on p. 85 of the contract and are $54,000 for Librarian I, $60,400 for Librarian II, and $68,500 for Librarian III.

Application instructions:

UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact HRDirect@umb.edu or 617-287-5150.