Digital Image Metadata Librarian OFFICIAL DESCRIPTION
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
CAMPUS: Amherst
JOB DESCRIPTION
OFFICIAL TITLE: This is the official title of the position.
Librarian I or II
FUNCTIONAL TITLE: This is the in-house title by which the position may be known. A functional title is usually a more descriptive title than the official title and may be required to identify very specific kinds of work. This title may be used in signing all correspondence.
Digital Image Metadata Librarian, Image Collection Library
GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: Please provide a brief overview of the general functions of this position. Specific details of duties should be reserved for the Examples of Duties section.)
Collaborate with faculty, librarians and information technology staff to develop, deliver and integrate digital images and other objects into the curriculum. Provide user support for generation, classification, retrieval, and use of images through on-site consultation, print resources, and online documentation. Catalog materials in a variety of formats, with emphasis on electronic and visual image resources. Advise on the application of appropriate current and emerging metadata schema and file standards to facilitate access to digital image resources and other collections. Train others on metadata creation and management; and work closely with staff throughout the Library to provide access to the Image Collection Library’s collection. Provide information, research, and reference assistance to library users at appropriate service points to facilitate retrieval and use of images
SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Please indicate the title, but not the name, of the administrative employee or employees responsible for supervision or direction of work; describe the divergent extents of authority of each, indicating the degree, priorities, and relationships of the supervision or direction, which could range from close supervision to supervision with considerable freedom.
Work under the general supervision of the Head, Image Collection Library.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED: Using descriptive non-numerical terms, identify the scope of supervision, training or direction exercised (i.e., whether the supervision is over a few employees, a small number of employees, a large number of employees, etc.); also, describe the degree of supervision, indicating whether close supervision or general direction is involved, and categorize the physical conditions under which the supervision is given, such as in a laboratory or an office. Supervision of student employees should not be included in this section, but may be listed under Examples of Duties, if applicable.
None
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES: Please list and briefly describe several of the duties and responsibilities typically performed and assumed in this position. This list should not be restrictive but should be descriptive in such a manner as to provide concrete information representing examples of the actual work as well as the level of responsibility for the work being performed.
1. Collaborate with faculty, librarians and information technology staff to develop, deliver and integrate digital images and other objects into the curriculum.
2. Work closely with researchers, students, and library staff to provide leadership in incorporating appropriate standards and digital image technologies into the research activities of the UMass Amherst community.
3. Catalog materials primarily using non-MARC metadata schema to provide access to information resources in the Image Collection Library through the LUNA Imaging software suite or other Image Management systems. Consult on metadata issues for the online catalog and any other tools beyond the Library catalog for which the Library is responsible, e.g. institutional repository.
4. Collaborate with Library staff and others in developing strategies for organizing, presenting, and preserving digital images and the full range of electronic objects for which the Library is responsible.
5. Collaborate with Library staff and participate in Library-wide initiatives regarding metadata standards for images and other digital objects.
6. Identify, create and maintain documentation on best practices for creating and preserving digital images and objects, applying metadata schemas and authority controls.
7. Work collaboratively with other Library departments, especially Information Resources Management and the Office of Information Technology, where appropriate.
8. Serve as liaison to an academic department based on specialized knowledge or academic expertise.
9. Stay abreast of new technologies, standards and protocols related to migration, harvesting, and indexing of library content.
- Provide supervision on image capture, image cataloging, and other related tasks for the student employees in the Image Collection Library.
- Engage in scholarly communication activities. Liaise and collaborate with digital humanities researchers.
- Create digital images through scanner or digital camera, correct images for size and color, and load images into image databases as necessary.
- May be asked to represent the Libraries at various meetings and committees.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS: Please indicate in a general way the knowledge, abilities, skills, education and experience necessary for any individual to assume this position. It is not the objective of this section to list any one person's specific personal traits and training. It is important to indicate, also, what degree of competence would be required (i.e., considerable education, extensive experience, working knowledge, etc.) to perform the duties and assume the responsibilities typical of this position.
Required:
- Master’s degree in library sciences - or equivalent degree – from a program accredited by the American Library Association, or its appropriate equivalent in librarianship from another country, or have appropriate equivalent experience.
- Experience with one or more of the following metadata standards: VRA Core 4.0, Dublin Core, CDWA, METS/MODS, OpenURL, OAI-PMH, EAD, XML, TEL or others
- Familiarity with AACR 2nd ed. Rev., Cataloging Cultural Objects, Library of Congress Subject Headings, MARC 21 format, and the OCLC cataloging system.
- Knowledge of digital asset management systems, such as the Luna Imaging Software Suite, Fedora, Dspace, CONTENTdm.etc.
- Awareness of the latest trends in academic librarianship.
- Strong commitment to excellent service and the ability to interact effectively and work productively and collaboratively with a wide variety of library staff and users.
- Excellent analytical, interpersonal, and communications skills, as well as initiative, flexibility and willingness to engage in continual learning.
- Ability to plan, coordinate, and implement projects.
- Ability to distinguish colors as they relate to the color correction processing of digital images.
- Advanced computer skills. Familiarity with Microsoft Windows Office Suites, Photoshop and other productivity tools.
Preferred:
- Knowledge of visual literacy concepts, digital media literacy techniques and learning management systems.
- Experience with creation and/or management of digital objects in various image, text, sound, and/or video formats.
- Knowledge of how digital image collections and electronic objects are used in an academic setting.
- Academic degree in Visual Arts and working knowledge of French, and/or German, Italian, or Spanish.
Last Edited: 8 January 2013
