Principal Librarian - Metadata & Quality Assurance

Main Job Objectives

To implement and maintain standards for metadata creation towards assuring the optimal visibility and discoverability of the Institutional Library’s information resources. To provide a compliance framework and continually assess metadata schema and creation accordingly.

Key Performance Area

Strategic Implementation

• Providing strategic leadership for service innovation and development for the Unit
• Providing input on new strategy development for the Unit and the Library
• Providing input on policy design for the Unit and the Library
• Implementing strategies to ensure effective access to information by Library users
• Assist with the identification of and making accessible key collections that will contribute to the development of a regional and African focus

Supervision

• Supervising staff working or assisting in the Unit
• Coordinating the activities and services of the Unit in terms of staff and resources, focussed on:
  • Research metadata
  • Grey literature metadata
  • Standard metadata
  • Collection metadata
  • Archival metadata
• Ensuring the provision of quality services by the Unit
• Ensuring coordination and integration of structures and services
• Checking work-plans and performance of staff
• Collecting and analysing operational statistics for the Unit
• Providing training in cataloguing, classification and metadata record creation
• Identifying and solving problems related to the work of the Unit

Metadata Management

• Create and apply appropriate metadata templates as required, aligned to national and international metadata standards, including but not limited to:
  • Acquired materials
  • Research materials
  • Archival materials
  • Published materials
• Ensure consistency and accuracy in metadata entry is maintained and ensure quality control of metadata through clear procedures and mechanisms
• Ensuring that Library material is catalogued and classified according and in compliance with regional, national and international standards and best practices, including linked data integration
• Ensuring that the Library’s holdings are integrated with services platforms such as OCLC’s WorldCat database
• Creating authority records on the international authority database
• Assisting with checking and updating of publishers’ records imported into the Library database for electronic information resources
• Ensuring data integrity on the Library Database
• Overseeing the de-accessioning of materials from the Library holdings
• Assisting with the implementation of the Library’s Collection Development & Management Policy, specifically with regard to bibliographic access to collections
• Assisting with the management of the Library’s collections, both print and electronic
• Identifying and implementing the use of appropriate authoritative vocabularies and taxonomies that can will enhance visibility and discoverability of resources

Rights Management

• Determine appropriate rights associated with materials
• Negotiate with rights holders where needed
• Ensure content is made available using appropriate rights

Secondary Roles

• Leading or serving on project teams
• Serving, as needed, on Library cross-functional teams & participating in library-wide activities
• Performing any other duties that may be assigned by the Supervisor in order to fulfil Services’ goals

Job Requirements

Education and Experience

A Bachelor’s degree in Library and Information Science (NQF level 8) OR a 3-year Degree, plus a 1-year Post-Graduate Library Diploma (NQF level 8) plus approximately 4 years’ relevant experience where such experience includes:

• A minimum of 4 years’ experience in metadata creation
• Having previously worked in an academic and/or research library
• NACO trained (authority record creation)
• At least 3 years’ previous supervision experience
• Familiar with XML, MODS, Dublin Core and MarcEdit

Professional Competencies

• Knowledge & contextual understanding of technical services sector and current trends
• Knowledge and experience of best practice in academic library technical services
• Excellent research skills and analytical ability to understand the content of documents and the context in which they were created
• Ability to operate in a changing environment
• Knowledge of trends in the cataloguing environment
• In-depth and advanced knowledge of the utilisation of cataloguing and classification resources as well as metadata standards, such as AACRII, MARC21, RDA, MODS, Dewey Decimal Classification, LC Subject Headings and LC Name Authorities
• Competency in managing the professional, technical and administrative aspects of the cataloguing function
• Good understanding of higher education in South Africa
• Accuracy and meticulous attention to detail
• Good understanding of ICT practices, applications & tools in academic and research libraries