Overview

Located within the New York Public Library’s Digital Research Division, the Metadata Services Unit (MSU) improves access and discovery of library resources through Digital Collections and strengthens data interoperability across the library through metadata production services, software development support, and metadata strategy. Our team supports and engages staff in efficient metadata creation for digitization, offering development and documentation of local standards and practices, project consultation, quality control, staff training, and works to raise awareness and connect stakeholders across NYPL concerning metadata. The MSU also supports the improvement and maintenance of our Metadata Management System (MMS) and online Digital Collections through data modeling, data mapping and enrichment, record assessment and cleanup, and staff user services.
 

Founded in 1925 and named a National Historic Landmark in 2017, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions devoted to the collection, preservation, and study of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences. The Schomburg Center, featuring diverse programming and collections spanning over 10 million items, has for over nine decades illuminated the richness of black history, arts, and experience worldwide. As a key part of one of the largest public library systems in the world, the Schomburg Center is committed to maximizing free and public access to its collections, exhibitions, educational activities, and much of its programming. 
 

MSU seeks candidates enthusiastic about metadata and the future of libraries for the position of Metadata Specialist II. The Metadata Specialist II balances high productivity and high quality output to wrangle metadata across a corpus of more than a million metadata records. Strong interpersonal and written skills are key to supporting quality metadata creation and remediation across NYPL research library divisions and within a cooperative team environment. This role is a perfect opportunity for a proactive, reliably thoughtful individual with the ability to quickly synthesize complex information, invested in team cohesion and metadata futures.

 

This role is eligible for a performance based upgrade in salary to $60,574 after one year of successful performance.

 

Key Responsibilities
Reporting to the Manager, Metadata Services, the Metadata Specialist II will:

• Create, update, and enhance metadata for the Library’s digital collections
• Liaise with metadata creators across NYPL divisions to support metadata project planning, training, guidance on standards, and the efficient creation/maintenance of high-quality metadata, specifically metadata related to Divisions within the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
• Contribute to local metadata policies, procedures, and standards as well as technical requirements for NYPL’s Metadata Management System, digital repository, and other tools
• Participate in large-scale and targeted remediation and enhancement projects to improve discovery and access to digital content
• Keep up with current standards, trends, and technologies in the field

Required Education, Experience & Skills

Required Education & Experience

• ALA-accredited Master's Degree in Library or Information Science (open to candidates graduating Spring 2022)
• Two years relevant work experience

Required Skills

• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Ability to work well collaboratively and independently on complex projects involving diverse participants, using informed judgment and clear communication to successfully complete tasks in a timely manner
• Demonstrated organizational, analytical, and independent problem-solving skills, with the ability to process a large quantity of work while maintaining a consistently high degree of accuracy
• Facility with rapidly synthesizing new information and new workflows
• Aptitude for being organized, productive and effective while involved with a variety of simultaneous projects
• Demonstrated knowledge of data and database structures, metadata standards, and encoding schemas, including MARC21, MODS, and EAD
• Experience interpreting and applying descriptive content standards (such as RDA, DACS, CCO, etc.) in a non-MARC metadata environment
• Basic understanding of Linked Data concepts and technologies

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with scripting and querying languages such as Python, SQL, etc.
• Experience working with special collections or academic libraries
• Experience building positive and productive interdepartmental or interdisciplinary relationships
• Coursework related to African American, African and African diasporan history
• Experience working with library collections related to African American, African and African diasporan history

More...

Please Note: Effective August 2, 2021, absent a qualifying exception for medical or religious reasons, newly hired employees of the New York Public Library must present proof of receipt of a COVID-19 vaccination and may not begin employment at the Library until 14 days after their receipt of their second dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or 14 days after their first dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.  Newly hired employees who need additional time to receive their vaccination prior to their start date may request an adjournment of their start date with their hiring manager.  The Library will consider such requests on a case by case basis, depending upon the Library’s operational needs, among other factors.  The Library will further consider exemptions for prospective employees who cannot become vaccinated due to a qualifying medical condition or a sincerely held religious belief or practice.  Candidates who receive a conditional offer of employment and who seek a medical or religious exemption to the Library’s vaccination policy will be provided with additional instructions at the time of the conditional offer.

Core Values
All team members are expected and encouraged to embody the NYPL Core Values:

• Be Helpful to patrons and colleagues
• Be Resourceful in solving problems 
• Be Curious in all aspects of your work
• Be Welcoming and Inclusive

Physical Duties

• May require travel within NYC

Physical Required?
No

Union/Non Union
Local 1930

FLSA Status
Non-Exempt

Schedule

• Regular hours: 9am-5pm - Overall hours: 35 hours per week - may require nights/weekends
• This is not a remote role, and requires onsite work

About The New York Public Library

The New York Public Library is a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With 92 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars, and has seen record numbers of attendance and circulation in recent years. The New York Public Library serves more than 18 million patrons who come through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org. 

Apply online here