Senior Manager, Rare Materials Cataloging at The New York Public Library
The New York Public Library · Long Island City, United States Of America · Onsite
- Senior
- Office in Long Island City
Overview
The New York Public Library’s (NYPL) Special Collections Processing (SCP) department is seeking a proven and collaborative Senior Manager for Rare Materials Cataloging to strengthen and expand its current operations devoted to rare and special format materials. The Senior Manager will provide vision, leadership, and oversight for the cataloging and description of materials held and acquired by the curatorial divisions at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and the Library for the Performing Arts.
The New York Public Library’s (NYPL) Special Collections Processing (SCP) department is seeking a proven and collaborative Senior Manager for Rare Materials Cataloging to strengthen and expand its current operations devoted to rare and special format materials. The Senior Manager will provide vision, leadership, and oversight for the cataloging and description of materials held and acquired by the curatorial divisions at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and the Library for the Performing Arts.
Working within SCP and across NYPL, the Senior Manager of Rare Materials Cataloging is responsible for ensuring the accurate and appropriate bibliographical description of the Library’s Special Collections material including rare books, manuscripts, broadsides, pamphlets, serials, maps, photographs, prints, illustrations, designs, artwork, three-dimensional models, realia, audio and moving images, and related items that are not components of archival collections. The Senior Manager provides leadership for the Library’s standards for the description of rare materials and special formats held in the Research Libraries, develops and documents project workflows for processing and accessioning new acquisitions and existing backlog, and coordinates the enhancement of metadata in collaboration with the Metadata Services manager. The position will also perform cataloging of complex rare materials according to national and local cataloging standards and procedures, supervise staff cataloging rare materials and special formats, and assist in training other catalogers at NYPL. In collaboration with BookOps Cataloging, SCP managers, and key partners in curatorial and public services, this position will draft and maintain NYPL’s Special Collections Cataloging Manual.
While based at the Library Services Center (LSC) in Long Island City, Queens, the Senior Manager works across the organization to establish and deepen collaborative relationships that unify and strengthen rare materials cataloging and the Library’s stewardship efforts.
We are looking for someone we can count on to:
Own:
- The planning, coordination, and effective management of the unit’s day-to-day operations to ensure accuracy, foster collaboration, and advance description priorities and institutional goals
Teach:
- Best practices by developing, maintaining, and communicating standards for cataloging rare materials and special formats, fostering a community that values problem-solving, collaboration, and innovation
- Stakeholders by informing them of ongoing developments and strategic plans, while also developing new strategies for staff engagement and communication
Learn:
- The full scope of NYPL’s research collections to develop a deep understanding of the materials acquired and the challenges in addressing outstanding backlogs
- From ongoing developments in bibliographic description, proposing new methods and approaches to keep NYPL at the forefront of the field
Improve:
- How teams work together by clarifying policies, optimizing processes, and strengthening channels for communication and staff engagement
- Upon the departmental structure and reporting lines by evaluating them and proposing short- and long-term changes
- Workflow effectiveness by assessing, establishing, and measuring outcomes that draw on emerging technologies and align with best practices
Some expectations for this role are that within:
1 month, this person will:
- Meet with department staff, partners in BookOps, and curatorial staff to assess the effectiveness of cataloging workflows, prioritization, and department structure
3 months, this person will:
- Understand gaps in policies and cataloging procedures and develop a preliminary plan for aligning stakeholders around a shared vision
- Develop improved methods of communication with curatorial and public service partners
- Develop and share cataloging project queues for the next 2-3 years that reflect curatorial and institutional priorities, in collaboration with the Associate Director for Special Collections Processing
6 months and beyond, this person will:
- Develop and document a plan to address rare materials and special format cataloging long-term and near-term goals, including new acquisitions, backlogs, data remediation and new initiatives
- Propose improvements to department structure and staffing based on evaluation of current structure, emerging institutional priorities, and possible team growth supported
by potential grant funding
Responsibilities
- Plan, coordinate, and manage unit workflows and cataloging project queues based on collection priorities and institutional goals, setting benchmarks, estimating staff time, and ensuring timely completion of priority projects
- Supervise and train professional and paraprofessional staff, providing guidance on cataloging workflows, standards, and project priorities
- Perform and oversee original and complex copy cataloging, review catalog records for accuracy and adherence to national and local standards, and manage the creation and verification of authority records for national and local databases
- Contribute to the development, documentation, and standardization of NYPL cataloging best practices, while staying current with developments in linked data and other relevant technical services trends
- Collect and report cataloging statistics and support resource, cost, and capacity planning by estimating staff effort for acquisitions and project workflows
- Propose and implement approved changes to team structure to support institutional goals and represent NYPL at conferences or collaborative projects related to special collections description
- Perform other related duties as needed
Required Education, Experience & Skills
Required Education & Certifications
- ALA-accredited MLS / MLIS or advanced degree with relevant, substantial research library experience in special collections
Required Experience
- 7+ years of successful professional experience in cataloging special collection material
- 3+ years of supervisory experience of professionals and paraprofessionals in the cataloging of special collections materials
- Subject matter expert or relevant experience with the histories, preservation, and description of rare and unique materials across formats, within the broader contexts of the humanities and special collections librarianship
- 2 or more years of experience as an independent contributor for personal, corporate, and jurisdictional names, along with uniform titles, to the LC/ NACO Authority File
- Experience working in a shared cataloging environment (e.g. OCLC) and/or a local cataloging database (a proprietary or open source ILS, e.g. Sierra)
- Experience creating metadata crosswalks and migrating metadata between systems
- Training or experience in preservation and collections documentation, such as participation in workshops, courses, or practical application in professional settings
- Experience in working collaboratively with varied groups in a complex organization
Required Skills
- Experience managing complex collections description projects, coordinating staff, timelines, workflows, and resources to meet institutional goals
- Strong original cataloging skills, particularly for visual materials at the item and collection level, with experience using cataloging tools, utilities, and standards such as RDA, AACR2, DCRM, MARC, LCSH, LC/NAF, AAT, TGM, OCLC Connexion, RDA Toolkit, and DACS
- Proven research, analytical, organizational, planning, and time-management skills
- Demonstrated initiative, attention to detail, judgment, project management, and ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment
- Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills, including demonstrated ability to communicate with a diverse community
- Ability to work with materials in one or more languages in addition to English (e.g., Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Japanese, Spanish, etc.)
- Awareness of emerging trends in the fields of cataloging, metadata, and linked data
- Experience with technical and metadata tools including MARCEdit and XML
- Familiarity with ArchivesSpace and BIBFRAME
Managerial/Supervisory Responsibilities
- Oversees a team of 8 direct reports, including 2 non-union managers
More...
Core Values
All team members are expected and encouraged to embody the NYPL 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
Work Environment
- Office
Physical Duties
- Ability to move book trucks and handle materials up to 40 lbs.
- Requires travel within NYC
Pre-Placement Physical Required?
No
Union/Non Union
Non-Union
FLSA Status
Exempt
Schedule
No
Union/Non Union
Non-Union
FLSA Status
Exempt
Schedule
35 hours/week, M-F, onsite
This job description represents the types and levels of responsibilities that will be required of the position and shall not be construed as a declaration of all of the specific duties and responsibilities for the role. Job duties may change if Library priorities change. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description as needed.
The New York Public Library Salary Statement
This job description represents the types and levels of responsibilities that will be required of the position and shall not be construed as a declaration of all of the specific duties and responsibilities for the role. Job duties may change if Library priorities change. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description as needed.
The New York Public Library Salary Statement
At the Library, we believe that pay transparency and pay equity are important to ensuring we source the best candidates and keep the best employees. When making a determination as to the appropriate salary for a candidate, we consider a variety of factors such, including, but not limited to, the position requirements, the skills, prior experience, and educational background required or preferred for the job, the scope and impact of the role within the organization, internal peer equity, and the candidate's specific training, experience, education level, and skills. No single factor is conclusive; the Library reserves the right to consider any and all relevant factors and make a decision consistent with its policies.
Union Salaries are determined by collective bargaining agreement(s).
