Job Description
Metadata Librarian
Library of the University of California, Davis
Overview of Position
The Library of the University of California (UC), Davis, seeks a forward-looking and entrepreneurial professional to join our team as the Metadata Librarian and advance the library's efforts to transform and improve discovery of library resources, collection management, and the organization and curation of data.
Reporting to the Head of Content Support Services, the Metadata Librarian will provide intellectual and professional leadership around metadata best practices for both traditional library collections as well as emerging and potential areas of curation, including both data acquired to support digital scholarship and data created by campus researchers. This role will function as a principal cataloger, performing original cataloging, serving as the library's liaison to the Name Authority Cooperative Program (NACO) and the Cooperative Online Serials Program (CONSER), managing cataloging projects, and collaborating closely with the Head of the Metadata Creation and Discovery Unit (MCDU) to provide training and consultation for MCDU team members.
As a member of the Content Support Services Department, the incumbent collaborates with others in the Scholarly Resources division to plan and coordinate policies, procedures, workflows, and projects.
This is not an H-1B opportunity. The University will not offer sponsorship for this position. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate that they are legally authorized to work in the United States.
UC Davis and UC Davis Library
The University of California, Davis, is a global community of individuals united to better humanity and our natural world while seeking solutions to some of our most pressing challenges. Located near Sacramento, California's capital, UC Davis has more than 39,000 students, the full-time equivalent of 4,100 faculty and other academics and researchers, and 17,400 other personnel. The university has an annual sponsored research budget of over $960 million, includes a major academic health system, and over two dozen specialized research centers. Recognized as one of the top 10 public universities in the US and the number one university in the world for agricultural research and veterinary medicine, UC Davis offers interdisciplinary graduate study and more than 100 undergraduate majors in four colleges - Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Biological Sciences, Engineering, and Letters and Science. It also houses six professional schools - Education, Law, Management, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, and Nursing. The university is a top-tier public university, with multiple top rankings in a variety of areas. In addition to the main campus in Davis and the medical center in Sacramento, UC Davis has research facilities in Bodega Bay and Tahoe and faculty in every county of the state through its agricultural extension program.
The UC Davis Library is ranked among the top academic research libraries in North America and belongs to the Association of Research Libraries and other organizations that position it to collaborate with other top organizations. The library utilizes Ex Libris's Alma as its resource management system and Primo VE as its discovery platform. Actively engaged in Linked Data initiatives, the library has begun transitioning its bibliographic data and operations from MARC to Linked Data. Additionally, the Library is a member of the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) and participates in the CONSER, NACO, and Subject Authority Cooperative (SACO) programs.
The successful candidate will have a strong foundation in bibliographic description rules, standards, and tools; be committed to collaborative, impactful problem-solving for the library and its users; demonstrate an appetite for emerging technologies such as Linked Data; and be capable of developing innovative solutions to complex problems.
The work location for this position is principally on campus, with some flexibility to work remotely per applicable Library policy.
Position Responsibilities
Under the general supervision of the Head of Content Support Services, the incumbent will:
- Create metadata for a diverse range of materials and oversee quality control for previously cataloged content
- Resolve complex metadata and database quality problems referred by colleagues
- Provide training and consultation for colleagues, especially the Metadata Creation and Discovery Unit
- Working in conjunction with the Head of Content Support Services, set priorities for metadata creation and processing of new materials
- Serve as the library's NACO and CONSER liaison
- Design, oversee, and participate in bibliographic database cleanup and enrichment projects
- Oversee aspects of bibliographic database management related to large-scale relocation projects, including updating metadata records to contemporary standards to enable off-site storage of materials
- Participate in transitioning the library to a Linked Data metadata creation environment, including testing cataloging environments and interfaces (e.g., those developed by Blue Core project, OCLC, or Ex Libris), manage related projects, and train cataloging staff in post-MARC metadata production
- Maintain knowledge of current resource description standards and tools
- Contribute to the work of the Library through participation in committees, task forces, and other collaborative projects
- Participate in national and international professional organizations and activities
- As an academic appointee, engage actively in pertinent ongoing research, scholarship, or creative activity and/or teaching, including peer review, dissemination, and corresponding university and disciplinary engagement
- Carry out other duties and responsibilities, as assigned
Required Qualifications for the Position
- Graduate degree in library science from an ALA-accredited institution or equivalent
- Minimum five years' professional metadata creation experience with library materials (e.g., using RDA, AACR2R, LCSH, LCC, MARC 21 formats)
- Experience creating and/or editing NACO records; and with authority control processes
- Eagerness to explore and incorporate new technologies to enhance services and improve task efficiency
- Knowledge of emerging standards, technologies, tools, and developments related to resource description and access as well as identity management
- Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a dynamic, culturally diverse environment
- Ability to plan, implement, and coordinate multiple projects
- Demonstrated ability to analyze and solve problems, and to make sound decisions in a fast-paced, production-oriented environment
- Demonstrated excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Strong commitment to continued professional development
- Comfort with ambiguity
- Strong service orientation and interest in anticipating and supporting information users' values and needs
Preferred Qualifications for the Position
- Demonstrated experience working with official RDA guidelines
- Proficiency with metadata analysis and transformation tools (e.g., OpenRefine, MarcEdit) and scripting languages for data manipulation (e.g., Python, XSLT)
- Working knowledge of at least one language other than English
- Experience creating controlled vocabularies
- Experience cataloging within a consortium environment
- Experience with non-MARC metadata standards
- Experience using and integrating RESTful APIs in library systems or metadata workflows
- Familiarity with semantic technologies and linked data concepts, including the BIBFRAME ontology
- Appetite to mentor library school interns
- Evidence of commitment to fostering an inclusive environment
- Ability to meet UC criteria for appointment and advancement in the Librarian Series, including professional service and/or contributions to the field
- Demonstrated record of accomplishment in research, scholarship, or creative activity and/or teaching consonant with an academic appointment
Salary and Benefits
Rank and salary: Assistant Librarian, Salary Point 5 ($80,695.75 annually), to Associate Librarian, Salary Point 15 ($116,671 annually). (Appointment rank and salary based on qualifications and experience.)
The incumbent will be a member of the LX Collective Bargaining Unit represented by the University Council - American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT).
Benefits: The University of California is one of the largest employers in California, and offers outstanding health and retirement benefits to its employees and their families. Librarians are academic appointees and earn 24 days of vacation and 12 days of sick leave per year. In addition, there are 13 university holidays.
Application Information
Applications must be submitted via the UC Davis RECRUIT website: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07621
Candidates applying by May 31, 2026, will receive first consideration. The position will remain open until filled. Visit UC Davis Library Careers for information about working at the UC Davis Library.
Please include a letter of interest addressing qualifications and experience related to the position, a Curriculum Vitae, and names and contact information for at least four references.
This position is a critical position and subject to a background check. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of background investigation including criminal history and identity checks.
The University of California is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.
UC Davis is a smoke- and tobacco-free campus effective January 1, 2014.