Religious Collections Cataloging Librarian
Position Details
Title
Religious Collections Cataloging Librarian
Appointment Status
Tenure
Department
IU Bloomington Libraries
Location
Bloomington
Position Summary
Indiana University Bloomington Libraries’ Lilly Library seeks a collaborative, enthusiastic, and innovative librarian to serve as the inaugural Religious Collections Cataloging Librarian. Funded by a dedicated endowment, the cataloger will work closely with the Head, Cataloging & Description, and the Curator of Religious Collections to describe and make available Lilly Library materials relating to religion and spirituality in all formats.
The Lilly Library is Indiana University’s principal rare books, manuscripts, and special collections library. The library’s actively used and dynamically growing collections encompass manuscripts, printed books, and devotional objects spanning a wide chronological and geographical span. Core strengths include European medieval and Renaissance religious manuscripts, early printed Bibles in many languages, hymnological resources, and rare works produced in the Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch colonial worlds. The collections also feature significant materials from Asian and Islamic religious traditions. Active collecting areas include pilgrimage, religious materials created for and by children, and religious narratives related to disability. The majority of these collections are in English, Latin, Italian, French, German, and Spanish, with other languages represented in smaller numbers.
The successful candidate will work in a collaborative environment with colleagues within the Lilly Library and the IU Libraries system. This is a tenure-track position with requirements for ongoing professional development and service.
Responsibilities
Reporting to the Head, Cataloging & Description, the Religious Collections Cataloging Librarian will:
- Serve as the primary cataloger for all Lilly Library materials relating to religion and spirituality in all formats.
- Organize and lead special projects relating to intellectual and physical control of Lilly Library materials relating to religion and spirituality.
- Collaborate with the Curator of Religious Collections on interpreting and increasing awareness of the Lilly Library’s collections relating to religion and spirituality.
- Participate in departmental conversations and contribute to internal policy development and documentation.
- Keep abreast of national developments in cataloging standards and best practices as they emerge and develop.
- Engage in service and professional development activities that enrich the librarian’s practice and contribute meaningfully to the profession.
Basic Qualifications
Applicants are encouraged to think broadly and communicate how their skills and experiences transfer to the qualifications in ways that may not be obvious.
- ALA-accredited graduate degree in library or information science or international equivalent. Candidates with an advanced degree in a relevant subject area and relevant experience in a library setting will also be considered.
- A minimum of 2 years’ professional cataloging experience, including original and complex copy cataloging.
- Demonstrated working knowledge of the following metadata content standards and tools: MARC21; Resource Description and Access (RDA); Library of Congress classification and subject headings.
- Reading knowledge of one or more languages represented in the Lilly Library’s collections of religion and spirituality.
- Demonstrated working knowledge of cataloging standards, best practices, tools, and emerging trends within the field.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and knowledgeably in multiple modalities.
- Ability to meet the tenure or tenure-track position requirements at the IU Libraries (https://libraries.indiana.edu/promotion-tenure-librarians) as demonstrated by an ongoing record of professional development and service.
Additional Qualifications
Candidates do not need to meet all preferred qualifications to be considered for this position.
- Demonstrated experience using one or more of the Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials (DCRM) manuals and/or Descriptive Cataloging of Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance, and Early Modern Manuscripts (AMREMM) to create original catalog records.
- Demonstrated working knowledge of the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) Name Authority Cooperative Program (NACO) and/or the PCC Subject Authority Cooperative Program (SACO).
- Experience with Anglo-American Cataloging Rules (2nd ed.).
- Demonstrated experience with medieval, renaissance, and/or early modern European manuscripts.
- Reading knowledge of Latin.
- Previous experience or academic work in the history of religion and/or religious studies, broadly defined.
- Supervisory and/or project management experience.
- Demonstrated experience collaborating with multiple stakeholders.
- Demonstrated experience communicating with and/or writing for a non-specialist audience.
- Demonstrated engagement in service and professional development activities on a local and/or national level.
Working Conditions/Physical Requirements
- Must be able to travel between work locations; free public transportation is available between the Lilly Library and the Auxiliary Library Facility (ALF).
- Ability to lift and move boxes (up to 25 pounds); handle large, unwieldy books; and push book trucks.
- Possibility of encountering mold or other allergens during routine work tasks.
Salary and Rank
Salary and rank depend on the candidate's qualifications and experience. The starting salaries are as follows: Assistant Librarians, $62,500; Associate Librarians, $64,500; and Full Librarians, $82,500
Special Instructions
Review of applications will begin immediately. Applications received by April 15, 2026, will be assured full consideration. Interested candidates should review the application requirements and submit their application at https://indiana.peopleadmin.com. Questions regarding the position or application process can be directed to libhire@iu.edu.
Please note:
- The expected start date is September 21, 2026, but it is negotiable.
- H-1B sponsorship is not available for this position.
- Initial online interviews will occur from late April through mid-May; on-campus interviews will take place between May 27 and July 2.
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