Visiting Cataloging Specialist

Job Description Summary

The Visiting Cataloging Specialist will support high-priority initiatives to reduce cataloging and processing backlogs, improve access to distinctive collections, and advance the organization and description of political papers, archival materials, and special collections. Working closely with library staff the successful candidate will organize, describe, and make accessible a broad range of unique materials, including Slavic-language collections, political papers, literary and cultural archives, and visual and ephemera collections such as postcards and trade cards. The position may support work across several distinctive collections, including the Andre de Saint-Rat Collection, the Wil Haygood Collection, political and public policy collections, Slavic-language holdings, and major visual collections such as postcards, posters, and trade cards.

Job Description

Essential Duties:

• Perform cataloging, processing, and descriptive work for a wide range of library, archival, and special collections materials.
• Support efforts to reduce cataloging and processing backlogs and improve access, discovery, and usability of distinctive collections.
• Organize, arrange, and describe archival and special collections materials, including political papers, literary and cultural archives, and Slavic-language holdings.
• Create and maintain metadata, finding aids, and related descriptive tools in accordance with relevant standards and best practices.
• Assist with digitization, digital access, and related workflows that enhance the discoverability and use of collections.
• Collaborate with library staff to support research, teaching, outreach, and project-based collection priorities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in history, library and information studies, area studies, literature, languages, or a related field by date of appointment.
• Advanced reading proficiency in Russian, including the ability to understand written Russian materials for cataloging, processing, and description work.
• Demonstrated experience or training in cataloging, archival processing, special collections, or metadata creation.