Cataloger
The American Antiquarian Society (AAS) cultivates a deeper understanding of the American past, grounded in its ever-growing collection of printed and manuscript sources. The Society fosters a broad community of inquiry through inclusive programs and generous support of scholarship. A national research library and learned society founded in 1812 by Revolutionary War patriot and printer Isaiah Thomas, AAS is located in Worcester, Massachusetts. The AAS library today houses the largest and most accessible collection of books, pamphlets, broadsides, newspapers, periodicals, children's literature, music, and graphic arts material printed before the twentieth century in what is now the United States, as well as manuscripts and a substantial collection of secondary texts, bibliographies, and digital resources and reference works.
We are seeking a forward-thinking and detail-oriented individual to join our cataloging department. As part of a team, the person in this role will provide both original and copy cataloging for the Society’s holdings and contribute to ongoing metadata maintenance. They will work with the Society’s collections of 18th-21st century printed materials, including but not limited to monographs and graphic arts materials from both new acquisitions and long-held collections. They will describe materials according to national and local cataloging rules and policies with support and instruction from our Senior Cataloger, who supervises day-to-day cataloging, workflows, and departmental projects. An ideal candidate will possess a willingness to learn, flexibility, and an open-minded approach to teamwork.
Position Type: Full-time, non-exempt
Salary Range: $45,000 - $50,000 per year (DOE – depending on experience)
Location: Worcester, MA
Responsibilities
- Perform original and copy cataloging using applicable standards (AACR2, RDA, DCRM(B), and LC-PCC Policy Statements), controlled vocabularies (LCSH, RBMSCV, and AAT), and authority files (LCNAF).
- Edit and enhance existing catalog records.
- Participate in departmental activities supportive of the AAS strategic plan and inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility commitments.
- Contribute to discrete cataloging department projects and ongoing collection maintenance, including inventories and stack shifting.
- Maintain awareness of changes to national and international cataloging standards and resources.
- Other duties as assigned.
Required Skills/Abilities
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
- Familiarity with Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials, AACR2, RDA, and MARC.
- Knowledge of Library of Congress Name Authority File (LCNAF), Subject Headings (LCSH) and relevant controlled vocabularies is preferred.
- Bibliographic knowledge of one or more non-English languages is beneficial.
- Experience with FOLIO or other integrated library system (ILS) / library management system (LMS).
- Experience with OCLC Connexion Client.
Education/Experience
- 2+ years related experience.
- Master’s degree in library/information systems
- Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Travel
- Occasional travel to attend conferences and/or workshops.
Physical Demands and Work Environment
- Periods of standing, walking, and sitting.
- Use of hands for basic grasping/manipulation, fine manipulation, occasional reaching,
- Physical duties are subject to change.
- May be exposed to dust, mold, and/or other organic material. Hazards are considered minor and controllable.
Deadline to apply: Applications accepted on rolling basis and will be listed until filled
Start date: As soon as possible
Hours: This is a full-time, non-exempt position of 35 hours (40 hours minus a one-hour unpaid lunch per day).
Compensation & Benefits:
The range for this position is $24.73-27.47/hour, which is approximately $45,000-50,000 annually.
Examples of benefits for full-time staff are vacation, sick and personal time, as well as ~12 paid holidays, your birthday off and paid full-office closure for approx. one week in December. We also have employer-sponsored health insurance, life insurance, disability coverage, and retirement plans that include employer match, among other benefits.
As an equal opportunity employer, we value diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to equal employment and promotion opportunity regardless of ability, age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Finalists will be asked for references at a later stage.
For questions on this position, please contact careers[at]mwa.org. Please do not submit applications to this address.