Technical Services Librarian

Library | Technical Services Librarian Department: Library
1 Full Time Position (35 hours/week)
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Job Description
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The Field Museum Library supports the exhibition, research, and education
programs of The Field Museum, which was founded to house the biological and
anthropological collections assembled for the World's Columbian Exposition
of 1893. The Library is home to a rich, world-class collection of more than
250,000 volumes in the following subject areas: anthropology, archaeology,
biological systematics, botany, environmental and evolutionary biology,
geology, museology, and zoology. Although borrowing privileges are reserved
for Museum staff and associates, the Library's collections are available for
public use. Since 2001, the Library has operated the Ex Libris ALEPH 500
integrated library system. At the heart of the ALEPH system is Harlow, the
Library's online catalog, which currently contains about 120,164 records.

In addition to purchasing new materials and receiving donated and exchanged
materials, the Library began a retrospective conversion of approximately
92,000 catalog records in 2006. Converted records represented monographs,
serials, and rare books acquired prior to 1978 and held in the General
Collection, the Rare Book Room, and eight subject-based divisional
libraries. Clean up of the retrospective conversion records continues and
is approximately one half completed.

The Technical Services Librarian is a management level position, reporting
directly to the Director of Library Collections.

Job Duties
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Responsibilities include:

- Trains, supervises and evaluates five staff, including two Library
Technical Assistants for Binding/Repair and Acquisitions/Serials, one
cataloger, one rare book cataloger, the museum archivist, and possible
volunteer(s). For this staff, the Technical Services Librarian creates and
implements procedures, adjusts workflows, solves problems, oversees the
implementation of strategic initiatives, and assigns projects as needed.
- Performs copy cataloging of non-standard format materials and original
cataloging of problematic materials using OCLC and the Library's Ex Libris
Aleph 500 system Responsible for both original and copy cataloging of
materials in Eastern European and Russian languages. Responsible for copy
cataloging (when available) for Chinese/Japanese/Korean materials
- Catalogs backlog and problem materials as time permits
- Evaluates exchanged materials (monographs and serials) for inclusion in
the Library's collections
- Coordinates the maintenance of Library of Congress authority records
and serial holdings records in the Library's Aleph 500 system
- Coordinates the implementation, maintenance and operation of the
Library's Ex Libris Aleph 500 system in cooperation with the Museum IT staff
and Ex Libris; installs quarterly service packs for the Library's Aleph
system
- Generates and prepares reports from the Library's Aleph system as
required.
- Maintains and troubleshoots Technical Services electronic resources
(Cataloger's Desktop, ClassificationWeb, OCLC Connexion Client)
- Guides and collaborates with the Museum Archivist and his volunteers
and interns to create and implement an existing strategy to create finding
aids for high priority collections, digitize high priority collections (as
funding permits), and catalog these finding aids
- Guides and collaborates with the Rare Book Cataloger to develop and
implement digitization efforts and public educational programs and
exhibitions featuring the materials in our Rare Book Room
- Under the guidance of the Director of Library Collections, develops and
oversees Technical Services budget on an annual basis; supervises
maintenance of acquisitions fund accounting in the Library's Aleph system
and creates financial reports as needed by other staff; works with the
Administrative Assistant to reconcile fund totals between the Aleph system
and Museum accounts
- Works cooperatively with the Associate Librarian (Reference and
Circulation) and Director on collection development and Library strategy
- Assesses the need for new services and technologies in Technical
Services and in cooperation with appropriate staff, locates available
options and selects the one which best fits the needs of the patrons and the
Library
- Participates in and attends staff development activities, Library team
meetings and Library managerial meetings
- Participates in regularly scheduled meetings of the Academic Affairs
Library Committee.
- Participates in outside initiatives when necessary (Biodiversity
Heritage Library, Laufer Committee meetings, Reading Room/Museum
exhibits/displays)
- Keeps informed of developments in the library field by reading
professional journals, attending workshops and conferences, and subscribing
to appropriate list-servs
- Performs other duties as assigned


Qualifications
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*Required:*

- Master's Degree in Library Science and work experience in acquisitions,
serials, and cataloging
- Demonstrated understanding of the structure and function of integrated
library systems, OCLC Connexion (bibliographic and local holdings records),
national cataloging standards, and MARC format
- Experience supervising library staff, preferably catalogers
- Working knowledge of archival standards for organization, preservation,
cataloging, and electronic access.
- Experience with Windows systems (Microsoft Word, Excel) and email and
calendaring systems in a networked environment
- Demonstrated proficiency at managing an operations budget and create
cost estimates for new projects
- Good analytical ability and problem-solving skills
- Working knowledge of Western European languages
- Ability to work independently with accuracy and attention to detail; to
follow verbal and written instructions and procedures; to organize and
prioritize work assignments; to exercise sound judgment and initiative; to
effectively complete tasks according to schedule; and to establish and
maintain effective and productive and collaborative working relationships
- Ability to think strategically about immediate and future technical
services needs for the Library, and to work collaboratively with the
Associate Librarian and Director to plan accordingly

*Desired:*

- Experience with Ex Libris' Aleph 500 integrated library system
- Demonstrated understanding of the system librarian role and a working
knowledge of basic Linux and VI commands
- One to two years experience in serials cataloging and serials holdings
record maintenance
- Experience transliterating and cataloging materials in Russian
- Study or education in any of the four subject disciplines of The Field
Museum: anthropology, botany, geology, and zoology (or related disciplines)
- Applicants must provide a sample of original cataloging (2-3
bibliographic records in MARC format, preferably in print format), as well
as professional references

*The Field Museum accepts applications on-line. To apply for this
position, please complete the on-line application.
No phone calls please.
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http://www.bfound.net/list.aspx?CoId=45

*The Field Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer.*

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Jennifer Warwick Bazeley
Associate Librarian, Technical Services
Field Museum Library
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