Senior Librarian, Grade N25

Job Description

Closing Date June 17, 2024

General Position Summary :

Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) is seeking a dynamic and experienced Senior Librarian to serve as Head of Metadata and Discovery within Collection Management. The Head of Metadata and Discovery will oversee the creation, maintenance, and enhancement of metadata schema, as well as the implementation and optimization of discovery tools and systems. This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of innovative strategies for improving access to our extensive collections and resources, utilizing the open-source Koha integrated library system and Aspen Discovery layer. If you excel in the areas of leveraging technology to create efficiency, change management, communication, staff development and training, customer service and want to work in an innovative and inclusive environment, this is the job for you! Our Senior Librarians supervise staff, serve as system trainers, and participate as members of planning and implementation workgroups. Multi-lingual applicants are encouraged to apply. Additional multi-lingual pay may be available after successfully passing a multilingual examination.

About Montgomery County Library System :

MCPL has a vision of a world where knowledge allows diverse communities to prosper and grow. In order to support this vision, we create opportunities through meaningful connections by acting as the knowledge sharing center for over 1 million diverse customers.

Approximately 500 engaged and passionate staff provide services in 21 public library locations and in community engagement using direct outreach and virtual assistance. MCPL is an open, inviting, and vital gateway to the information, ideas and enrichment that strengthens our county. A diverse, highly qualified staff continually assesses community needs and interests to support, encourage and inspire our customers.

MCPL believes in the right of all to learn and to grow. We value intellectual freedom, accountability, quality service, diversity, fairness, professional ethics, integrity of information and respect for our customers, our community, and ourselves. We are a learning organization that functions openly by exploring new ideas and using the collective talent, knowledge, and creativity of employees at all levels.

The Montgomery County Public Library System is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. MCPL values diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and cultures. MCPL encourages BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), immigrants, women, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply. As part of this commitment, MCPL provides reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities to participate in the job application or interview process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position.

Essential Duties/Major Responsibilities :

• Promotes and supports MCPL's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion values with staff and customers. Centers the experiences of people and communities who are most affected by structural inequities through our metadata and discovery tools.
• Serve as a member of the Collection Management team, and the Koha Integrated Library System and Aspen Discovery administration team, participating in planning and organizing the work within Collection Management. Assists in leading the day-to-day operation of the Collection Management warehouse.
• Lead a team of librarians and library technicians in the creation, management, and quality control of metadata records for diverse library resources, including digital collections, electronic databases, and physical materials, and work with vendors to ensure consistency in cataloging and processing.
• Ensures delivery of excellent customer service by guiding staff and implementing policies and solving problems.
• Leads or assists in leading the day-to-day operations of the Collection Management warehouse.
• Serves as an on-site manager, supervising, training, evaluating as well as coaching and mentoring staff.
• Develops, provides, and evaluates training to a diverse staff, throughout the department.
• Responds Promotes and supports MCPL's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion values with staff and customers. Centers the experiences of people and communities who are most affected by structural inequities through our metadata and discovery tools.
• Serve as a member of the Collection Management team, and the Koha Integrated Library System and Aspen Discovery administration team, participating in planning and organizing the work within Collection Management. Assists in leading the day-to-day operation of the Collection Management warehouse.
• Lead a team of librarians and library technicians in the creation, management, and quality control of metadata records for diverse library resources, including digital collections, electronic databases, and physical materials, and work with vendors to ensure consistency in cataloging and processing.
• Ensures delivery of excellent customer service by guiding staff and implementing policies and solving problems.
• Leads or assists in leading the day-to-day operations of the Collection Management warehouse.
• Serves as an on-site manager, supervising, training, evaluating as well as coaching and mentoring staff.
• Address customer concerns, suggestions, and complaints.
• Serves on workgroups and committees designed to encourage communication and problem solving across all levels of the organization.

Successful Candidates will :

• Demonstrate commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices in public service.
• Value building collaborative relationships with community members and organizations, as well as colleagues across MCPL.
• Be responsive to the emerging needs of Montgomery County residents, developing and delivering programs and services that reflect the unique needs of diverse populations.
• Have demonstrated expertise in metadata standards and schemas such as MARC, Dublin Core, MODS, METS, RDF, and linked data principles.
• Be proficient in library management systems (e.g., Integrated Library Systems such as Koha, Alma, Voyager, etc.) and discovery platforms, as well experience with metadata transformation and manipulation tools (e.g., MarcEdit, OpenRefine).
• Have supervisory or team leadership experience, with a proven track record of mentoring and developing staff.
• Experience with ontologies, taxonomies, and controlled vocabularies used in library and information science domains.
• Experience with usability testing, user experience (UX) design principles, and accessibility standards for library discovery interfaces.
• Keep abreast of emerging trends and technologies in metadata management, digital asset management, and information retrieval.
• Have strong leadership, project management, and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders and manage multiple priorities in a customer-service oriented environment.
• Be flexible, adaptable, and eager to implement change to better serve our communities.
• Be able to communicate effectively with diverse audiences through a variety of platforms.
• Be ready to grasp new technologies and train staff to use these technologies.
• Be comfortable developing, presenting, and evaluating training, virtually and in person.
• Be an empathetic listener who enjoys understanding and responding to the needs of customers and staff.
• Be ready to understand the part your branch plays in the department and the role the department plays in County government.

Hours for this position :

The Collection Management unit currently operates Monday-Friday, 7am-5pm, and this position will be scheduled within those hours.

Additional Employment Information

OHR reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position/IRC.

Montgomery County Government is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Office of Human Resources via email to OHR[redacted] . Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.

Montgomery County Government also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, please refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference .

All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicant's responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for interview.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

Montgomery County Ethics Law: Except as provided by law or regulation, the County's "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriff's office) are subject to the County's ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code . Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications :

Experience: Four (4) years of professional library experience.

Education: Master's degree in Library Science or Library Information Science from a college or university accredited by the American Library Association.

Equivalency: None.

License: Employees will be responsible for maintaining appropriate level of contact hours to sustain State licensure requirements for this position.

Note: There will be no substitutions for this section.

Preferred Criteria

Preferred Criteria :

All applicants will be reviewed by OHR for minimum qualifications. Applicants who meet minimum qualifications will be rated "Qualified," placed on the Eligible List, and may be considered for interview. Selection for interviews will be given to applicants with experience in the following:

• Knowledge of Anglo-American Cataloging Rules (AACR2), Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) bibliographic standards, Machine-Readable Cataloging (MARC) standards.
• Leading diverse teams, coaching and/or supervising personnel, including providing input to or creating performance evaluations and staff schedules.
• Developing, conducting, and evaluating staff training and planning and/or leading meetings.
• Providing customer service and resolving complex customer service issues in a library setting; being person in charge in absence of a manager or supervisor.

Senior Librarian, Grade N25 - Job Salary Range :

Minimum Salary : $75,368
Maximum Salary : $120,947

Minimum Salary 75368

Maximum Salary 120947

Currency USD