The University of Michigan Library is one of the world’s largest academic research libraries and serves a vibrant university community that is home to 19 schools and colleges, 100 top ten graduate programs, and annual research expenditures approaching $1.5 billion a year. To enable the university’s world-changing work and to serve the public good, the library collects, preserves, and shares the scholarly and cultural record in all existing and emerging forms, and leads the reinvention of the academic research library in the digital age.  The library is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and encourages all employees to fully incorporate their diverse backgrounds, skills, and life experiences into their work and towards the fulfillment of the library’s mission.

The Edison Sheet Music Collection is a collection that represents a relatively comprehensive documentation of published sheet music in nineteenth-century America. Publishers from across the country are represented, as well as both vocal and instrumental music of many types. The topics covered in the works mirror the popular topics of American life in the nineteenth century, from politics, war, and industry to home life and fashion trends.

The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) has awarded the University of Michigan funds to describe and digitize items from within the 1800-1870 timeframe.  Working from pre-arranged boxes of sheet music, the project cataloger will create minimal level records according to a local standard.  Given the nature of our timeline, the project cataloger will need to adhere to a specified number of deliverables each month.

Responsibilities*

• Create minimal level bibliographic records, including classification, subject analysis and associated holdings and item records for sheet music

• Interpret sheet music for unspecified bibliographic metadata for inclusion in records

• Perform copy cataloging for those items in hand which are represented in the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC). Bibliographic records exported from OCLC should be reviewed (and edited as necessary) for accuracy and completeness, in accordance with locally defined minimal level standards

• Generate metadata in the machine-readable cataloging (MARC) metadata schema while adhering to Resource Description and Access (RDA) cataloging standards in addition to local collection procedures

• Assist in developing strategies the technical services and print cataloging units will employ to enhance access to the Edison Sheet Music Collection

• Participate in library collaborative efforts through unit, department, division, and library special interest groups, interdepartmental projects, studies, committees, etc

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor’s degree and 2 to 3 years relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, either independently or as part of a team, with culturally diverse faculty, students and staff, to achieve objectives

• Demonstrated ability to work accurately and quickly, with the flexibility to work under frequently changing work patterns

• Demonstrated ability to perform highly detailed, repetitive tasks

• Ability to read music

• Strong orientation to service, technical aptitude, and a demonstrated commitment to staff development and diversity in the workplace

• Ability to understand diverse perspectives and acknowledge the significance of differences and complexities in backgrounds, cultures, values and viewpoints as the foundation for an inclusive environment

Desired Qualifications*

• Knowledge of established and emerging national and international metadata standards, and metadata schemas. Maintain proficiency in and awareness of MARC, RDA, and other Library of Congress standards

• Experience using online catalogs, databases, and web resources in a networked environment