Cataloging and Technical Services Librarian

Appointment: Regular, full-time (1.0 FTE) position. 

Work Location: 
This position is based in Tacoma, WA, and is hybrid eligible (minimum of 3 days on-site during the summer, and 4 days on site during the academic year) after a successful evaluation period.

Please note that we generally do not sponsor applicants for work visas for staff positions. Therefore, we generally require applicants for staff positions to be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Position Summary: 

Collins Library seeks an analytical and collaborative Cataloging and Technical Services Librarian to provide strategic direction, intellectual control, and oversight for the library's physical and digital collections in a team-based environment. Reporting to the University Librarian, this position serves as the library's chief authority on metadata excellence, cataloging standards, and technical services workflows.

Working within the Resource Management Services (RMS) team, the Cataloging and Technical Services Librarian ensures the accuracy, discoverability, and structural integrity of the library's holdings within the Ex Libris Alma Institution Zone (IZ) and the Orbis Cascade Alliance Network Zone (NZ). This position serves as one of two librarian leaders in RMS, establishes local cataloging policies, manages complex data remediation, performs original and complex copy cataloging, coordinates inventory lifecycle workflows, and directly supervises the Metadata Specialist.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities: 

Advanced Cataloging, Metadata Creation, & Quality Control

• Perform original and complex copy cataloging for all library formats, including print, digital, electronic, serial, archival, and non-book materials, ensuring high-quality discoverability.

• Apply contemporary cataloging standards, principles, and metadata frameworks, including Resource Description and Access (RDA), Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules (AACR2), Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH), Library of Congress Classification (LCC), MARC21, and Dublin Core.

• Establish, document, and maintain local quality control procedures, authority control configurations, and data standardization policies for bibliographic, holdings, and item data within the Alma environment.

• Resolve complex bibliographic anomalies, data issues, and cataloging errors.

• Lead database maintenance and data remediation projects, running batch data transformations, global updates, and record-enrichment strategies to improve the integrity of the catalog and the user experience.

Consortial Standards Compliance

• Serve as the primary institutional authority on consortial cataloging policies, aligning local procedures with the mandates, guidelines, and best practices of the Orbis Cascade Alliance Cataloging Standing Group.

• Manage data interactions between the library's Institution Zone (IZ) and the Alliance Network Zone (NZ), actively preventing or resolving duplicate records, matching errors, and shared authority discrepancies.

• Collaborate with Alliance peers on cross-consortial metadata initiatives, data validation pilots, and shared cataloging workflows that support smooth operations for Summit resource sharing.

Collection Lifecycle & Technical Services Coordination

• Formulate and manage efficient physical and digital processing workflows, tracking materials from receipt through invoicing, cataloging, physical processing, and preservation marking.

• Partner with Archives and Special Collections personnel to advise on metadata crosswalks, authority control, and description practices that bridge specialized collections systems (such as ArchivesSpace and JSTOR) with the Primo discovery layer.

• Partner closely with the Systems and Discovery Librarian to analyze how bibliographic data parses, indexes, and displays within the Primo VE interface.

• Advise on the configuration of search normalization rules, display logic, facets, and indexing parameters to ensure that rich metadata properties translate directly into intuitive user discovery.

Analytics, Assessment, & Professional Growth

• Utilize Alma Analytics and system queries to track cataloging statistics, inventory growth metrics, and processing turnaround times to inform operational assessment and institutional reporting.

• Generate descriptive collection data reports to assist liaison librarians with collection development, equity-minded collection audits, and strategic weeding initiatives.

• Maintain currency with emerging metadata trends, including Linked Data, BIBFRAME, and evolving data exchange protocols (XML, JSON, KBART).

• Participate in library-wide strategic planning, administrative discussions, and professional development activities within regional and national organizations.

Supervisory and Leadership Responsibilities

• Supervise the Cataloging Specialist (1.0 FTE).

• Serves as a leader on the RMS team by developing and overseeing implementation and completion of strategic projects. 

• Works closely with the University Librarian and Systems and Discovery Librarian to plan and lead RMS team meetings, training, and cross-team collaboration.

• Coordinate the division of responsibilities for metadata excellence, cataloging standards, and technical services workflows

• Oversee project staff or student assistants as necessary to support cataloging and technical services workflows and projects.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of contemporary and legacy cataloging utilities and standards, including RDA, MARC21, LCSH, LCC, and Dublin Core.

• Experience cataloging and managing metadata within the Ex Libris Alma platform, preferably including working experience within an Orbis Cascade Alliance style Institution Zone/Network Zone architecture.

• Experience applying batch data editing software (such as MarcEdit) and managing bulk import configurations.

• Technical acumen and ability to adapt to emerging metadata structures, including BIBFRAME, linked open data applications, and XML/JSON data interchange.

• Exceptional analytical and detail-oriented problem-solving skills, with an ability to diagnose and fix structural data issues.

• Strong interpersonal skills, with a collaborative approach to communicating technical policies to non-technical library staff and campus partners.

• Commitment to supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives through conscious, inclusive descriptive cataloging practices.

Qualifications: 

• Master's degree in library science or information science from an ALA-accredited institution.

• Demonstrated professional or significant copy/original cataloging experience within an academic library technical services department.

• Enthusiasm for user-centered continuous library catalog improvement.
• Ability to spend considerable time using a computer and sitting or standing for extended periods
• Ability to respectfully work, communicate and provide leadership within a diverse campus community

Preffered Qualifications 

• Experience participating in committee or working group structures within a highly collaborative library consortium (e.g., Orbis Cascade Alliance).

• Experience with authority control services and database maintenance tools.

• Proficiency with Alma Analytics or basic SQL for custom inventory reporting.

Compensation and Benefits: 

Career Framework Information:
Job Family: Library
Level: C2
Pay Grade: 5

The anticipated range for this position is $26.00 to $27.85 per hour. Decisions about starting salaries are made based on the extent and relatedness of the candidate's education and experience and on internal equity and market considerations. 

Puget Sound offers a generous benefits package for eligible staff employees, including: 

• Medical, dental, and vision 
• Life insurance and long-term disability 
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Retirement plan options and 403(b) contributions 
• Paid vacation, sick leave, floating holiday, campus holidays and bonus holidays 
• Education benefits, such as full tuition for eligible employees and their families 
• Access to university facilities and entertainment (fitness center, pool, library, concerts, lectures and more!) 

Please note: 
-Positions that work less than .75 FTE (1,560 hours per year) do not qualify for long-term disability or education benefits.
-Positions that work less than .50 FTE (1,040 hours per year) will accrue paid sick leave but are not eligible for additional benefits.
-Temporary positions that work at least .50 FTE (1,040 hours per year) will be eligible for benefits. 

This position is non-exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. 

For more information on Puget Sound's non-exempt staff benefits package, visit: Summary of 2026 Benefits for Staff Members in Non-Exempt Positions.pdf - Google Drive

For the Campus Holiday and Bonus Day Schedule, visit: https://www.pugetsound.edu/human-resources

Application Deadline: 
Search and selection procedures will be closed when a sufficient number of qualified candidates have been identified. Interested individuals are encouraged to submit application materials no later than July 27, 2026 to ensure consideration. 

Required Documents: 

• Resume
• Letter of Interest 
• 3 Professional References (At least 2 supervisors)

Applications submitted without the required attachments will not be considered. 

All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of all required background checks. 

University Diversity Statement

We Acknowledge:

• The richness of commonalities and differences we share as a university community.
• The intrinsic worth of all who work and study here.
• The investigation and reflection enhance that education upon multiple perspectives.

We Aspire:

• To create respect for and appreciation of all persons as a key characteristic of our campus community.
• To increase the diversity of all parts of our university community through a commitment to diversity in our recruitment and retention efforts.
• To foster a spirit of openness to active engagement among all members of our campus community.

We Act:

• To achieve an environment that welcomes and supports diversity.
• To ensure full educational opportunity for all who teach and learn here.
• To prepare citizen-leaders effectively for a pluralistic world.

Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. To learn more please visit: https://pugetsound.edu/about-puget-sound-0/mission-core-values/institutional-equity-diversity 

The University of Puget Sound is an equal opportunity employer.

This Position:
x Requires a degree, specific licensure/certification, or other credentials
    Degree/credential required:
x Has access to, interaction with or unrestricted contact with minors and vulnerable adults