Job Board

  • Metadata Librarian/Assistant Professor

    Northern Illinois University

  • Library/Organization Address

    Founders Memorial Library
    DeKalb, Illinois 60115

  • Employment Type

    Full-time

  • Hourly Wage/Salary Range

    $70,000 minimum

  • About the Organization

    ounded in 1895 as a normal school, Northern Illinois University is a Carnegie Foundation designated R2 (“High Research Activity”) institution serving approximately 16,000 students, 56% of whom are first-generation college and 80% of whom receive merit scholarships. Northern Illinois University’s 765-acre main campus in DeKalb is an eclectic mix of architecture and beautiful natural spaces located within 60 miles of Chicago. Find out more about NIU and the NIU Libraries at niu.edu and library.niu.edu. Much of the metadata created at NIU supports our Special Collections & Archives and the Donn V. Hart Southeast Asia Collection. NIU’s holdings are particularly strong in American popular culture, featuring the Science Fiction Writers of America Archive and one of the world’s largest collections of dime novels. The Southeast Asia Collection is among the most significant of its kind in the United States, with materials in Thai, Vietnamese, Malay, Indonesian, Khmer, and Burmese. These collections are discoverable through the institutional repository Huskie Commons and three mature digital libraries—the NIU Digital Library, Nickels and Dimes, and the Southeast Asia Digital Library.

  • Job Description and Responsibilities


    The University Libraries at Northern Illinois University (NIU) seeks applications from collaborative, innovative, and forward-thinking individuals for the position of Metadata Librarian/Assistant Professor. Reporting to the Head of Technical Services within the Division of Collections Management, the Metadata Librarian provides leadership and support for creating and maintaining accurate MARC and non-MARC metadata in the library catalog, the digital collections, the institutional repository, and other discovery platforms. This is a 12-month, tenure-track Faculty appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor with the possibility of a hybrid work schedule after the required in-person training period.
    The Metadata Librarian will take the lead on creating original metadata for analog and digital resources in all languages and formats, coordinate metadata outsourcing and batch loading, set department metadata policies and best practices, and develop metadata creation and remediation workflows. As the manager of the Metadata Unit, the Metadata Librarian supervises two full-time staff members.
    Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
    Supervises two staff members whose primary responsibilities include copy cataloging, data entry, and catalog maintenance. Assigns tasks and sets goals.
    Performs original cataloging, as needed, for materials in multiple languages and formats.
    Evaluates vendor supplied bibliographic records and coordinates batch loading those records into the library services platform and discovery layer.
    Participates in non-MARC metadata creation and remediation for digital collections and the institutional repository, including Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs).
    Develop and documents projects and workflows as well as community-of-practice-aligned metadata standards. Reviews and evaluates existing metadata workflows to increase efficiencies.
    Ensures that the libraries’ cataloging and metadata practices remain current with innovations in automation tools (e.g. vendor record services, Artificial Intelligence). Uses emerging technologies to identify, enrich, and remediate metadata/data to enhance the discovery and delivery of library content.
    Pursues opportunities to improve existing metadata to create a more accurate, equitable, and welcoming experience for library patrons.
    Participates in professional activities and development, and scholarly research and publication.
    Represents the library in consortial partnerships and professional committees to advance metadata services and ensure consistency across institutions.

  • Minimum Requirements to Apply

    Master’s degree in Library Science (MLS, MSLS, MLIS, etc.) from an ALA-accredited or equivalent program
    Demonstrated ability to perform original cataloging for materials in multiple formats and languages using a variety of metadata standards and controlled vocabularies
    Evidence of ability to meet university standards for research, publication, and professional service
    Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect in the workplace

  • Benefits Offered

    Health insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, Life insurance, Retirement plan, Paid time off

  • Position Start Date

    Spring 2026

  • How to Apply

    Please apply at https://employment.niu.edu/postings/87516

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