Catalog Librarian

Location Type: On-site

Industry: The Seattle Public Library

Company: City of Seattle, WA

Salary: $43.36 – $52.57 Hourly
Location : Seattle Public Library – Central Library, WA
Job Type: Civil Service Exempt, Regular, Full-time
Job Number: IC #13-25
Department: The Seattle Public Library
Opening Date: 02/21/2025
Closing Date: 3/3/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

Position Description
Invitation to Compete #13-25: Catalog Librarian

Technical and Collection Services

Central Library, 1000 4th Ave. , Seattle, WA 98104

Regular, FLSA non-exempt, full-time, benefitted position (80 hours per pay period)
Salary range: $43.36 – $52.57 per hour
The work for this position will be completed over a five-day (Monday – Friday) schedule with scheduled hours between 7 am to 6 pm; Hybrid opportunity: in-office minimum of three (3) days a week. Option to work remotely two (2) days per week after a training period of approximately six months. Remote schedule subject to change depending on business needs.

This schedule is subject to change based on the Library’s current operational need. This position is a member of the bargaining unit represented by AFSCME. A pay period is two weeks in length that starts on Wednesday and ends on Tuesday.

This position is open to the public and employees of The Seattle Public Library. Candidates are asked to submit an application, cover letter and resume in NEOGOV by 5:00 p.m. on March 3, 2025. Please read the How to Apply section of this bulletin for more information.

OVERVIEW

The Seattle Public Library is Seattle’s center of information and knowledge and one of the most popular and valued services in the city. Library staff members are highly regarded by the public for their knowledge, quality of service and dedication. Staff members are committed to the Library’s organizational values of respect, partnership, engagement, diversity, transparency, and recognition. They demonstrate these values by fostering partnerships, maintaining open communication, and supporting an inclusive and equitable work environment. A strategic priority of the Library is to cultivate a culture of innovation that emphasizes creativity, engagement, learning, and staff development.

The Library supports the City of Seattle’s Race and Social Justice Initiative to eliminate institutionalized racism by removing barriers to access, providing opportunities for growth, and ensuring equitable access to Library programs and services. If you share these values and meet the qualifications, the Library encourages you to apply for the Catalog Librarian position

Technical and Collection Services (TCS) is a quality-controlled, production environment located at the Central Library. TCS is responsible for the selection, acquisition, cataloging and processing of Library resources for circulation. In 2024, the Seattle Public Library added over 200,000 new books, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, and digital resources to a collection of approximately 1.8 M items. The Library’s 2025 materials budget is approximately $10M including operating, Levy, and Foundation funds.”

This position reports to the Technical Services Manager and works with a team of three other catalog librarians and four copy catalogers (library technician 3s). Catalog librarians also work with the other units of the TCS department to coordinate workflow for new materials, and with Special Collections and other public services departments on special projects and work.

The Catalog Librarian is responsible for timely and accurate cataloging of Library resources, develops creative solutions to catalog problems, and responds to inquiries regarding the catalog from staff and patrons. Authority control work and catalog maintenance are important components of the job, as is the management of records for digital resources like ebooks and eaudiobooks and streaming services like Kanopy and hoopla. The catalog librarian is a resource for catalog technicians and reviews their work as assigned. The catalog librarian responds as a resource for staff across the system on issues related to cataloging and access and supports system-wide cataloging updates and projects. The successful candidate will have assigned cataloging responsibilities in one or more of the formats acquired by the Library and will take a lead role for audiovisual media cataloging, including music CDs, DVDs/Blu-ray, and digital resources such as hoopla.

Upcoming projects in the Cataloging unit will include a migration from our current ILS (Horizon) to a new ILS (to be determined), and the catalog librarians will play a lead role in this work for the department.

Job Responsibilities

• Catalog and classify original library materials, to adhere to national standards
• Review, evaluate and correct external records to align with internal practice
• Review and complete internal records prepared by catalog technicians
• Lead or contribute to special cataloging projects as assigned
• Catalog maintenance of bibliographic and authority records
• Remain current with trends and issues in cataloging and bibliographic control.
• Participate or lead the training of catalog technicians.
• Participate in establishing cataloging, authority control and bibliographic maintenance policies and procedures
• Respond to inquiries from patrons and staff regarding catalog practices

Qualifications

• A Master’s Degree in Library Science from an institution accredited by the American Library Association, or Washington State certification as a librarian.
• Minimum of two years professional librarian experience providing information services
• Minimum of one year professional experience or equivalent in cataloging and authority control. This may be fulfilled by volunteer or intern work in cataloging if all other qualifications are met
• In-depth knowledge of OCLC, DDC classification, and RDA cataloging protocols.
• Experience with and knowledge of critical cataloging
• Experience using integrated library systems (ILS), the OCLC Connexion client or online Record Manager interface, Microsoft Office products, and Sharepoint online
• Excellent communication skills including the ability to develop training and information materials and make formal and informal presentations to staff. The ability to persuade, motivate, and develop collaborative working relationships is essential.
• A thorough understanding of the principles of intellectual freedom as they apply to the selection of library materials and a commitment to these principles and to the Library’s mission and goals

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience with audiovisual materials
• Ability to catalog digital formats and use MARCedit to batch-edit digital resource records
• Reading and writing fluency in Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Amharic, or Somali

Additional Information
How to Apply

Candidates who meet the qualifications are asked to submit the following items in NEOGOV by 5:00pm on March 3, 2025. Your application will not be considered if these items are missing or incomplete.

1. Complete online application.
2. A cover letter that describes how your experience and skills align with the stated job responsibilities and qualifications. Please let us know why you are interested in this position.
3. Current resume that summarizes relevant education, professional experience, training and skills.

Applicants will be screened for competitiveness, completeness, and written communication skills. Initial screening will be based on a review of application materials. The employment history detailed in your application materials MUST validate/support your responses to the supplemental questions. If your responses cannot be validated, you will not proceed to the next steps of the review/selection process. The most competitive candidates will be invited to participate in a series of one or more interviews.

Benefits and Salary Information

The full salary range for this position is $43.36 – $52.57 per hour.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

More information about employee benefits is available on the City’s website at:

Additional Information
If you have questions regarding this bulletin or employment at The Seattle Public Library, please send an email to The Library promotes diversity and inclusion in employment. If accommodations are needed during the selection process, please contact us.
Please keep in mind that job offers are contingent on a review of criminal history as well as verification of information provided by the applicant as part of the application process.
The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

More information about employee benefits is available on the City’s website at:
01

Are you able to work the anticipated schedule for this position: Monday – Friday, 7 am to 6 pm; Hybrid opportunity: in-office minimum of three (3) days a week. Option to work remotely two (2) days per week after a training period of approximately six months. Remote schedule subject to change depending on business needs.”

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have A Master’s Degree in Library Science from an institution accredited by the American Library Association, or Washington State certification as a librarian?

• Yes
• No

03

Do you have a minimum of two years professional librarian experience providing information services?

• Yes
• No

04

Do you have a minimum of one year professional experience or equivalent in cataloging and authority control?

• Yes
• No

Required Question