 |
 |
----------------------------Original message---------------------------- PIERPONT MORGAN LIBRARY, NEW YORK--POSITION AVAILABLE Position available in Reference Cataloguing Department Title: Head of the Reference Collection Closing date: April 30 (will be extended until position is filled) The Reference Cataloguing Department is responsible for acquiring, cataloguing, and maintaining a reference collection of about 70,000 titles. The Library's reference collection, which includes monographs, pamphlets, offprints, microforms, and visual materials, supports research on the Library's world-renown collections of rare books and manuscripts, prints and drawings, and ancient Near Eastern cylinder seals. Reference material is consulted by librarians, curators, and administrative staff, and is available to scholars studying the Library's rare materials in the Reading Room. Records for about 95% of the reference collection are available in RLIN, and retrospective conversion is expected to be complete by the end of the year. Acquisitions records for about 5,000 titles are also available in RLIN. Although the reference and rare book cataloguers still produce cards for filing in the Reading Room card catalogue, the Library is in the process of planning for a library-wide network and an integrated library system which will contain information on all the Library's holdings, rare and reference alike. The new system will include an OPAC, an acquisitions module, a circulation module (for in-house circulation only), and a serials control module. The Pierpont Morgan Library seeks a librarian with five years of professional experience to head the Reference Cataloguing Department. The Head of the Reference Collection supervises 3 full-time employees (1 cataloguer, two library assistants) and reports to the Director of Information Services. DUTIES: ACQUISITIONS AND COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT: The reference collection acquires about 1,500 titles per year, and maintains about 200 journal and auction house subscriptions. The Head of the Reference Collection, in consultation with the curatorial staff, approves the selection of all materials added to the reference collection by purchase or by gift, and administers an annual materials budget of $90,000. The Head supervises the work of a serials coordinator and of an acquisitions assistant, overseeing the creation of book order records in RLIN and in a local database, monitoring spending, and trouble shooting as needed. The Head will be closely involved in planning for and implementing the acquisitions and serials control modules in the new library system. When a library network and OPAC are in place, the Head of the Reference Collection will be responsible for identifying and providing access to electronic reference resources available through the OPAC, and for training staff in their use. CATALOGUING: The Head of the Reference Collection catalogues reference material in a variety of formats and languages into RLIN, revises the work of one full-time cataloguer, and contributes name authority records to the Library of Congress Name Authority File as part of the Library's membership in ARTNACO. The Head works closely with the Head of Cataloguing and Database Maintenance, who is responsible for providing support for current book cataloguing operations and for overseeing bibliographic control and database maintenance within the planed institution-wide system. The Head of the Reference Collection implements current cataloguing policies and procedures for the reference collection, and will participate in planning the new OPAC and cataloguing system. MAINTENANCE AND PRESERVATION: The Head of the Reference Collection is responsible for the maintenance and preservation of the reference collection. The collection contains many rare or unique items which require special care. In consultation with other staff members, the Head of the Reference Collection sets up procedures for managing the collection and monitors its environment. In the near future, the Head will be responsible for overseeing several special projects: the transferral of ca. 10% of the collection to a new location, the cleaning of the entire collection in the wake of extensive construction, and its bar-coding in preparation for automation. In collaboration with the Development Office, the Head will develop a long-range plan for preservation of the collection. This will include conducting a survey of its physical condition to determine preservation/reformatting needs, and securing funding for preservation and conservation. QUALIFICATIONS: Required: ALA-accredited M.L.S. and five years professional experience (at least two years of cataloguing in an on-line environment); reading knowledge of French, German, or Italian and ability to deal with materials in a varity of languages and formats. Preferred: Prior experience cataloguing in RLIN and/or an automated library system; background in humanities, with work experience in research library or museum; experience with special collections. The position calls for excellent written and oral skills, and the ability to collaborate with computer and library staff in the development or implementation of special projects for collection management. The Library offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits. It is an equal opportunity employer. APPLICATION PROCEDURES: Application deadline: April 30, 1997 (will be extended until the position is filled). Send by mail or fax a letter of application and a resume to: Nancy Schoffelen Human Resources Associate Pierpont Morgan Library 29 East 36th Street New York, New York 10016 Fax: (212) 481-3484