Special Collections and Rare Books Cataloging Librarian

Job Title
Special Collections and Rare Books Cataloging Librarian

Requisition Number
FE04792

Working Title

Department Name
88100:LIBRARIES

Work Location
Lexington, KY

Type of Position
Faculty

Position Time Status
Full-Time

Tenure Track Status
Tenure Track

Required Education

Masters degree in library and information science from an ALA-accredited program or equivalent

Required Related Experience

● Three or more years of professional experience performing original and complex cataloging, enhancement and enrichment of records, including experience with special collections and rare materials
● Experience with bibliographic utilities (such as OCLC) and integrated library systems (such as Ex Libris Alma)

● Experience with project planning and coordination, and prioritization of multiple projects and workflows

Required License/Registration/Certification

N/A

Job Summary

The University of Kentucky Libraries is vital to fulfilling the goals of enhancing and expanding the university’s research enterprise, and we are looking for an experienced, collaborative, proactive, and enthusiastic candidate to join our team as a Special Collections and Rare Books Cataloging Librarian.

The Special Collections and Rare Books Cataloging Librarian will create and maintain high quality metadata for library materials in the UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center (SCRC), including books, journals, university publications, and special formats. Major collecting areas include Kentuckiana, printing history, and book arts; collections of note include the Samuel Wilson Collection of Kentuckiana, the W. Hugh Peal collection of British and American literature, the Alfred Cortot music theory collection, the Lou Emma Wilson Mexicana collection, and the Dr. Charles T. Ambrose Collection of rare medical books.

The Special Collections and Rare Books Cataloging Librarian will manage the Special Collections cataloging unit, including one senior technician, and any student workers as needed for unit projects. This position will report to the Director of Cataloging and Metadata Services, and is located in the Margaret I. King Library, where they will regularly collaborate with colleagues in research services, manuscripts, and rare books. The librarian will participate in the Cataloging and Metadata Services Policy and Planning Group, which meets regularly to establish and update local workflows, best practices, and cataloging and metadata policies. They will work closely with other units in the department, including Fine Arts Cataloging, Maps Cataloging, and the Cataloging and Metadata unit in the William T. Young Library.

Responsibilities

● Perform original and complex copy cataloging with copy-specific information and notes for special collections including rare books and materials in a variety of languages

● Collaborate with Special Collections Research Center staff to set priorities, organize workflows, and solve problems

● Manage the Special Collections Cataloging unit, including supervision of staff and project planning

● Maintain knowledge of current and emerging trends in cataloging and metadata, including for special collections and rare books

● Participate in shared governance of the University of Kentucky by serving on library, departmental/college, and university committees as appropriate

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

● Masters degree in library and information science from an ALA-accredited program or equivalent

● Three or more years of professional experience performing original and complex cataloging, enhancement and enrichment of records, including experience with special collections and rare materials

● Knowledge of cataloging standards including RDA, MARC21, Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH), Library of Congress Classification

● Knowledge of special collections cataloging standards including DCRM (Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials), RBMS controlled vocabulary, related rare books resources and tools, and trends in rare book cataloging

● Experience with bibliographic utilities (such as OCLC) and integrated library systems (such as Ex Libris Alma)

● Experience with project planning and coordination, and prioritization of multiple projects and workflows

● Ability to work independently and also collaboratively as part of a team

● Excellent verbal and written communication skills

● Ability to meet the requirements of a tenure-track position through research, publication, professional service and/or other professional engagement

Preferred

● Experience with Ex Libris Alma / Primo

● Experience with ArchivesSpace

● Experience supervising and training staff and/or students

● Experience working in an academic library

● Experience cataloging materials in special formats such as audiovisual materials, serials, maps

● Knowledge of preservation practices, including the ability to identify materials in need of conservation treatment

● Bibliographic knowledge of one or more languages other than English

As a member of the UKL faculty, this position participates in planning, shared governance, and UK Libraries-wide faculty activities. This is a full-time, 12-month, tenure eligible position in the Librarian Title Series (open rank) which requires scholarship, professional development, and service that contributes to the effectiveness of UK Libraries, the university, and the profession as outlined in Administrative Regulation 2:7 (https://regs.uky.edu/administrative-regulation/ar-27). Your Distribution of Effort (DOE) range: Primary assignment: 70-80%, Service/Prof. development and scholarship 20-30% and is reviewed at minimum annually each year. Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. The minimum salary for a Librarian IV is $57,000 and for a Librarian III is $62,500. This is a full-time, 12-month, tenure-track eligible position. All career levels are encouraged to apply.

This position is not eligible for employment-based visa sponsorship.

Employment at UK is subject to fund availability and comes with comprehensive rewards, focusing on your total well-being and career development, with leadership striving to provide a strong work-life integration. The university generously contributes to employees’ retirement plans, medical coverage, and life insurance. In addition, UK offers optional benefits such as dental and vision insurance, additional retirement plans and much more. To learn more about these benefits, please visit: https://hr.uky.edu/employment/our-benefits.

Library tenure-track faculty are also eligible to receive a generous relocation allowance, start-up funding for research, and annual professional development/travel funds.

To apply, interested applicants must complete a UK Online Academic Profile at https://ukjobs.uky.edu/postings and attach the below documents:

· Curriculum vitae

· Cover letter

Please include contact information for three references when prompted in the application. We ask that one of the references be your current supervisor. Please note, the current supervisor will only be contacted if you are selected for a final round of interviews on campus.

If you have any questions, contact UK Human Resources employment at (859) 257-9555, select option 2.

Review of applications will begin on 2/14/2026,and will continue until the position is filled. Anticipated position start date will be on or after 7/01/2026.

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

● Knowledge of cataloging standards including RDA, MARC21, Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH), Library of Congress Classification

● Knowledge of special collections cataloging standards including DCRM (Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials), RBMS controlled vocabulary, related rare books resources and tools, and trends in rare book cataloging
● Ability to work independently and also collaboratively as part of a team

● Excellent verbal and written communication skills

● Ability to meet the requirements of a tenure-track position through research, publication, professional service and/or other professional engagement

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?
Yes

Preferred Education/Experience

● Experience with Ex Libris Alma / Primo

● Experience with ArchivesSpace

● Experience supervising and training staff and/or students

● Experience working in an academic library

● Experience cataloging materials in special formats such as audiovisual materials, serials, maps

● Knowledge of preservation practices, including the ability to identify materials in need of conservation treatment

● Bibliographic knowledge of one or more languages other than English

Deadline to Apply

Open Until Filled
Yes

Our University Community

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status or whether the person is a smoker or nonsmoker, as long as the person complies with University regulation concerning smoking.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.