Transportation Studies Librarian at St. Louis Mercantile Library at UMSL in Bel Nor, Missouri

Job Description:

Historical Transportation Studies Librarian / Cataloger / Assistant Curator

The St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri-St. Louis

The St. Louis Mercantile Library is seeking an energetic and enthusiastic Librarian/Assistant Curator in support of its historical transportation collection. The Mercantile Library, now in its 178th year, is the oldest library in continuous existence west of the Mississippi River, holds deep collections of rare book,s corporate archives, early American manuscripts, cultural ephemera of all kinds-some collected since frontier days, as well as American art and graphics. The Mercantile Library affiliated with the University of Missouri in 1997 to make its collections more accessible to a national and international patronage as well as to local students. It is situated on the beautiful north St. Louis County campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The collection has grown rapidly in recent years.

The Historical Transportation Studies Librarian / Assistant Curator is an essential member of the Mercantile Library's vibrant and dynamic curatorial team, a highly motivated ensemble that works collaboratively to collect, preserve, and by extension redefine American history for 21st century applications and research. The successful candidate for this position will catalog, organize, arrange, and make a wide array of interdisciplinary materials accessible for modern researchers in-person and world-wide. In support of the head curator of transportation collections, this position performs original and copy-cataloguing of our comprehensive transportation materials in all formats and processes archival and manuscript transportation materials, and will perform other tasks related to collections access and research. Specific duties of this dynamic position include:

• In collaboration with the head transportation curator, establishes cataloguing priorities and designs and implements project plans to achieve those priorities.
• Catalogues monographs, manuscripts, maps, serials, music, audiovisual and ephemera acquired for the transportation collections and addresses a cataloging backlog.
• Accessions and processes new transportation acquisitions and backlog holdings.
• Effectively communicates with team members and other members of the library community, while contributing to and sustaining a supportive and inclusive workplace.
• Works in conjunction with the University Libraries Access Services department and the Mercantile Library's cataloging staff to ensure that the St. Louis Mercantile Library's catalogue conforms to the requirements of the FOLIO system and any future software used for cataloguing material in the library.
• Applies appropriate conservation measures to ensure their proper storage.
• Collaborates with the University Libraries Access Services Department as needed regarding Library cataloguing processes and software.
• Manages student employees and volunteers who assist with functions related to special collections cataloging and processing.
• Represents the St. Louis Mercantile Library on committees and task forces related to primary job assignment or at the request of the Director of the St. Louis Mercantile Library or Dean of UMSL Libraries.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• ALA-accredited master's degree in Library and Information Science.
• 2 - 3 years of experience in cataloguing and processing special collections
• Working knowledge of online library systems, AACR2r, RDA, LCRI, LCSH, DCRM, MARC21 formats and authority control.
• Demonstrated knowledge of proper cataloguing, processing, preservation, and physical storage techniques for rare books, manuscripts, and other media types in a special collections environment.
• Ability to build and sustain effective interpersonal relationships with library staff, faculty, students, administrators, and members of the public.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Evidence of analytical, organization, communication, project, and time management skills and demonstrated ability to set priorities, meet deadlines and complete tasks and projects on time and within budget in accordance with task or project parameters.
• Demonstrated proficiency with personal computers and software, the internet and office applications including Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, PowerPoint, and other productivity software.
• Ability to work in a dynamic office environment with a diverse user base.
• Adherence to the Collected Rules and Regulations of the University of Missouri System.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with FOLIO cataloguing software.
• Knowledge of American history, especially river and railroad history.
• Knowledge of book and publishing history and techniques.
• Experience in applied preservation and conservation techniques for various media types in a special collections environment.
• Public services and reference skills.
• Reading knowledge of 2 modern western European languages is a plus.

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