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Metadata & Digitization Specialist

Johns Hopkins University
United States, Maryland, Baltimore
Mar 15, 2025

IMPORTANT-This is a grant-funded, two-year position.

We are seeking a Metadata & Digitization Specialistto support the Eleanor & Lester Levy Family Curator of Sheet Music and Popular Culture in enhancing access to the Sheridan Libraries collections of popular sheet music. The Lester Levy Sheet Music Collection, comprising over 30,000 popular songs, is one of the premier research archives in American popular music and a key digital repository at the Sheridan Libraries. Due to the high visibility of the Levy Collection, the Sheridan Libraries have become a destination for new collections of historic sheet music which have yet to become publicly accessible.

The Metadata & Digitization Librarian will enhance access to the library's collections of American popular sheet music through archival processing, metadata creation, and digitization of new collections. They will also provide recommendations for supplementing the existing metadata and digital objects in the Levy Collection, and suggestions for new acquisitions.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities:

  • Process archival collections of sheet music in Archives Space utilizing departmental best practices for processing and reparative description.
  • Accession new donations of sheet music; identify collections for de-accessioning.
  • Identify sheet music for digitization; digitize sheet music in collaboration with Digitization Specialist.
  • In collaboration with the Library Applications Group, add newly digitized songs to the library's digital repository.
  • Assist the Curator and Research Assistant in identifying new collections for acquisition.
  • Evaluate the existing metadata and images in the Lester Levy Sheet Music Collection, applying new best practices for expanding research access (e.g. alt-text, enhanced subject headings).
  • Identify opportunities for enhancing researcher access to catalogued and digitized sheet music collections, such as IMSLP.
  • Assist in providing reference and digitization services to faculty, students, staff, and members of the general public.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Special Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Knowledge of relevant standards for archival description including DACS and EAD, familiarity with other metadata standards such as Dublin Core.
  • Familiarity with Western music history; ability to read music.


Minimum Qualifications
  • MLS from an ALA-accredited library school or an advanced related degree.
  • Three years professional library experience.


Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with ArchivesSpace software for archival description.
  • Understanding of copyright issues as related to archival materials and sheet music.
  • Familiarity with digital repositories such as Islandora, DSpace, or AM Quartex.
  • Archival certification, formal archival education, or coursework in archival studies.

Classified Title: Librarian III
Job Posting Title (Working Title):Metadata & Digitization Specialist
Role/Level/Range: ATP/04/PD
Starting Salary Range: $62,900 - $86,500 - $110,100 Annually ($75,000 targeted; Commensurate w/exp.)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: M-F, 8:30am-5pm
FLSA Status:Exempt
Location:Hybrid/Homewood Campus
Department name: Special Collections
Personnel area: Libraries

Total Rewards
The referenced base salary range represents the low and high end of Johns Hopkins University's salary range for this position. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. Exact salary will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, market conditions, education/training and other qualifications. Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.

Education and Experience Equivalency
Please refer to the job description above to see which forms of equivalency are permitted for this position. If permitted, equivalencies will follow these guidelines: JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.

Applicants Completing Studies
Applicants who do not meet the posted requirements but are completing their final academic semester/quarter will be considered eligible for employment and may be asked to provide additional information confirming their academic completion date.

Background Checks
The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Johns Hopkins is committed to hiring individuals with a justice-involved background, consistent with applicable policies and current practice. A prior criminal history does not automatically preclude candidates from employment at Johns Hopkins University. In accordance with applicable law, the university will review, on an individual basis, the date of a candidate's conviction, the nature of the conviction and how the conviction relates to an essential job-related qualification or function.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion.

Equal Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

EEOis the Law
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf

Accommodation Information
If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition Office at jhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit https://accessibility.jhu.edu/.

Vaccine Requirements
Johns Hopkins University strongly encourages, but no longer requires, at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.The COVID-19 vaccine does not apply to positions located in the State of Florida. We still require all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. Exceptions to the COVID and flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry.This change does not apply to the School of Medicine (SOM). SOM hires must be fully vaccinated with an FDA COVID-19 vaccination and provide proof of vaccination status. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.

The following additional provisions may apply, depending upon campus. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.
The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.

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