Senior Manager, Database Maintenance, BookOps

Overview

BookOps is the shared library services collaboration of New York Public Library (NYPL) and Brooklyn Public Library (BPL). BookOps coordinates the selection, acquisition, cataloging, processing, and distribution of library materials for its member libraries.

The Senior Manager, Database Maintenance is responsible for quality control of bibliographic records in Brooklyn Public and New York Public Integrated Library Systems (ILS). The Senior Manager oversees a team that loads vendor records, performs catalog clean-ups, and ensures healthy bibliographic and authority control across both library systems.

Some expectations for this role are that within:

1 month, this person will:

• Become familiar with the range of cataloging systems, tools, and workflows utilized in the Cataloging Department
• Perform daily authority and bibliographic records quality routines
• Get introduced to BookOps team and stakeholders in other departments, including participation in relevant committees and groups across NYPL and BPL

3 months, this person will:

• Learn in-depth about circulating and research collections classification and local cataloging policies
• Evaluate existing cataloging quality control workflows and propose improvements in areas needed attention
• Contribute to local cataloging policies documentation
• Establish close relationships with the Selection, Acquisition and Processing Departments to effectively troubleshoot issues stemming from work in those units

6 months and beyond, this person will:

• Formulate strategic approaches and structured schedules to resolve metadata quality issues, manage vendor record ingestion, and synchronize BPL and NYPL holdings within the WorldCat database
• Manage and mitigate complex metadata discrepancies and requests routed through the ServiceNow ticketing platform
• Help design and implement comprehensive cataloging training programs grounded in recurring error analysis

Responsibilities

• Supervises and assigns work to a team of catalogers responsible for loading vendor records
• Directs the implementation of quality assurance procedures to maintain metadata integrity in alignment with MARC21, RDA, DDC, LCSH, and local standards
• Collaborates with department management to design, manage, and assess cataloging processes
• Oversees collection of departmental cataloging statistics and produces analysis and reports on cataloging activities
• Documents and keeps up-to-date database maintenance workflows
• Manages work assignment and resolution of reported issues on the ticketing platform (ServiceNow)
• Attend meetings within the library organization as needed, and interact with vendors as appropriate
• Approve schedules and hours of direct reports; provide coverage as needed in the absence of other department managers
• Performs other related duties as required