Job Details

Principal Cataloger - 002929

Position Number: 7203963
Location: Cullowhee, NC
Position Type: Libraries

Principal Cataloger - 002929

Western Carolina University

Department: Content Org and Mgt, eRes, & Tech

About WCU:

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes Best Employers lists each year. Including:
2025 - Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
2024 - Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
2023 - Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
2022 - Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC systems westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans - eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences - many of which are offered free of charge.

Position Summary:

The primary location of this position is on-site in Cullowhee, NC. This position is designated as being exempt from the State of North Carolina Human Resources Act (SHRA).

This position assists with management of Unit: assigns materials to catalogers, resolves workflow problems, works with Unit Head to create, refine, and document workflows and procedures; and assists with liaising with units and departments across the library. The position is the lead cataloger for the Cataloging and Metadata Unit who assists other staff with cataloging problems of all kinds and reviews the work of other catalogers. The person in this position catalogs complex formats such as digital material, music, maps, and other non-book materials as well as identifies and corrects problems in the UNC system collaborative cataloging environment.

About the Department:
Hunter Librarys mission is to support the academic community in carrying out teaching, research activities, and university service programs. Hunter Librarys primary role is to assist Western Carolina University students in becoming competent and contributing members of the information society. This mission is accomplished by facilitating access to information and by teaching skills which promote discriminating use of information. The Cataloging and Metadata Unit supports this mission by creating and maintaining the online library catalog. The catalog contains records for books, serials, videos, sound recordings, computer files, electronic resources, and other bibliographic resources. The catalog provides access to these resources by author, subject and classification. The Cataloging Unit is also responsible for creating metadata for digital projects and special collections finding aids.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for this position:

Demonstrated experience with searching and editing bibliographic and authority records in integrated library systems (ILSs) and OCLC Connexion. Significant experience cataloging complex formats (e.g., musical scores, maps, realia).
Knowledge and experience with cataloging standards such as MARC formats, RDA, and non-MARC metadata standards, such as Dublin Core.
Knowledge and experience with Library of Congress Classification, Library of Congress Subject Headings, Library of Congress Name Authority File, Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms, and other controlled vocabularies such as the Thesaurus for Graphic Materials (TGM), Homosaurus, and the Art and Architecture Thesaurus (AAT).
Ability to train and support staff, document procedures, develop workflows, evaluate new technologies, manage projects, and collaborate effectively with colleagues across the library.
Ability to perform detailed, accurate work independently in a production-oriented environment and to identify, analyze, and resolve cataloging and workflow issues effectively.

Minimum Qualifications:

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an equivalent combination of education and experience. If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both.

Graduation from a four-year college or university and one year of experience in a library or archives and/or records management; or high school and five years experience in a library or archives and/or records management; or equivalent combination of training and experience.

Preferred Qualifications:
Position Type: Permanent Full-Time

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Applicants must apply online in order to be considered.

Please include a cover letter, resume, and a list of references (with complete contact information).

Applicants must upload a DD-214 if claiming Veterans Preference.

PLEASE COMPLETE ALL AREAS OF THE APPLICATION. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS MAY NOT BE GIVEN CONSIDERATION IN THE REVIEW PROCESS.

If no applicants apply, who meet the required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities/Competencies and Training and Experience requirements, then management may consider other applicants.

All new hires into positions subject to the State Human Resources Act (SHRA) will serve a 12 month probationary period as defined by the North Carolina Office of State Human Resources (OSHR).

AA/EOE
Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; ethnicity; religion; sex; pregnancy; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call (828) 227-7218 or email at jobs@email.wcu.edu.

University Safety
The Western Carolina University Annual Safety Report is available online at University Annual Safety Report or in hard-copy by request at the office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, 227 HFR Administration Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7147) or the Office of University Police, 111 Camp Annex, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7301). The report, required of all universities participating in Title IV student financial aid programs, discusses crime statistics, procedures for reporting suspicious or criminal activity, security, police authority, crime prevention strategies, university policies on substance abuse and sexual offenses, workplace violence and fire safety.

To apply, please visit: https://jobs.wcu.edu/postings/34202