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Ascension is seeking a Senior Cataloging Librarian to support a potential Library of Congress metadata creation effort for English-language materials in the Cataloging in Publication, or CIP, workflow. This role is designed for an experienced cataloging professional who can perform senior-level bibliographic description, authority work, classification, subject analysis, metadata validation, and quality review in a remote production environment.

The Library of Congress CIP Program provides catalog records in advance of publication as a service to libraries nationwide and works directly with U.S. publishers to obtain electronic book galleys or key publication information before titles are released. The anticipated contractor team would provide cataloging services for English-language CIP materials, including BIBCO-level cataloging, RDA description, LC/NACO authority work, Library of Congress Classification, Library of Congress Subject Headings, and Sears Subject Headings within the PrePub Book Link virtual workflow.

This position is ideal for a senior cataloging librarian who is precise, production-oriented, comfortable working independently, and capable of balancing cataloging accuracy with workflow throughput. The successful candidate should bring strong professional judgment, deep knowledge of national cataloging standards, and the ability to resolve complex metadata issues across a broad range of subject areas.

Position Summary

The Senior Cataloging Librarian will support metadata creation, bibliographic record development, cataloging quality control, and workflow production for English-language materials assigned through the Library of Congress CIP workflow. The role requires strong experience with BIBCO-level cataloging, RDA, MARC bibliographic standards, LC/NACO authority records, Library of Congress Classification, Library of Congress Subject Headings, and Sears Subject Headings.

The Senior Cataloging Librarian will review electronic galleys and related publication information, create and update bibliographic and authority metadata, conduct subject and classification analysis, validate records for consistency and completeness, and support production tracking for the oldest materials in the workflow. The role will work as part of a virtual team and must be comfortable using client-designated cataloging platforms, workflow queues, metadata repositories, job aids, and quality review procedures.

Ascension is mapping this role to its Technical Specialist III labor category because the position requires specialized technical functions, domain-specific knowledge, quality assurance, compliance monitoring, documentation, validation, technical review, and oversight. The GSA MAS Technical Specialist III LCAT requires a bachelor’s degree and six years of experience and includes responsibilities such as performing specialized technical functions, applying domain-specific knowledge, supporting process evaluation, documentation, validation, oversight, quality assurance, and review of work products against quality and regulatory standards.

Position’s Day-to-Day Activities

The Senior Cataloging Librarian will be expected to:

• Create BIBCO-level bibliographic catalog records for English-language CIP materials in accordance with applicable Library of Congress and national cataloging standards.
• Apply RDA descriptive cataloging rules to create accurate, complete, and consistent bibliographic records.
• Create, update, and validate name authority records as needed in alignment with LC/NACO Name Authority File requirements.
• Assign Library of Congress Classification numbers based on subject matter, scope, audience, and cataloging policy.
• Assign Library of Congress Subject Headings and Sears Subject Headings to support accurate discovery and access.
• Review electronic galleys, publisher-supplied metadata, title pages, tables of contents, summaries, and other source information to determine appropriate bibliographic treatment.
• Analyze complex or ambiguous subject matter and make defensible classification and subject heading decisions.
• Process assigned records in the PrePub Book Link or other client-designated CIP workflow environment.
• Prioritize assigned work to help address the oldest materials in the workflow and reduce backlog risk.
• Validate bibliographic records for completeness, formatting, encoding, headings, authority control, classification, and subject access.
• Document cataloging issues, exceptions, quality findings, and resolution steps in accordance with project procedures.
• Coordinate with the Project Manager, Lead Metadata Librarian, quality reviewers, and client representatives to resolve cataloging questions.
• Support quality control reviews by identifying recurring metadata errors, recommending corrections, and helping standardize cataloging decisions.
• Maintain awareness of updates to RDA, BIBCO, NACO, MARC, LCC, LCSH, Sears, and Library of Congress cataloging guidance.
• Contribute to internal job aids, decision logs, issue trackers, workflow notes, and quality review checklists.
• Meet assigned production, quality, and timeliness expectations while preserving cataloging accuracy.
• Escalate unusual records, policy conflicts, subject ambiguity, authority control issues, or potential workflow constraints to designated leads.
• Collaborate effectively in a remote environment using email, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, workflow tools, and other client-approved platforms.
• Protect sensitive, pre-publication, or non-public publisher materials in accordance with government and project requirements.