Hanna Holborn Gray Fellow in Philosophy and Theology Metadata

Title: The Hanna Holborn Gray Graduate Student Fellowship in Philosophy/Theology Metadata

Division/Department: Metadata Services, University of Chicago Library

Reports to: Jesse Lambertson, Metadata & Digital Resources Librarian

General Summary:

This fellowship matches graduate student with librarian to explore, via metadata and dates of acquisition the changing subject areas taught and studied within the department of Philosophy or the Divinity School. The graduate student will partner with the metadata librarian to design a project that combines the student’s interest and subject knowledge with the librarian’s expertise in metadata and reporting.

This would involve defining a scope of years, subjects, materials ordered, and examining the reporting and metadata for subjects in the above areas (scope determined in collaboration with fellow) from both the acquisitions and subject points of view. The fellow would determine the preferred subject areas, languages, and the metadata librarian working with the fellow would gather reports from the library system as this data would be mostly determined by metadata. The project may also involve incorporating the historical context of the departments related to the subject areas chosen by the fellow. The final deliverables would be appropriate to the project – but would include at minimusm analysis and a presentation to the Library staff.

Benefits for the student include gaining understanding of how their respective subject pursuits relate to historical subject pursuits within the university, the relationships those subject pursuits have with the library’s purchasing, maintaining, and describing with metadata resources associated, and potential for opening new possibilities for research for the student.

The benefits of the fellowship for the library will be greater understanding of its history of acquisitions, along with learning about current trends in scholarship in philosophy or theology.

While initial appointment is for a single academic quarter, reappointment for additional quarters and/or summer term is anticipated for the successful fellow.

Specific activities will vary according to fellow's skills and interests, but may include:

• Support and enhance University library’s understanding of its collection acquisition program for theology or philosophy subject areas
• Support and enhance University library’s understanding of its collection metadata for theology or philosophy subject areas
• As appropriate, participate in meetings and activities relating to the University metadata
• Working with spreadsheets of metadata pulled from the library’s OLE system
• Researching the history of teaching and faculty associated with the fellow’s chosen department (as chosen above with the scope. etc)

Qualifications:

• Enrolled in a UChicago graduate program in philosophy or theology, and in good academic standing during the period of the fellowship
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools
• Familiarity with use of original research materials
• Ability to prioritize library tasks in accordance with established standards, processes, and criteria
• Strong written and oral communication skills