Professional Responsibilities

The Metadata Librarian is responsible for providing metadata expertise and serves as the primary resource on non-MARC metadata design, structure, and standards (descriptive, technical, administrative/preservation) for the University Libraries. The Metadata Librarian assists in developing and implementing metadata strategies for discovery, access, management, and preservation of digital assets; evaluates projects slated for inclusion in the Texas A&M University digital library; and assesses user needs, in order to develop appropriate metadata schemes for complex and heterogeneous collections.

The librarian is expected to consult with faculty regarding metadata for datasets and research collections, as well as to provide metadata support for the digital repository and PresNet. The individual serves on Texas Digital Library committees and working groups as assigned. The librarian is expected to maintain awareness of national metadata and digital library standards in order to apply this knowledge in digital library projects, make informed policy decisions, and serve as a general resource of knowledge for Texas A&M University and its affiliates. 

Education

Research Interests

• Digital Humanities and libraries
• The history and evolution of scholarly communication
• Open access
• Metadata, policies, and workflows for student work
• Metadata for legacy collections
• Metadata reuse
• DSpace
• Dublin Core
• Linked data
• Data curation, preservation, and stewardship

Publications

• Sarah Potvin, “The Principle and the Pragmatist: On Conflict and Coalescence for Librarian Engagement with Open Access Initiatives,” Journal of Academic Librarianship (2013), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2012.11.002.

• Sarah Potvin, "On Elective Double Submission: Data Points from the Early Years of Optional," poster session, Texas Electronic Theses and Dissertations Association Annual Meeting, Denton, TX. February 23, 2012. (https://conferences.tdl.org/txetda/2012/paper/view/445/231)

• Bruce R. Scott and Sarah Potvin. “Capitalism and Democracy.” In Bruce R. Scott, Capitalism: Its Origins and Evolution as a System of Governance. New York: Springer, 2011. Pp. 67-110.

• Bruce R. Scott and Sarah Potvin. “Creating Capitalism and Democracy in the United States, 1630-1830.” In Bruce R. Scott, Capitalism: Its Origins and Evolution as a System of Governance. New York: Springer, 2011. Pp. 227-276.

Service 

• Intellectual Access to Preservation Metadata Interest Group, Association for Library Collections and Technical Services - Preservation & Reformatting Section (Co-chair, 2012-present).
• DSpace Community Advisory Team (Member, 2012-present).
• Founding Co-Editor, dh+lib, Association of College and Research Libraries Digital Humanities Discussion Group (2012-present).
• International Program Committee, Digital Humanities 2013, Digital Humanities 2014 (nominated position, representative of centerNet, 2012-present).
• Planning for the Lifecycle Management and Long-Term Preservation of Research Data: A Federated Approach, KU/GPN/GWLA/IMLS National Leadership Planning Grant (Member, Research Team A, 2012-present).