Temp - Survey Project Archivist - Brooklyn Historical Society

Brooklyn Historical Society Othmer Library
Job Announcement: Survey Project Archivist Position

The Brooklyn Historical Society Othmer Library in Brooklyn , NY is seeking an energetic, team-oriented candidate for a temporary, two and a half year appointment, grant-funded Project Archivist position. The successful candidate will report to the Director of Library and Archives.

Job Responsibilities:
The successful candidate will lead a survey of the Othmer Library's un- and under- described archive and manuscript collections over the course of a two and a half year grant-funded project. The survey, based upon the PACSL survey model, will involve physical inventorying of the collections in the archives stacks, as well as additional research and description work to supplement information gathered during surveying. All description information will be recorded using the Archivists’ Toolkit. Survey Archivist will also be responsible for importing legacy accession information out of MS Access and in to the Toolkit and all related data clean-up; for exporting descriptive records from the Toolkit and importing in to a variety of other systems for public access; for supervising 3 part-time survey staff; updating and maintaining procedures and policies; and providing information for reports to the granting agency. In addition to survey project responsibilities, Survey Archivist may cover the reference desk during the library’s open hours up to 2 times a month, and other responsibilities as assigned.

Required Qualifications:
* Masters in Library and Information Science or History, or equivalent degree, with a specialization in archival studies and completion of a library cataloging course.

* Demonstrated understanding of archival collections and principles of arrangement and description through a completed finding aid or other description tool.
* Effective oral and written communication skills.
* Ability to work as both independently and as part of a team.
* Strong organization and time-management skills; attention to accuracy and detail is essential.
* Familiarity with MARC and EAD; AACR2 and DACS; and with the use and application of standardized vocabularies.

*Supervisory experience, either within an archive or another work setting.

* Ability to lift, bend, and reach boxes or volumes weighing up to 40 lbs repeatedly, including handling these materials while standing on rolling ladders and stepstools.

* Ability to work in library stacks in cold temperatures (60-65 degrees Fahrenheit) for up to an eight-hour workday, five days a week for two years.

* Demonstrated reliable attendance. Because survey work will be done in teams of two, timeliness and consistent attendance are essential to successful and timely project completion.

Preferred Qualifications:

* Previous archival survey experience.

*Experience with data mapping and transfer between databases; data clean-up and manipulation.
* Previous experience working with CMS and ILS systems; experience specifically with Archivists’ Toolkit and/or Ex Libris Primo and Aleph is highly desirable.

*Previous archival processing and description experience, including an understanding of pragmatic and efficient processing procedures.

* Undergraduate degree in history. A working knowledge of U. S. history is needed, to determine how collections fit into state and national issues for purposes of cataloging; knowledge of Brooklyn or New York history is preferred.

Compensation:

Salary is $40,000 a year. Benefits include full medical and dental benefits; sick and vacation days; and optional pre-tax public transportation payroll deduction. This is a temporary, grant-funded position which will not extend past the grant period, ending May 31, 2012.

To Apply:

Applicants should apply in writing, including with their letter a complete statement of qualifications; a full resume of their education and relevant experience; a sample finding aid; and the names, addresses, and phone numbers of three references who are knowledgeable about their qualifications for this position. Send applications to:

Chela Scott Weber
Director of Library and Archives
Brooklyn Historical Society
128 Pierrepont St .
Brooklyn , NY 11201

Or EMAIL: library@brooklynhis tory.org

When emailing, please use the Subject line: Survey Archivist Application [your last name]

Applications received via email preferred. No phone calls, please. Application period closes 12/11/2009

The Brooklyn Historical Society is dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, the presence of any mental, physical, or sensory disability, sexual orientation, or any other basis prohibited by federal or state law.

About Brooklyn Historical Society and The Othmer Library
BHS' Othmer Library and archives house the most comprehensive col­lection of Brooklyn-related materials in the world. In 1993, the U.S. Department of Education designated the Othmer Library as a “major research library” under Title II-C of the Higher Education Act. Today the collection includes more than 100,000 books and pamphlets, 60,000 photographs and prints, 2,000 feet of archival collections, and more than 2,000 maps and atlases. These materials include family histories, rare books, periodicals, serials, journals, personal papers, institutional records, and oral histories that document Brooklyn 's many different ethnic groups and neighborhoods.

We draw from these holdings to create interpretive exhibitions that prompt students, scholars and members of the general public to reconsider the fundamental facts of history in light of primary source documents and artifacts. BHS serves almost 80,000 people annually by providing opportunities for civic dialogue and community engagement for children and adults through exhibit tours, public programming, research opportunities, educational programs for New York City students, and professional development workshops and written curricula for teachers.

Originally posted on a library school listserv.