Position Description for Digitization Archivist and Education Project Coordinator
The Brooklyn Historical Society Othmer Library in Brooklyn , NY is seeking an energetic, team-oriented candidate for a three-year appointment, grant-funded Digitization Archivist and Education Project Coordinator position, funded by the IMLS Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. The successful candidate will report to the Director of Library and Archives and Photographic Archivist.
Job Description
The Digitization Archivist and Education Project Coordinator will work in support of Project CHART: Digitizing Brooklyn Historical Photography. CHART stands for Cultural Heritage, Access, Research and Technology. This project brings together students from Pratt Institute with library and archives staff from Brooklyn Historical Society (BHS), Brooklyn Museum (BM), and Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) to focus on digitizing photographic images of Brooklyn to support the students’ learning experience while furthering the digitization goals of the partner institutions.
In collaboration with the professional staff at the BHS, BM, BPL Brooklyn Collection, and Pratt Institute, the Digitization Archivist and Education Project Coordinator will oversee and implement all aspects of the IMLS Project CHART. The successful candidate will be the liaison between the institutions, coordinate work with project managers at all three collaborating institutions, coordinate educational programming for the Pratt Institute interns across all institutions, and generally provide planning, coordination, communication support, and reporting on progress and goals to the funding agency for the length of the project. The Project Coordinator will also work closely with Pratt faculty, the Web Applications team at BPL, and a digital design consultant to help determine the look and feel of a jointly established website for Project CHART.
The candidate will also oversee the work of project interns at BHS, working closely with the Photographic Archivist to plan and implement the digitization project including: identifying appropriate collections to scan, establishing metadata standards for description, making collections accessible through the BHS website, and overseeing the daily work of interns with scanning and metadata cleanup/creation and ensuring adherence to metadata standards.
Qualifications:
· Experience with mass digitization initiatives required, including experience with scanning equipment, digital photography, and Adobe Photoshop.
· Demonstrated understanding of structured data, digital object and metadata structures and standards, and with the use and application of standardized vocabularies.
· Demonstrated success in project planning and coordination; strong organization and time-management skills; attention to accuracy and detail is essential.
· Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills, and ability to work effectively with diverse constituencies, such as librarians, programmers, and partners in external organizations.
· Experience working in an archives or special collection library; understanding of archival theory and practice.
· Experience working with interns, preferably in a supervisory role.
· Experience with databases and content management systems required; knowledge of Past Perfect and Archivists’ Toolkit preferred.
· Familiarity with the geography and history of Brooklyn .
Compensation
Salary is $45,000 a year, for a period of two years, nine months. 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.
To Apply
Applicants should apply in writing and provide: a letter with complete statement of qualifications including relevant experience with descriptive metadata for digitized images; a full resume of their education and relevant experience; and the names, addresses, and phone numbers of three references who are knowledgeable about the applicant’s qualifications for this position.
Email applications to: library@brooklynhistory.org The subject line of the email should read: [last name] Digitization Archivist Application
Job is available as of September 1, 2010
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.
July 2010
Chela Scott Weber
Director of Library and Archives
Brooklyn Historical Society
718.222.4111 x.295
