Overview

The New York Public Library seeks two dynamic individuals to arrange, describe and write finding aids for the world class audio and moving image holdings at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and to serve as a resource and facilitator for public service access.

Founded in 1925 and named a National Historic Landmark in 2017, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions devoted to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of materials focused on African American, African, and African Diaspora experiences, featuring diverse programming and a collection of over 11 million items that illuminates the richness of global Black history and culture. A research library of The New York Public Library and seeded by the collection of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg nearly a century ago, the Schomburg Center provides free access to materials documenting Black life locally, nationally, and internationally.

The Archivist’s primary responsibility is to arrange and describe audio and moving image collections held in the Schomburg Center’s Moving Image and Recorded Sound (MIRS) Division. For more on the division’s holdings: https://www.nypl.org/locations/schomburg/moving-image-and-recorded-sound-division.

The archivists will work directly with and be supervised by the Schomburg’s Curator of the Moving Image & Recorded Sound Division. 

The archivists will also work with NYPL’s centralized Special Collections Processing department’s Audio and Moving Image Description Unit for technical instruction. Special Collections Processing (SCP) is the department within NYPL’s Preservation and Collections Processing that promotes access to the Library’s most distinctive collections by describing rare and unique materials and preparing them for preservation, online discovery, and use. Within SCP, the Audio and Moving Image Description unit supports the discovery of audio and moving image recordings through cataloging, inventory, the creation of finding aids, and metadata enhancement. Staff also collaborate with Library partners on the preservation of media in all formats. 

These are 3-year positions funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for a grant titled “The Next Century of Black Studies''. The work of this grant will contribute immensely to the Schomburg Center’s centennial celebration in 2025 - 2026.

Responsibilities

The Archivist will:

• Describe digitized audio and moving image (AMI) special collections and prepare finding aids in accordance with local and national standards.
• Participate in associated grant-related activities, including participation in The Future of Black Studies conference.
• Provide support for reference staff related to collections processed through the grant.
• Perform related duties as required. 

Required Education, Experience & Skills

Required Education & Certifications

• ALA-accredited Master’s degree in library, archival, or information studies, or Master's degree in audio and/or moving image preservation, or Master’s degree in liberal arts or humanities and successful completion of archival training.
• Subject area expertise or educational background in any of the following: African American History/Studies/Literature, Africana Studies, or cultural studies.

Required Experience

• Minimum two years experience creating descriptive records for special collections.
• Successfully demonstrated professional experience required for the Specialist III level.

Required Skills

• A strong background in archival theory and practice, especially regarding audio and moving image technologies and formats, arrangement and description, as well as a familiarity with current approaches to born-digital materials.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current standards for archival description (APPM, DACS, LC subject headings, authority control, and MARC 21).
• Experience in EAD markup.
• Experience using ArchivesSpace or Archivists' Toolkit.
• Working knowledge of historical research methodology and experience with standard bibliographic tools.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Successfully demonstrated initiative, accuracy, attention to detail, judgment, analytic and organizations.
• Ability to work well independently and collaboratively in a production-oriented, team environment.

More...

Core Values
All team members are expected and encouraged to embody the NYPL Core Values:

• Be Helpful to patrons and colleagues
• Be Resourceful in solving problems 
• Be Curious in all aspects of your work
• Be Welcoming and Inclusive

Work Environment

• Core work will take place in the Schomburg Center but occasional travel within NYC may be necessary
• Office setting
• Public research library

Physical Duties

• Daily use of a computer

Pre-Placement Physical Required?
No

Union/Non Union
Local 1930

FLSA Status
Non-Exempt

Schedule

35 hours to be scheduled Monday-Friday. 

This job description represents the types and levels of responsibilities that will be required of the position and shall not be construed as a declaration of all of the specific duties and responsibilities for the role. Job duties may change if Library priorities change. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description as needed.

About The New York Public Library

The New York Public Library is a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With 92 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars, and has seen record numbers of attendance and circulation in recent years. The New York Public Library serves more than 18 million patrons who come through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org. 

Apply online here