Details: Poets House seeks a Digital Archivist & Special Collections Associate to work with the organization’s extensive media archives and special collections. This is a grant funded temporary position. This position is onsite, 40 hours per week and reports to the Poets House Library Director. Renewal of contract dependent on fundraising. Compensation is $36 per hour.

The Digital Archivist & Special Collections Associate will assist the Library Director to complete a two-year project to preserve the organization’s audio/visual media archives stored in a variety of formats. The project includes digitizing and rehousing materials, assisting and collaborating with tech consultant to migrate digitized objects into cloud-based storage, updating metadata, and developing access tools, contextual guides and finding aids for born digital materials on aging hard drives. Concurrently with the media archives project, this position will begin a three-year project to digitize the Poets House collection of over 11,000 chapbooks. The project includes implementing a prioritized schedule for digitizing chapbooks, expanding existing metadata with finding aids, rehousing chapbooks, and assisting Library Director to curate exhibitions and reading lists to engage the public in the collection.

Responsibilities

Archival Digitization

• Develop strategies and processes for the accessioning, processing, and cataloging of both born-digital and digital assets derived from analog formats in our special collections, including archival recordings, manuscripts, photographs, chapbooks, and other unique materials
• Assist with developing strategies and processes for appraising, describing, managing, organizing, and preserving these materials
• Design and implement workflows, standards, and quality control measures for the digitization process
• Assist with identifying, curating, storing, and retrieving original masters and access copies of digital archives
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to ensure the efficient and accurate digitization of materials
• Create metadata and facilitate the organization, preservation, and accessibility of digital collections
• Assist with planning for the integration of new tools or successive generations of emerging technologies, software, and media

Library Management

• Assist Library Director with managing the Library and Special Collections, including long-range planning, annual goal setting, policy and procedure development, and daily administration
• Assist Library Director to implement processing and cataloguing protocols, digitization projects, and accessibility of our collection
• Assist Library Director in establishing and overseeing conservation, preservation and security guidelines, and standards for special collections material
• Assist Library Director in designing public services workstations and portals, onsite and online, for accessing digitized media files, especially audio and video
• Foster a welcoming and inclusive environment for library users, providing assistance, guidance, and research support

Qualifications

• An ALA-accredited Master’s Degree in Library or Information Science, with a focus on digital archives, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience with technology developed for or adopted by the digital preservation community
• Experience managing, supporting or contributing to digital content and systems at a library, archive, museum, or research institution
• Familiarity with current digital preservation strategies and technologies
• Proficiency in library cataloging systems, metadata standards, and archival management software, including knowledge of DACS, EAD
• Experience using library and archival management systems such as Liblime, ArchivesSpace, and/or CONTENTdm
• High level of proficiency with computers and desktop applications and an aptitude for learning new technologies
• Strong organizational and project management skills; detail-oriented with the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively
• A commitment to DEIAB principles and a demonstrated ability to apply them in library and archival practices
• Ability to be a proactive, engaged, and responsive team member

 Preferred Qualifications

• Three to five years work experience in an institutional setting such as library special collections, archives, or similar cultural heritage institution
• Demonstrated record of designing projects and bringing them to a conclusion in a timely fashion
• Demonstrated ability with digital forensics/disk imaging hardware and software
• Experience with Structured Query Language (SQL), Relational Database Management (RDBM) data modeling and querying
• Experience with data analysis and visualization
• Experience with rare materials cataloguing
• Experience arranging and describing or providing public services for manuscript and/or archival collections
• Ability and vision to help build a born-digital accessioning program

Application Process

Interested candidates are encouraged to send a resume to jobs@poetshouse.org. A small number of candidates will be invited to interview to discuss their interest and qualifications for this position. The selected candidate will be asked to supply references. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Poets House is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and encourage those who are underrepresented in the literary and arts communities to apply.

Submit specified application materials to jobs@poetshouse.org.