Position Focus:

Reporting to the Head of Digital Reformatting & Media Services (DRMS), the Preservation Digital Imaging Librarian will manage a suite of imaging services designed to meet the Library’s preservation goals and increase online access to collections. As a member of DRMS, the position will contribute to the efforts of a nationally and internationally recognized program for the preservation of library and archives collections. The incumbent will keep abreast of key trends in preservation, digital imaging practice/technology and will work with a wide range of staff stakeholders and experts to build sustainable digital collections for users now and in the future. The role oversees services that include both inhouse scanning and digital photography, and work accomplished through commercial vendors.

The Preservation Digital Imaging Librarian will: 

• Direct the services and workflows for digital imaging projects and patron requests from end-to-end.  Prioritize requests and projects to maximize staff time. Create timelines for completion and measure outputs to improve processes and future planning. Coordinate with multiple stakeholders, experts, and external service providers to ensure that specifications and standards are followed. Uphold preservation best practices for source originals and the creation digital surrogates.
• Collaborate with Digital Special Collections & Access (DSCA), public services staff, and subject specialists to coordinate digitization services for patron requests, and for project-based workflows. Partners with DSCA in determining appropriate digitization center or solution for digital imaging projects for special collections. Partner with general collections-focused scanning units to address collection and patron needs that fall outside of their capabilities or service model. Integrate programmatic preservation reformatting for fragile or damaged collections into priorities and workflows.
• Work closely with Preventive Conservation staff to manage incoming and outgoing collections.  Ensure that conservation recommendations for care and handling of collections and staff training needs are met. Coordinate with Media Preservation Manager to ensure the workflow for patron-requested AV formats follows a process that reflects preservation, archival, and operational best practices.
• Liaise with public services staff and service points to answer questions, provide information, set appropriate patron expectations, and evaluate how well patron and staff needs are being met.
• Coordinate and/or supervise the work of staff, including a photographer, a digitization assistant, and student assistants, who carry out digital capture, processing and quality control of images using a variety of equipment, specialized software, databases, and online workflow tools.
• Contribute to initiatives and ongoing efforts to make library content more available and accessible online, sustain effective and efficient processes, and leverage software and other tools to their best advantage.

DEIA Commitment in Recruitment: Yale University Library serves a diverse staff, campus, local, and global community and is deeply committed to advancing its goals for equity, inclusion, and accessibility. This commitment is reflected in our mission, strategic directions, staff values, initiatives, and scholarly activity. To support our goals for staff recruitment, retention, and development, Yale Library invites applications from candidates who have a proven commitment or demonstrated success with supporting diversity and inclusion through their work, service, research, and/or teaching.

This position will be assigned a rank of Librarian 2 or Librarian 3. Yale University assigns ranks to librarian positions based on a combination of professional experience and accomplishments. Librarian ranking information can be found at: http://bit.ly/YULRanksPromotions.

Essential Duties

1.  Actively practices and advocates effective communication in all aspects of digital initiatives within the Library and throughout the YUL system. Establishes productive relationships with individuals and organizations both at Yale and at other institutions in order to advance Library objectives. 2. Work closely with curators and key staff to assess feasibility, propose, and develop plans for digital projects. 3. Work with Library IT to design and implement technical infrastructure and workflows. 4. Evaluate and make recommendations on digitization procedures for a wide range of collection materials considering issues of original format, productivity and preservation, as well as YUL standards. 5. Analyze researcher, faculty and student needs and develop programming in support of digital research and teaching. Analyze the feasibility of new services or modifications to existing Library services. Work independently or lead a project team to implement Library goals. 6. Assume full or partial responsibility in project management for Library digital initiatives including assessment and evaluation of project scope, analysis, project proposals, quality assurance, workflows, staffing, budgeting, documentation, and reporting. 7. Evaluate, recommend and assist with digitization equipment and software selection as well as facility oversight including staff and patron workstations located in the library. 8. Manage local and/or vendor digitization. 9. Serves on various Library, Yale University Library, and Yale University committees in support of the Library and University’s mission relevant to digital initiatives. 10. Participates in professional activities outside of Yale and monitors developments and best practices elsewhere to help ensure the excellence of the Library’s technology activities. 11. May be required to assist with disaster recovery efforts. 12. May be assigned to work at any Yale University Library location.

Required Education and Experience

1. Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited library school or equivalent accredited degree. In selected instances, a post-graduate degree in museum studies or a related discipline in the humanities or social sciences may be substituted for a master’s degree in library science.2. Demonstrated knowledge of current national and international metadata content and structure standards related to library and archival control of collection materials.3. Demonstrated knowledge of library digitization standards and practices.4. Demonstrated excellent oral and written communications and analytical ability.5. Demonstrated record of designing projects and bringing them to conclusion in a timely fashion.6. Demonstrated experience working collaboratively and independently with various groups within a complex organization and rapidly changing team environment. Yale University assigns ranks to librarian positions based on a combination of professional experience and accomplishments (see range assigned to this description as noted in the posting position title). Librarian ranking information can be found at: http://www.library.yale.edu/about/departments/lhr/rank.html.

Required Skill/Ability 1:

Two or more years of project management experience in support of a large, complex, timebound projects. Ability to lead a high production program and service for a range of preservation and access purposes.

Required Skill/Ability 2:

Excellent oral and written communication skills, and the ability to explain complex technical and preservation issues and processes to non-specialist audiences.

Required Skill/Ability 3:

Demonstrated knowledge of digitization workflows. Ability to evaluate options for digitization equipment, such as scanners and digital cameras, and image capture, post-production, color management and processing software applications.

Required Skill/Ability 4:

Demonstrated ability supervising or directing the efforts of a high performing team and training staff.

Required Skill/Ability 5:

Demonstrated ability with digital imaging projects for preservation purposes. Demonstrated understanding of digitization challenges and solutions for cultural heritage collections.

Preferred Education, Experience and Skills:

Skill with digital content stewardship and digital collections metadata. Familiarity with archival processing practices and metadata schema. Experience working in a research library, archive, or special collections library. Experience applying principles of DEIB to digitization projects and prioritization. Experience with grant writing and budget management.

Drug Screen

No

Health Screening

No

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement

The University maintains policies pertaining to COVID-19. All faculty, staff, students, and trainees are required to comply with these policies, which may be found here:
https://covid19.yale.edu/health-guidelines

Posting Disclaimer

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the particular position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through their hiring departments.

EEO Statement:

University policy is committed to affirmative action under law in employment of women, minority group members, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans. Additionally, in accordance with Yale’s Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment, and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.

Inquiries concerning Yale’s Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA).

Note

Yale University is a tobacco-free campus

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