About this position
The Digital Collections Specialist will primarily support the ongoing activities of Digital WRHS, with an emphasis on digitization. This position will work closely with the Digital Archivist and Preservation Manager to coordinate WRHS’s ongoing digitization projects, in addition to evaluating and updating policies and standard operating procedures related to WRHS digital archives, including but not limited to developing a strategy framework for large-scale digitization projects. Candidates with preferred qualifications may also manage responsibilities related to digital preservation, born-digital archives, and other Digital WRHS priorities.
RESPONSIBILITY: Responsible to the Digital Archivist and Preservation Manager
CLASSIFICATION: This position is classified as full-time, professional and is exempt with regards to overtime compensation. This is a grant funded position.
COORDINATION:
1. Works closely with Digital Archivist and Preservation Manager, Library, and Museum staff at WRHS to facilitate digitization of physical collections and manage the digital lifecycle of digitized objects.
2. Coordinates with WRHS team to support institutional priorities for collections management, exhibitions, public programs, special events, and educational programs.
3. Coordinates with external partners and third-party vendors to support digitization projects and other Digital WRHS initiatives.
Supervision: Supervises interns and volunteers.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Engages in and coordinates with Library team to execute Digital WRHS initiatives, including digitization, digital preservation, and born-digital archives.
2. Participates in continuous evaluation and application of Digital WRHS policies and standard operating procedures.
3. Digitizes archival material and uploads digitized materials, including accurate metadata, to the WRHS digital preservation repository in a timely manner.
4. Facilitates communications with external program partners and digitization vendors to ensure efficient project timelines and high-quality data output.
5. Prepares, with the Digital Archivist, the migration of archival metadata, including metadata clean-up of legacy digital archives.
6. Works with Library team to ensure proper application of descriptive metadata standards and performs routine quality control on digitized archival materials, including creating and validating metadata.
7. Participates in the development and maintenance of content discovery tools, including the Library’s digital preservation repository and other digital access points.
8. Maintains professional standards for work environment and records of collections – including confidentiality, deed of gifts, stewardship, processing, storage, et cetera.
Minimal Qualifications and Requirements: Two years’ experience in some aspect of archives, special collections, or records repository, including digital preservation, digital libraries, and/or digital repositories.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Ability to build internal stakeholder relationships across the organization with staff, senior leaders, and team members in a manner that contributes to a values-driven culture.
2. Demonstrated understanding of and experience with project management, excellent organizational skills, and effectiveness in balancing multiple assignments and projects.
3. An acute attention to detail as well as outstanding analytical, organizational, project, and time management skills and the ability to work on concurrent projects.
4. Demonstrated proficiency and capability with information technology systems and equipment in the context of a special collections library and archival program.
5. Understanding of digitization standards, including Federal Agencies Digitization Guidelines Initiative guidelines and NARA standards.
6. Ability to be proactive, flexible, and collaborative in order to accomplish library and institutional goals.
7. Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.
8. Successful completion of a background check and drug screening.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
1. ALA accredited master’s degree in library or information science, SAA Digital Archives Specialist certificate, and/or comparable certifications.
2. Experience stewarding grant funded projects and donor relations.
3. Experience with archival standards for handling rare and fragile books, documents, oversize items, and photographs.
4. Knowledge of current metadata standards, including DACS, EAD, MARC, and Dublin Core.
5. Knowledge of fundamental concepts of digital preservation and digital forensics.
6. Knowledge of accessioning, arranging, and describing born-digital archival material.
7. Knowledge of a wide range of computer storage media, file systems, software, and file formats.
8. Familiarity with markup languages, style sheets, and other XML-related technologies, using a command line interface and scripting.
If interested, please send your cover letter and resume to Jennifer Dukes, HR Manager at jdukes@wrhs.org
