Davis - University of California - Head of Archival Processing

https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF04728

Salary

Salary: $74,182 - $99,445

APPLICATION WINDOW

Open date: February 9th, 2022

Next review date: Sunday, Mar 20, 2022 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Saturday, Apr 30, 2022 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Overview of Position

The Library of the University of California, Davis, seeks a forward-looking and entrepreneurial professional to join our team as the inaugural Head of Archival Processing and advance the library’s efforts to transform and improve discovery of library resources, collection management, and the organization and curation of data.

Reporting to the Head of the Content Support Services, this position will take a strategic role in prioritizing and leading the processing of incoming archival and manuscript collections in all formats, creating and enhancing online descriptive guides, managing web archiving services, and implementing linked data. The UC Davis Library has been participating in various linked data initiatives and is committed to being an early adopter of modern web technologies (such as linked data) in managing and discovery of the library’s rich resources, including archival content.

As the manager of the archival processing unit, this position will provide intellectual and professional leadership around best practices for processing traditional archival collections as well as emerging and potential areas of curation, including those created by campus researchers. This role will also manage the archival processing backlog, keeping accurate records of unprocessed material and identifying collections requiring additional expertise (e.g., language, subject knowledge). As an individual contributor, this position will also participate directly in creating and editing both finding aids and MARC records and in problem resolution, as well as mentoring colleagues in other library units and across the campus.

The archival processing unit is responsible for describing all archives and manuscripts collected by the library as well as managing web archiving activities. We anticipate this to be a growing unit as the library fundraises to support archival processing especially in the areas of university archives, food, and wine. A large portion of the responsibilities of this position will be to train and mentor early-career employees in the best practices of archival processing and metadata creation.

As a member of the Content Support Services Department, the incumbent collaborates with others in the Scholarly Resources division to plan and coordinate policies, procedures, workflows, and projects. This role collaborates closely with colleagues in Archives and Special Collections, in Collection Strategies, and at the California Digital Library (which manages the Online Archive of California), and may collaborate with subject matter and language experts both in the library and across campus.

Stronger candidates will have a solid grounding in the best practices of processing archives in print/tangible, born-digital, and web-based formats; a strong appetite and aptitude for training and mentoring nascent archivists; an entrepreneurial approach to emerging and bespoke formats of institutional content; proclivity for adopting new technologies and methods that will improve access to and use of distinctive collections; and a collaborative and collegial outlook and spirit.

This position is in the Librarian Series and, as such, is an academic appointee. Librarians at the University of California are represented by an exclusive bargaining agent, the University Council – American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT). In addition to professional competence and quality of service within the library in the primary job, advancement in the librarian series requires professional involvement and contributions outside of the library, and/or university and community service, and/or scholarly activities.

Position Responsibilities

Under the general supervision of the Head of Content Support Services Department, the incumbent will be responsible for:

• Managing the Archival Processing Unit
  • Hire, evaluate, train, supervise, and mentor regular and student employees as well as project archivist(s) and/or intern(s)
  • Ongoing education of employees in the best practices of archival processing, including metadata creation, collection arrangement, identifying preservation/conservation issues, etc.
  • Oversee quality control for archival metadata
  • Working with colleagues in Archives and Special Collections, prioritize collections to be processed and determine appropriate level of description
  • Recommend and implement strategies for producing inclusive, ethical, and accessible archival description, metadata, and finding aids
  • Recommend strategies for processing collections and materials where expertise to do so is not currently available among existing employees
  • Maintain accurate records of the processing backlog
  • Generate periodic progress reports for funders/donors as appropriate
  • Plan and execute archival processing projects
• Processing archival collections
  • Arrange, describe, and preserve archival collections in all formats, especially the most complicated and heterogeneous collections
  • Manage web archiving services, including monitoring the system for errors and data limits, coordinating with stakeholder colleagues, and advising on the organization, description, and metadata for archived web content
  • Manage exporting of EAD finding aids to external discovery environments such as the Online Archive of California
  • Is responsible for data exchange between the archival collection management system and external discovery platform(s)
• Departmental contributions:
  • Assist colleagues by assessing collections, establishing priorities, and, as needed, providing input on catalog records, finding aids, and metadata needed for digital collections and digital preservation
  • Contribute to supporting the day-to-day operations of the unit and the department
  • Contribute to department-level planning and the formulation of new policies and procedures
• Advance the goals of the library’s forthcoming strategic plan, including a renewed focus on inclusion and equity.
• Represent the library through participation in campus, local, regional, and national cooperative, outreach, and professional activities.
• Keep abreast of developments in archives and resource description standards and trends, applying new rules, interpretations, and techniques as appropriate.
• Participate in professional development activities as appropriate to meet both personal needs and departmental goals and objectives.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
• As an academic appointee, engage actively in pertinent ongoing research, scholarship, or creative activity and/or teaching.

Required Qualifications for the Position

• Masters in Library or Information Science from an ALA-accredited institution OR a graduate degree appropriate to working in processing and describing archival contents OR at least three years of professional experience in an appropriate industry or field
• Demonstrated experience processing and describing archival collections, following the principles of arrangement and description of archival collections; such as the uses of DACS, EAD, and current archival best practices and standards (such as More Product, Less Process)
• At least one year of supervisory experience
• Demonstrated understanding of the uses of technology to enhance the reach and impact of archives and special collections
• Knowledge of and commitment to addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion issues throughout library activities
• Strong commitment to continued professional development and engagement with new and emerging conversations around archives, web archiving, and other related areas
• Strong service orientation and interest in anticipating and supporting information users’ values and needs
• Evidence of ability to work collaboratively with library colleagues and partners within the library and across a culturally diverse campus
• Evidence of flexibility and initiative when working within a fast-paced and rapidly changing setting
• Evidence of effective use of analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Ability to meet the University of California criteria for advancement and promotion within the Librarian Series

Preferred Qualifications for the Position

• Knowledge of best practices for security, storage, handling, description, and service for distinctive collections
• Experience with web archiving tools (i.e., Archive-it) and the best practices around web archiving
• Experience processing and describing digital archives and donations thereof, including digital objects, data sets, web archives, and/or email
• Demonstrated experience with using ArchivesSpace, OCLC’s cataloging interface(s), and Alma
• Knowledge of metadata analysis, transformation tools, and scripting languages for data manipulation (OpenRefine, Python, XSLT, etc.)
• Knowledge of how modern web technologies (e.g., linked data) inform library practices and archival description
• Experience working and/or supervising in a unionized environment, preferably in an academic or research library
• Record of accomplishment in research, scholarship, or creative activity and/or teaching consonant with an academic appointment
• Evidence of commitment to fostering an inclusive environment