Job Description
Position Overview
Primary Function:
Discover, collect, preserve, and provide access to born-digital and digitized archival materials in the Archives from University and external sources. Help shape strategies, initiatives, and methodologies for University digital archives and digital curation. Identify digital content and execute a range of archival functions on born-digital and digitized archival material according to archival standards and best practices. Collaborate with other members of LITS and the University community to help facilitate and support digital scholarship at the University. Actively participate in general Archives support activities.
This position receives general supervision. Broad instructions, policies, and procedures are provided and the staff member uses judgment and experience to carry out assignments.
Career Band: 2DPosition Description
Typical Duties & Responsibilities: Work with the Archives Director and others to help shape strategies, initiatives, and methodologies for University digital archives and digital curation Provide expertise on workflows, tools, implementations, standards, and best practices to support the management and preservation of born-digital content, including, but not limited to emails, web content, social media, and content from legacy physical mediaHelp oversee the implementation of technologies and systems that support a full spectrum of digital objects and servicesHelp develop and implement policies governing the organization, management, and care of digital materialsLead the development and implementation of efficient workflows to ensure the successful accessioning, processing, preservation, and access of digital materials in the Archives
Identify digital content and execute a range of archival functions on born-digital and digitized archival material according to archival standards and best practices Identify and select University digital materials, including web contentCollaborate on the acquisition, accessioning, ingest, and migration of born-digital materialsUse digital forensic and preservation tools to maintain and ensure the long-term preservation and integrity of digital assetsArrange and describe digital materials Create metadata for digital collections using appropriate schema, standards, and best practices Ensure access rights and permissions are in place for digital materials, safeguarding sensitive information Establish the means for providing public and staff discovery and access to digital materialsMonitor the lifecycle of digital assets, performing maintenance and ongoing assessment of the Archive’s digital resources and online platforms
Collaborate with other members of LITS and the University community to help facilitate and support digital scholarship at the University Work with LITS staff responsible for the University’s institutional repository Collaborate with LITS staff and campus units to identify potential digital initiatives or to provide guidance to digital projects with long-term implicationsServe on LITS or University-wide teams as needed to create digital scholarship workflows as well as discovery and access solutions
Actively participate in general Archives support activities Assist with reference services for in-person researchers and via electronic reference requestsHelp with exhibit research, production, and installationWorks actively with other staff to design and teach class orientations, and instruction sessions, and to host special eventsPage and reshelve materialsOther duties as assigned
Judgement Required: Independent judgment and discretion are required in the application of standard operating procedures to the essential duties of this position.
Machines & Equipment Used: Computers, mobile devices, printers, copiers, and scanners.
Budgetary Responsibility: None.
Personal Interaction/Communication: - Student Contact: Daily: providing archival instruction and assistance, answering questions.
- Internal: Daily: providing archival instruction and assistance, answering questions; and University committee involvement.
- External: Daily: providing archival instruction and assistance, answering questions.
Attributes of a Successful Candidate
Education:
Master's degree in Library and Information Science, or related graduate degree.
Experience: 3-5 years of digital archives management within an archives, library, or other similar organization.
Job-Related Skills: - Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Knowledge of and experience with professional archival standards, best practices, and technologies for accessing, arranging, describing, and preserving digital archival materials.
- Experience with tools and software to ingest, curate, and deliver born-digital archival material, as well as transfer content from media such as hard drives, flash drives, floppy disks, servers, etc.
- Experience with institutional repository and digital collection platforms, such as Dspace, Omeka, Digital Commons, etc.
- Working knowledge of standards-based metadata schema.
- Knowledge of intellectual property rights, copyright, rights management, patron and donor privacy, and other legal issues, especially as they apply to primary materials in digital formats.
Supplemental Information
Confidential Information:
Faculty and departmental files, correspondence, research materials, personnel activities, records for library patrons, restricted and sensitive archival and manuscript materials.
Working Environment: University Archives and Special Collections, normal office environment, some physical maneuvering of boxes, object,s and other sometimes heavy items. Working with older materials may involve exposure to mold. Staff members are expected to present a professional demeanor and appearance in dealing with all members of the University community and the general public in the performance of duties for this position.
Any additional requirements specific to this position: The University of the South, commonly known as Sewanee, comprises a nationally ranked residential College of Arts and Sciences and a School of Theology. The University is strongly committed to the values of intellectual inquiry, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and living and serving in community. Situated on 13,000 acres atop Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau, Sewanee is known for its stunning natural beauty while providing easy access to Chattanooga, Nashville, and Huntsville. The University is affiliated with the Episcopal Church and seeks to help employees of all backgrounds and identities flourish. DEI Institutional Statement: At the University of the South, our commitment to inclusion and belonging is grounded in our core values of community, courage, flourishing, and inquiry. We seek to build a community enriched by our diversity and centered on equity, justice, mutual respect, and shared responsibility.
Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of the South is an equal-opportunity educational institution that is committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive campus environment.
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