Processing Technician (2 Positions)

Description

The Library of Congress serves the Congress in fulfilling its duties and preserves and promotes knowledge and creativity for the benefit of the American people. It is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution and the world's largest library, with more than 155 million items in its physical collections (including books, manuscripts, prints, photos, film, video, and sound recordings) and over 37 million items online. Located primarily on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the Library is the home of the U.S. Copyright Office, the Congressional Research Service (CRS), the Law Library of Congress, and the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.

The Processing Technician position is located in the Moving Image Section, Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound (MBRS) Division at the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center (NAVCC). Incumbent reports to the Section Head and is responsible for the accessioning, processing, conservation, and reference servicing of the moving image collections of the Library of Congress.This position is located in the Office of Library Services, Collections and Services,MBRS Division, Moving Image Section.

The position description number for this position is 137135.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

DUTIES:

• Completes complex searches to identify the relationship of the piece in hand to the collection as a whole, identifying variant editions, and slipping them with annotated slips to facilitate the cataloging process. Using wide range of in-depth knowledge, the incumbent independently performs the following tasks:
• Following extensive library rules, procedures, and operations, processes and prepares library collections for use, preservation and storage. Receives incoming collections. Distinguishes the type of material, and separates and properly distributes all types of library collection items for processing; completes appropriate forms and/or data records for accessioning, recording, and statistical reports. For the most complex materials, uses primary bibliographic databases, receives and sorts materials into categories and identifies duplicates. Accessions newly received material. Prepares materials for long-term storage and/or digital conversion. Performs basic conservation on materials as needed, including re-housing, cleaning, rewinding and labeling. Prints and attaches labels and barcodes.
• Alerts the supervisor to the presence of material requiring evaluation for special treatment and other considerations. For the most complex materials, identifies, in a variety of formats, moving image materials, title, source, date of acquisition, and other important data to serve as the basis for initial processing and cataloging. Inputs information in manual/automated systems for inventories, container lists, shelf lists, or other kinds of finding aids using box/folder information, series titles, and other data compiled during processing and/or provided by a librarian, cataloger, curator, specialist, or supervisor. In various databases, updates and/or creates initial bibliographic records for items or collections following the established procedures of the section, often under the guidance of catalogers. Work may be reviewed upon completion.
• Resolves complex collections maintenance issues, while responding to the full range of issues and/or problems. Following fundamental library rules, procedures, and operations, maintains the collections. Handles most complex requests for collections materials. Retrieves items from storage and delivers them to the proper location or staff. Arranges, sorts, shelves new materials and re-shelves materials returned to the stacks according to shelf order. Identifies and removes items suspected of containing errors in labeling and/or cataloging and forwards items for further determination of disposition. Examines collection materials to assess physical condition. Selects best copies for retention. Using conservation knowledge, withdraws materials in need of conservation treatment and re-labeling, forwarding them for appropriate correction. Effects shifts necessitated by growth of collection. Inputs information in manual/automated systems for inventories, container lists, shelf lists, or other kinds of finding aids using box/folder information, series titles, and other data compiled during processing and/or provided by a librarian, cataloger, curator, specialist, or supervisor.
• Using a wide range of in-depth knowledge, the incumbent independently performs the following tasks:   Prepares most complex materials for digitization.  Uses audio-visual digitization workstations, various document scanners, and digital camera stations to digitize a variety of audio-visual formats, documents and images for access and preservation.  Such preparation includes, but is not limited to, counting and marking pages and items, examining completed copies against the original material, and linking scanned images to appropriate bibliographic and inventory data records. Scans complex collections for access and preservation. Retrieves and returns scanned materials to collections storage areas.
• Serves as an expert in all aspects of the library's preservation effort to save all materials on microfilm or digital files.
• Independently conducts background research on the collections for varied and complex reference and research correspondence assigned. Carries out basic research to refine and amplify the curatorial files; to provide preliminary records for the creation of catalog entries, captions, and other documentation necessary for the control and access to the collections; to create finding aids, catalogs, and other publications; and to develop caption information and documentation.
• Utilizes expertise to train and mentor other technical staff, and under the guidance of supervisors, catalogers, curators, and managers, may serve as work leader on appropriate projects and tasks as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision.

• Knowledge of moving image documentation, processes and procedures.**
• Ability to maintain materials in a moving image collection.**
• Knowledge of moving image history and formats.**
• Ability to handle motion picture film stocks.
• Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.