Digital Preservation Librarian

Description

Yale University offers exciting opportunities for achievement and growth in New Haven, Connecticut.  Conveniently located between Boston and New York, New Haven is the creative capital of Connecticut with cultural resources that include two major art museums, a critically-acclaimed repertory theater, state-of-the-art concert hall, and world-renowned schools of Architecture, Art, Drama, and Music.

The University and the Library:
The Yale University Library, as one of the world's leading research libraries, collects, organizes, preserves, and provides access to and services for a rich and unique record of human thought and creativity. It fosters intellectual growth and supports the teaching and research missions of Yale University and scholarly communities worldwide. A distinctive strength is its rich spectrum of resources, including around 12.8 million volumes and information in all media, ranging from ancient papyri to early printed books to electronic databases. The Library is engaging in numerous projects to expand access to its physical and digital collections. Housed in eighteen buildings including the Sterling Memorial Library, the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the Bass Library, it employs a dynamic and diverse staff of approximately five hundred who offer innovative and flexible services to library readers.  For additional information on the Yale University Library, please visit the Library's web site at www.library.yale.edu.

The Preservation Department:
Yale University Library’s Preservation Department, started in 1971, is one of the oldest in the country. http://www.library.yale.edu/preservation/  It has strong administrative support and has played a major role in the development of the preservation field.  The Department has system wide responsibilities and consists of units covering conservation of special and circulating collections as well as exhibition preparation;  reformatting  of special collections materials and circulating materials; mass deacidification; and staff and user-education and consultation on wide variety of preservation concerns.

Departmental Focus

Reporting to the Director of Preservation, the Digital Preservation Librarian (DPL) will develop a plan to ensure effective acquisition, description, preservation, future migration, and security of all Yale Library digital components that must be preserved indefinitely.  While reporting to the Director of Preservation, it is expected the DPL will work closely with and coordinate digital policies & procedures with Library & University IT and with Library departments/units that have born digital collection material and significant digital surrogates of analog material.

Departmental Responsibilities

Through a combination of expertise and skills in preservation, project management, communications, and information technology, the successful candidate will direct and assist in undertaking a related group of activities that include:

• Research, develop, document, and implement a digital preservation program taking on a key role to ensure preservation of all Library digital collections of enduring value:
  • review existing Library practices and analyze needs and establish policies and best practices for the long-term protection and access to digital materials of all types, both created by or acquired by the Library;
  • work with Library & University IT in the development of a Trusted Digital Repository (TDR) for Library digital collections.
• Advise Library staff and develop guidelines for acquisition and long-term preservation of born digital materials;
• Work closely and collaboratively with cataloging staff, archivists, curators, collection managers, Library IT, and text and image specialists to ensure consistent procedures and guidelines and to integrate digital preservation policy requirements into broader organizational policies and procedures;
• Work with Library & University IT to develop an overall migration strategy to ensure that material in standard and non-standard or obsolete digital formats will be reformatted and /or refreshed regularly;
• Prepare digital preservation project proposal guidelines, including specifications for vendor services that support digital preservation as well as templates for Request for Proposals and vendor contracts;
• Educate Library staff in the essentials of the Library digital preservation program through, but not limited to, workshops, websites and handbooks;
• Create and maintain a complex network of professional relationships inside the Library, the University, and throughout the digital and library professions in order to increase the capability of the Library system to preserve its digital collections
• Develop and maintain disaster recovery planning and policy document for digital materials in coordination with the Library & University IT departments.

Required Education & Experience

Master’s degree in Library Science from an American Library Association accredited Library school and two years of related experience. In selected instances, a post-graduate degree in a related discipline may be required or substituted for an MLS. Appointment to this rank is limited to three years at which time it is expected that the individual will develop necessary requirements to meet expectations of performance at the Librarian 3 level.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Appointment to the Librarian 3 rank requires at least five years of professional experience; Librarian 4 at least eight years of professional experience; and Librarian 5 at least twelve years of professional experience and demonstrated professional accomplishments appropriate to the rank.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the vibrant and changing landscape of digital preservation management; and a keen awareness of and experience with preservation challenges facing academic libraries.  Demonstrated ability to conceptualize, define and manage, large, complex technology projects.
• Demonstrated success in the development and/or management of a digital library, archive or repository; Knowledge of one or more digital asset management systems, such as CONTENTdm, Artesia, FEDORA, etc.
• Knowledge of current research on contingency plans against threats to the digital collections, such as industry changes to file formats, natural disaster, and security breaches.
• Knowledge of current technologies, standards, and practice in preservation of digital collections; and excellent oral and written communication skills.

Preferred Education, Experience, and Skills

• Familiarity with the requirements of a Trusted Digital Repository.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Intellectual Property and Rights management as it relates to digital assets.
• Project management training.
• Familiarity with preservation principles and procedures relating to library materials.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

We invite you to discover the excitement, diversity, rewards and excellence of a career at Yale University. One of the country's great workplaces, Yale University offers exciting opportunities for meaningful accomplishment and true growth. Our benefits package is among the best anywhere, with a wide variety of insurance choices, liberal paid time off, fantastic family and educational benefits, a variety of retirement benefits, extensive recreational facilities, and much more.  Applications consisting of a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information of three professional references should be sent by creating an account and applying online at www.yale.edu/jobs for immediate consideration - the STARS req ID for this position is 17937BR.  Please be sure to reference 17937BR in your cover letter.

BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIREMENTS

All external candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent on successful completion of a background check. Please visit www.yale.edu/hronline/careers/screening/faqs.html for additional information on the background check requirements and process.