College Archivist

Description

The College Archivist has primary responsibility for overseeing the appraisal, accessioning, processing, and preservation of college records. In processing materials, the Archivist prepares finding aids according to archival standards and best practices, including the creation of content notes, biographical and historical descriptions, and inventories. In addition, s/he works with the Library’s technical services department to ensure that archival records are cataloged appropriately in the College’s OPAC and in national bibliographic utilities. The Archivist also leads efforts to establish a program for the long-term management, arrangement, and preservation of the college’s electronic records, including born-digital as well as digitally reformatted records; identifies endangered materials and prioritizes these for conservation; develops an overall migration strategy to ensure that material on non-standard or obsolete formats will be reformatted and/or refreshed regularly; and conducts and supervises basic preventive preservation and reformatting work. As an integral member of the archives and special collections staff, s/he participates in public service functions, assists with reference work, maintenance and growth of the Archives' website, and produces exhibits and other public programs.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Plans, develops, and implements policies for the development, management, and use of the Bates College Archives; maintains and develops college archives web pages.
• Works with the Director of Special Collections to create a program to appraise, describe, preserve, and make accessible the electronic records of the college. As part of such efforts, adds collections and records to the college’s institutional repository, SCARAB (scarab.bates.edu), which uses Digital Commons.
• Appraises, accessions, organizes, and arranges college records and prepares finding aids to facilitate their use by researchers. Adds finding aids and other collection descriptions to archives’ web site.
• Adds descriptive data to and helps to manage the collections management system, a Re:discovery database that is used to describe both manuscript material and institutional records.
• Supervises student assistants.
• Participates in public service functions, such as providing reference service to researchers, conducting tours, providing class orientations, and preparing exhibits.

ADDITIONAL POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assists the Director in providing for training and development of staff.
• Digitizes and catalogs material for inclusion in the online archival photograph and oral history collections.
• Provides input to departmental projects and initiatives; directs such projects and initiatives when appropriate.
• Works with faculty to bring classes into the Archives.
• Serves on college committees as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in librarianship, information science, or archives management, with specialization in archives, or equivalent experience or certification.
• Minimum of two years' experience in the arrangement and description of institutional records in a variety of formats.
• Working knowledge of archival and descriptive standards. Familiarity with EAD, the US MARC format, and APPM and/or DACS.
• Demonstrated experience or understanding of issues involving management and preservation of digital materials or with institutional repository platforms.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality of sensitive records; knowledge of privacy and confidentiality rules and laws affecting record keeping and management.
• Understanding of intellectual property rights affecting archival material.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; must be able to work as part of a team.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Access.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience using a relational database to describe and manage archival collections.
• Experience using Archivists’ Toolkit.
• Familiarity with DreamWeaver and PhotoShop.
• Supervisory experience.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Library environment; extensive contact with researchers, including students, faculty, staff and general public, either in person, by telephone, or electronically; daily exposure to computer screens; occasional exposure to mold, mildew, dust, and vermin/insects.

Essential and additional functions may require: lifting and carrying boxes and other objects weighing up to 50 pounds (including retrieving or returning material to shelves accessible only by ladder and/or step stool); sitting for prolonged periods of time; extensive use of computer keyboard and mouse; visual acuity; walking; standing; bending; pushing book trucks and other dollies across campus to retrieve and return material to off-site storage; listening to and viewing audio/visual material.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Bates College is committed to building and maintaining a workforce that accurately reflects the diversity of our student body, alumni network, and local community. We encourage individuals of diverse backgrounds to apply and are committed to hiring individuals who value a diverse and inclusive work environment. Bates is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

Applicants should submit a resume and letter of interest via the link below. A review of resumes will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Our preference is that all documents uploaded be in a .pdf format as one document. Incomplete applications may not be considered. Questions regarding the application process may be directed to Amie Parker, Employment Manager, via e-mail at hrdept@bates.edu.