Digitization Services Manager

Description

Overview:

The Digital Imaging Unit of NYPL Labs is seeking a visionary, inventive manager to help The New York Public Library to share its vast collections with the world through digitization. The Manager will oversee the preservation-grade photography and reformatting of The New York Public Library’s rare and unique holdings (including illuminated manuscripts, prints, rare books, literary and historical archives, historical maps, one of the world's largest photography collections, Broadway set and costume designs, and diverse documents charting the changing landscape of New York City). The Digitization Services Manager will also serve as a primary architect of a range of new digitization streams with the goal of dramatically increasing the volume, speed, and range of NYPL's imaging activities (e.g. rapid book scanning, high-speed microfilm digitization, and experiments with new approaches). A key member of the NYPL Labs leadership team, this is a perfect opportunity for an enthusiastic, problem-solving individual interested in the full digital library lifecycle, from digitization to the creation of online access platforms and user-engagement tools (see http://labs.nypl.org/ for some examples).


About the Department:

The Digital Imaging Unit is part of the New York Public Library Labs (NYPL Labs). Based dually at the Library's landmark central branch on 42nd Street, and at its cutting-edge services center in Long Island City, NYPL Labs is an interdisciplinary team working to reformat and reposition the Library's knowledge for the Internet age. Labs combines core digital library capacities (digitization, metadata, permissions/reproductions etc.) with an award-winning tech/design and outreach team focused on deepening engagement with digital collections and data, and fostering new forms of research and creativity.


Responsibilities:

Under the general direction of the Deputy Director, NYPL Labs:

    Supervises the Digital Imaging Unit (DIU) team (7 FTE), including performance management, training and scheduling.

    Reviews practices, procedures, and policies of the department and revise as necessary to improve efficiency and/or workflow.

    Identifies and implements best technical practices for producing and archiving digital images.

    Assists with the selection of new equipment and follows trends in digital reformatting.

    Maintains production goals for the unit, ensuring that the staff development needs are met and the infrastructure is in place to support the unit.

    Oversee material preparation, quality control, and documentation.

    Liaises with the Library’s curators, librarians, exhibitions staff, metadata staff, repository development team, and others on a wide variety of projects.

    Oversee in the receiving and returning of materials to and from collection units.

    Oversees the preparation of digital files for archiving, printing and access purposes.

    Oversees the timely delivery of public order photography requests.

    Troubleshoots capture issues and advises on solutions.

    Handles and assigns special projects.

    Performs related duties as required.

Qualifications:

    Bachelors degree and substantial relevant experience in a research library or
    similar institution; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

    Successfully demonstrated experience with production work, production scheduling and attainable goal setting.

    Successfully demonstrated experience training, supervising and evaluating staff and
    demonstrated experience in workflow planning and management, production
    of statistics, and an understanding of bibliographic records.

    Successfully demonstrated working knowledge of information technologies associated
    with digitizing books, documents and visual materials including experience with Adobe Photoshop CS.

    Excellent working knowledge of practices and procedures for copy photography,
    including the understanding of cameras, lighting and lenses, and demonstrated experience changing lenses and handling medium format camera and lighting hardware.

    Demonstrated understanding of bibliographic control issues within a large research library         environment preferred.

    Knowledge of library preservation issues and successfully demonstrated experience handling rare and fragile materials preferred.

    Demonstrated experience in a production environment.

    Awareness of leading trends in digitization, and an eagerness to expand the scope of digitization possibilities at NYPL

Work Environment:

Professional photography studio located at NYPL Library Services Center in Long Island City, Queens; travel for meetings at various Manhattan research center locations as required.

Union / Non Union:
Local 1930

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