Digital Processing Archivist

Description

Details

Duration: Fulltime, Exempt
Location: Shustek Center, Fremont, CA
Department: Collections & Exhibitions

Summary

The Digital Processing Archivist will have primary responsibility for processing and reading the Museum's digital collection with an emphasis on historic software objects. Tasks include arranging, describing, and making accessible new and legacy digital objects, ingesting content into the digital repository, and monitoring internal digital workflows. The Archivist will work closely with collections and curatorial staff as the Museum undertakes the establishment of The Center for Software History. The position requires an individual who is self-motivated and eager to learn and explore. The successful applicant will have an understanding of a variety of technologies related to digital processing and preservation, and will keep abreast of new technical information and developments relating to the life cycle of digital objects.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Arrange, describe, preserve, and make accessible born-digital and digitized materials following archival practices.
• Help identify, evaluate, recommend, and implement appropriate hardware and software for reading new and legacy digital media.
• Work with the Museum’s Software Curator in cataloging and transferring previously captured and reformatted historic software into the Museum’s collections management database and digital repository.
• Work closely with Museum’s Registrar and Processing Archivists on accessioning incoming digital donations and inclusion of digital materials within the Museum's finding aids.
• Aid in developing or revising cataloging and reference guidelines, workflows, and procedures for the digital collection.
• Manage day to day digital processing workflows for the Center for Software History.
• Respond to external and internal requests for digital materials and provide access to materials in the digital repository.
• Create reports and other documentation concerning the Museum’s digital object collection.
• Support curatorial staff in identifying potential digital materials for use.
• Take an active role in the Museum’s social media and web publishing endeavors.
• Support Museum special events as needed.
• Supervise and train interns assisting in the physical organization, processing, and data entry of the digital collection.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Background, Experience, and Education:

• Masters in Library Science, Information Science, Museum Studies or equivalent experience.
• 1 year experience working in an archive, library, historical society, or museum.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in digital archival processing and preservation standards.
• Familiarity with the reading digital media.
• Knowledge of administrative, technical, structural and descriptive metadata standards such as PREMIS, DACS, EAD, METS, and Dublin Core.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Willingness to embrace new technologies and processes for streamlining traditional archival and/or museum practices, including MPLP.
• Expertise with relational databases and/or digital asset management systems.
• Skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities.
• Detail-oriented and ability to be flexible.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Sense of humor.

Preferred Qualifications, Attributes and Skills

• 1 year experience working with digital collections.
• Basic IT skills including an understanding of shell scripting and Ubuntu.
• Experience providing reference services.
• Knowledge of Mimsy XG museum collections management database.
• Knowledge of BitCurator and Archivematica digital repository software.
• Knowledge of intellectual property issues.

How to Apply

To apply please send a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three references to collections_jobs_a@computerhistory.org Be sure to include the job title you are applying for in the "Subject" line of your email. Preference will be given to resumes received by May 9, 2016. For more information on the Computer History Museum, visit www.computerhistory.org.