Archival Collections Cataloger (Sound & Visual)

Description

DESCRIPTION: The Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) seeks applicants for an Archival Collections Cataloger (Sound &
Visual) to process, inventory, and catalog archival collections in a variety of physical and digital formats, concentrating
primarily on photographs, sound recordings and moving images, in accordance with Minnesota Historical Society procedures
and professional archival standards and best practices.

SUMMARY OF WORK: 1) produce and maintain standards-compliant finding aids, inventories, and catalog records in
accordance with Minnesota Historical Society procedures, professional content standards, and prescribed MARC21, Encoded
Archival Description (EAD), and Collections Management System (CMS) encoding guidelines; 2) process incoming and
backlogged acquisitions of sound and visual collection materials; 3) provide in-person public reference service in the History
Center Library as scheduled and respond to web-based user feedback.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
 Bachelor’s degree in a related field plus three years program experience processing and cataloging sound and visual
materials or equivalent OR an ALA-accredited Master’s degree in library science plus two years program experience or
equivalent.
 Substantial knowledge of archival appraisal, arrangement, and description informed by an understanding and
commitment to sustainable processing and cataloging practices.
 Prior processing and cataloging experience with historic and contemporary photographic, moving image, and sound
recording formats.
 Detailed working knowledge of descriptive content standards, such as Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS),
Resource Description and Access (RDA), Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials (Graphic) (DCRM(G)), and/or Archival
Moving Image Materials: A Cataloging Manual (AMIM).
 Practical experience with encoding formats and guidelines for descriptive and authoritative metadata, such as MARC21,
Encoded Archival Description (EAD), Encoded Archival Context (EAC), and/or Dublin Core.
 Experience applying controlled vocabularies such as Library of Congress Name Authority File (LCNAF), LC Subject
Headings (LCSH), LC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials TGM), and/or the Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus (AAT).
 Demonstrated ability to create and enter accurate metadata in an integrated library and/or collections management
system.
 Demonstrated experience using XML applications and software.
 Technical knowledge of digital formats, standards, reformatting practices and procedures.
 Solid computer skills working with Microsoft Office software, PDF, and Photoshop.
 Strong organizational, analytical, problem solving, and time management skills.

 Physical ability to regularly lift, maneuver, and carry storage containers weighing 40 pounds as well as oversized
materials.
 Physical tolerance to dust and inactive mold spores.
 Ability to process materials requiring kneeling, crouching, reaching, bending, climbing ladders and sitting or standing for
extended periods of time.
 Ability to keyboard for extended periods of time.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
 Familiarity with OCLC Connexion, Ex Libris Aleph, or Ke EMu CMS.
 Familiarity with Oxygen XML authoring and editing software.
 Experience providing public reference service.
 Knowledge of Minnesota Historical Society collections.
 Knowledge of Minnesota History.

TO APPLY: Submit MNHS Application for Employment, (available at www.mnhs.org/jobs), cover letter, resume, and if
applicable, any supplemental forms. Application materials must be complete and received by the application deadline
date in order to be considered by one of the methods below: