Digital Preservation Specialist and Archivist

Description

Library and Information Technology at Bucknell is a unified organization that has evolved dramatically in the past decade, shedding over time many of the distinctions that frequently separate university library and information technology departments. Since 2008, the organization, comprised of eighty-five staff members, has been led by Param Bedi, Vice-President for Library and Information Technology. Under his direction, Library and Information Technology's leadership team has helped usher in a new spirit - a paradigm shift that has moved the organization from transactional to transformational. The division cherishes and carefully maintains its highly interactive work environment, and as such anticipates hiring a Digital Preservation Specialist and Archivist who is committed to hard work, collegiality, and laughter as a member of a team-oriented group. In general, we seek colleagues who are naturally curious, exhibit an openness to our existing affinity for inclusion and diversity of all sorts, who possess a willingness to change, and who embrace all that is made possible through collaboration.

Reporting to the Head, Special Collections/University Archives and University Archivist, the responsibilities of the Digital Preservation Specialist and Archivist are two fold: work with the Bucknell University campus to establish an effective and sustainable digital preservation program and actively participate in the processing and description activities taking place in Special Collections/University Archives. Initially focusing on creating policies, procedures, and work flows to establish, implement, and coordinate a digital preservation program for Special Collections/University Archives collections, the Digital Preservation Specialist and Archivist will, in turn, advise and assist the campus at large with the long-term preservation of its digital content and resources.

Applying digital preservation standards and best practices in the field, the Digital Preservation Specialist and Archivist will work independently and collaboratively with University faculty and staff to create digital preservation policies and procedures that define and support the workflows and processes necessary to the preservation life cycle of digital content and resources considered of long-term value to the University. The Digital Preservation Specialist and Archivist will be knowledgeable and skilled with metadata development and its application in digital preservation practices and will make informed decisions regarding the systems, software, and storage solutions that will build an effective and sustainable digital preservation program. This position is expected to work closely and collaboratively with the University’s records management program to curate and preserve university records in digital format while aligning the digital preservation program with the University’s records management policies and retention schedules.

Responsibilities for archival processing and description will include working with physical collections and other formats in Special Collections/University Archives collections. Archival processing will include physical arrangement of university archives records and manuscript collections and descriptions using the department’s collection management system. It is expected that the Digital Preservation Specialist and Archivist will spend half the position’s time with processing activities with the other half devoted to digital preservation activities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the establishment and implementation of an effective and sustainable digital preservation program that will ensure the long-term viability and accessibility of Bucknell University’s digital content and resources. Initial phase of development focuses on the preservation of digital content and resources associated with the collections in Special Collections/University Archives.
• Accession, arrange, and describe university archives and manuscript collections in various formats.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the DACS standard and archival principles and their application in archival work.
• Collaborate with University staff to develop digital preservation policies, procedures, and workflows that will establish an effective and sustainable digital preservation program creating long-term access to the University’s digital content and resources.
• Apply analytic and technological skills to evaluate and implement digital preservation systems, software, and storage solutions that adhere to digital preservation standards (i.e. OAIS, PREMIS, etc.) and create an infrastructure to support digital preservation activities such as appraisal, accessioning, ingesting and access.
• Manage the digital preservation life cycle of content and resources in a variety of formats, including, but not limited to, content on fixed media, email, the Web, and electronic records.
• Develop descriptive, structural, technical, and administrative metadata to document for preserved digital content and resources. 
• Monitor digital preservation developments in the areas of software, systems, and best practices.
• Advise the University regarding digital preservation best practices, including strategies and workflows that preserve and provide access to digital content and resources of long-term value to the University.
• Create campus awareness about digital preservation through workshops, training, and other outreach methods.
• Work collaboratively with the Records Management Coordinator and the campus to ensure university records in digital form are curated and preserved according to retention policies and schedules.

Required Qualifications:

• Masters degree from an American Library Association accredited program with an emphasis on archival science or an advanced degree in a relevant field with a specialization in archival studies.
• Three (3) years of successful experience working with digital preservation program planning and implementation, preferably in an academic institutional archival setting.
• Two (2) years of experience arranging and describing institutional archival records and manuscript collections.
• Experience with archival processing and institutional records management practices and their application with a digital preservation program.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate technology, systems, and standards (i.e. OAIS, ISO 16363, TDR, TRAC, PREMIS, NDSA Levels of Preservation, etc.) necessary to the implementation of a digital preservation program, including effective workflows.
• Demonstrated proficiency with the development and application of metadata applicable to digital preservation (i.e. Dublin Core, MEDS, METS, PREMIS, etc.).
• Demonstrated proficiency working with a variety of digital formats (i.e. image, audio, object, text) and familiarity with best practices for preservation.
• Excellent organizational, analytic, technological, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage projects both independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to work collaboratively across diverse work cultures.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with archival collection management systems (i.e. ArchivesSpace).
• Experience working with Web archive systems (i.e. Archive-It).
• Knowledge of best practices for managing copyright and access to born digital content and resources.

Bucknell University provides equal opportunity without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, marital status, veteran status or disability in admissions, employment and in all of its educational programs and activities.

Bucknell University is a private, highly selective, unique national University where liberal arts and strong professional programs in engineering, business, education and music complement each other. We seek candidates who are committed to Bucknell’s efforts to create a climate that fosters the growth and development of a diverse student body, and we welcome applications from members of groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education. Bucknell is a NCAA Division I (FCS) and Patriot League member institution that sponsors 27 varsity athletics programs. Located in Central Pennsylvania along the Susquehanna River, Bucknell is nestled in the Borough of Lewisburg, an architectural gem that has been ranked as one of America’s best small towns. The Lewisburg area offers a unique combination of outdoor recreation opportunities, and appealing amenities such as art galleries, an art deco theater, historic museums, and charming independent boutiques and restaurants. In addition to the many cultural and athletic events offered by the University and the Borough, the surrounding region offers outstanding schools, medical facilities, and an affordable cost of living. For those who crave the city, Bucknell is within an easy three-hour drive to Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.