Digital Imaging Assistant

Description

About HRAF

The Human Relations Area Files (HRAF) at Yale University is seeking a Document Imaging  Assistant for HRAF’s electronic publications. The mission of the Human Relations Area Files (HRAF) is to promote understanding of cultural diversity and commonality in the past and present. To accomplish this mission, HRAF produces scholarly resources and infrastructure for research, teaching and learning, and supports and conducts original research on cross-cultural variation. Since its founding as an autonomous research agency at Yale University in 1949, HRAF has pioneered the interdisciplinary pursuit of anthropological knowledge by expanding access to expertly curated ethnographic data as well as promoting scientific methodologies for cross-cultural comparison. Today, HRAF remains a small non-profit organization committed to developing dynamic, expertly indexed databases. Its flagship online applications, eHRAF World Cultures and eHRAF Archaeology, serve over 500 institutional members worldwide and comprise the world’s largest anthropological and archaeological databases.

Position Summary

Under the direction of HRAF’s Managing Editor, Electronic Publications, and the Document Production Coordinator, the Document Imaging Assistant will primarily create and manage digital assets. The Production Assistant will be asked to digitize collection materials and assist with data quality review and enhancement of scanned images and texts, as well as entering accompanying metadata into databases. This role also includes documenting projects and processes, and maintaining and organizing both digital and physical files.

This position requires an individual who, when provided instructions and a goal for an assigned project, is able to largely perform the necessary tasks independently. The successful applicant will have a good base of understanding of a variety of technologies related to digitization in digital humanities, cultural heritage and/or libraries, and will be capable of quickly processing and organizing new information.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Producing high-resolution digital images and digital page copies by scanning books/manuscripts, maps, photographs, paper file slips, microfiche and other physical and archival media
• Making decisions as to digital image enhancement, cropping, color correction, alignment and optimization for web display
• Checking file quality for scanning, processing and cataloging
• Maintaining digital assets across multiple repositories
• Entering and managing document and citation metadata
• Retrieving and re-filing internal library and paper database resources
• Reserving, picking up, and returning library books
• Entering, updating and maintaining the integrity of relational database records related to the above tasks

Additional general administrative tasks

• Filing of miscellaneous office documents
• Updating physical records and documentation
• Fulfilling occasional book and print-on-demand orders
• Responding to customer requests and other correspondence as needed
• Occasional office tasks as assigned

Required Skills

• Highly organized, motivated, detail-oriented and accurate
• Ability to make adjustments in standardized procedures when unusual conditions and circumstances arise in a fast-paced work environment
• Ability to set priorities and meet deadlines
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communications skills
• Demonstrated knowledge of digital imaging standards
• Demonstrated ability operating digital imaging equipment (e.g. flatbed and document-fed scanners)
• Experienced with Adobe Photoshop and Acrobat
• Experienced with Microsoft Word and Excel
• Familiar with using relational databases such as MS Access or MySQL

Other

Ability to use stairs and to lift and carry full file boxes.

Background and Experience

• Associates degree with 1-2 years relevant experience
• Experience with print and digital archives
• Experience managing and assessing digital images (text and graphics), scanning, and working with databases
• Demonstrable experience using software for digital image editing and enhancement
• Knowledge of rights management and copyright issues related to text and graphics
• Familiarity with academic publications

Preferred

• BA or BSc in library science, digital humanities, computer science or related field
• Experience of using the above skills in a library, archive, cultural heritage or museum setting
• Experience in digital photography
• Familiarity with Unicode ranges
• Familiarity with metadata standards (such as MARC or Dublin Core)
• Familiarity with controlled vocabularies, such as Library of Congress
• Familiarity with mark-up languages, such as XML or HTML

Position Type

• Clerical and Technical
• Part-time (20 hours/week at $21-24/hour) on site in New Haven, Connecticut
• Flexible hours can be arranged
• Benefits provided by Yale University

Application Procedure

Please email your application with the subject line “Document Imaging Assistant” to Dr. Francine Barone at hraf-collection-development@yale.edu. Attach your résumé along with a one-page cover letter including details such as: why you are interested in working at the Human Relations Area Files, and how your skills and experience are relevant to the type of work described above.