Digital Projects Librarian

Description

 Search reopened.

Amherst College seeks a Digital Projects Librarian to coordinate the digital reformatting operations that preserve and improve access to library and archival collections in all formats and conform to digital library standards and best practices.

Before applying please see https://www.amherst.edu/media/view/394025/original/DigitalProjectsLibrarian2013.pdf for the full job description.

A review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Please make sure that you have read the job description and that your candidacy meets the required education and experience qualifications. Applications that do not meet the required qualifications would not be considered.

Function
Coordinates digital reformatting operations that preserve and improve access to library and
archival collections in all formats and that conform to digital library standards and best practices.
Contributes to the development and implementation of digital projects.
Principal duties and responsibilities
● Coordinates the daily operations of the Digital Production Center, including digitization, color
management, and quality control activities
● Designs, documents, and oversees efficient digital production workflows supporting the creation
of digital objects that conform to digital library standards
● Contributes to the development of policies, guidelines, and best practices; maintains
documentation on digitization best practices and digital preservation policies
● Actively participates in the development of a digital preservation strategy for the Library
● Investigates and recommends digitization hardware and software; monitors and maintains
specialized hardware and software to capture, manipulate, and save images
● Takes part in additional departmental activities such as metadata creation and migration, digital
project consulting, and outreach
● Evaluates requirements of digitization projects and makes recommendations for appropriate
methods of capture
● Trains digitization staff; trains and supervises student employees
● Communicates with vendors on issues related to hardware, software, and digitization of special
formats such as audio and video; works with digitization vendors to establish project requirements
and ensure quality of digital objects
● Participates in committees and work groups of the Library, College, and Five Colleges and at
regional and national organizations as appropriate
● Demonstrates and facilitates effective communication throughout the Library and across the
College

Qualifications
● Master’s degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association or foreign
equivalent by time of appointment required.
● Background in film photography, digital photography, and/or graphic arts; or experience in a
production oriented digital studio environment; or experience in the imaging of two- and/or three-dimensional objects for cultural heritage institutions.
● Knowledge of a wide range of digital library standards, particularly best practices for digitization.
● Experience using and supporting numerous types of digital imaging equipment including flatbed
scanners and digital cameras.
● Project management skills.
● Ability to color calibrate monitors; experience using objective and subjective quality control
assessments and performing color correction and image manipulation using standard digital
imaging software.
● Familiarity with a variety of metadata standards, including MODS, METS, MIX, and VRA Core 4.0
preferred.
● Ability to work independently and collaboratively. Ability to work closely with colleagues from all
Library departments and with students, faculty, staff and College administrators.
● Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills. Ability to communicate with
technical and non-technical individuals.
● Experience handling archives/special collections/institutional records.
● Commitment to further the College’s mission of diversity and inclusion.

Reports to: Head of Digital Programs