Digital Archivist

Description

This person will work with the Head of Archives and Special Collections to identify permanent electronic records created by the institution as well as special collections that support the curriculum of the College. The Digital Archivist will lead the digital preservation activities of the Archives and provide key support to the College Archives and Records Management programs. Core responsibilities will include the management, acquisition, appraisal, description, and preservation of born-digital records with historical, evidential, research, or administrative value to the College.

Primary Duties, Responsibilites, and Tasks

• Work with IT to evaluate systems, both open source and commercial, to create a digital repository that will meet the needs of the College Participate in the active management and preservation of digital collections, including but not limited to college websites, college publications, and born-digital manuscripts and personal papers.
• Develop appraisal criteria for digital records in conjunction with the Head of Archives and Special Collections.Develop and implement workflows and processes enabling the effective acquisition, description, access, management, and preservation of digital content
• Develop policies and procedures concerning digital objects and metadata.
• Collaborate with administration, staff, and faculty to identify, manage, preserve, and provide access to born-digital and digitally reformated collections
• Evaluate and maintain web archiving services
• Serves as the expert on digitization, metadata standards, and discovery tools, including remaining current with emerging standards and professional best practices.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Education (including hardware, software, and equipment)

• ALA accredited master’s degree in library/information science with course wotk in archives, digital curation, or digital preservation.
• Comprehensive knowledge of current trends in digital preservation theory and standards and technologies that enable effective preservation of permanent digital records.
• Communication skills and customer service orientation including the ability to work with all academic levels, including administrators, staff, and faculty.
• Demonstrated experience with digital repository platforms (open source or commercial).
• Knowledge of current preservation technologies and the OAIS reference model.
• Ability to plan, coordinate, and implement effective programs, complex projects, and service.
• Experience generating checksums, preservation metadata, and working with tools that verify file authenticity and tools that identify potentially restricted content.

Preferred/Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and Education (including hardware, software, and equipment)

• Degree specializing in archival science, digital curation, or digital preservation
• Knowledge of metadata schemas such as Dublin Core, METS, MODS, PREMIS, and TEI
• Knowledge of cataloging standards, particularly DACS and MARC
• Knowledge of issues related to the capture and preservation of electronic records
• Awareness of developments in the Digital Humanities
• Experience in creating and implementing a digital archive program in an academic setting

Required Prior Work Experience

• 1 or more years working with a digital archive, preferably in an academic environmen

Emerson College values and has placed an institutional priority on multiculturalism in the campus community. Through its constantly evolving curriculum it seeks to prepare students for success in an increasingly multicultural society. The successful candidate must have the ability to work effectively with faculty, students, and staff from diverse backgrounds. Members of historically underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.