Institute of Jazz Studies Archives Fellowship Program, Rutgers-Newark, Newark, NJ
Posted November 24, 2014
June 1 to June 12, 2015
The John Cotton Dana Library at Rutgers University-Newark is home to the Institute of Jazz Studies (“IJS”), the world’s foremost jazz archive. With significant collections of monographs, periodicals, sound recordings, manuscripts, artifacts, photographs, and oral history interviews, the IJS has developed and implemented plans for a range of digital projects.
In 2012, IJS established Jazz Archives Fellowship Program to support archival career development. With three archivists and other faculty and staff, the Institute of Jazz Studies is in a unique position to provide practical training in archival organization and processing within the multifaceted collections, as well as a number of seminar-type learning opportunities. Fellows will work closely with IJS and Dana archivists, librarians, and staff to gain an overview of the role of an archive within an urban university library on a campus noted for its diversity, and to learn practical archival skills, while working with the Institute’s world renowned collections.
The program consists of a two-week residency at the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers-Newark from June 1st to June 12th, 2015. Major components include a general orientation, a visit to several New York metropolitan area music archives, discussions and learning opportunities about archival and digital preservation issues, and meetings with Rutgers faculty, staff and administrators about diversity and how it can be served by a specialized archive like IJS. In addition, Fellows will have the opportunity to explore the Institute’s unique holdings and to process a representative collection under the supervision of IJS’s archivists. Fellows will also prepare a digital presentation suitable for web viewing.
Funding: Three fellowships are available, each supported by a $1400 stipend which is intended to cover travel, meals and incidentals. Lodging will be covered directly by the Institute of Jazz Studies. Funding is generously provided by the Morroe Berger – Benny Carter Jazz Research Fund, an endowment established by musician/composer Benny Carter in 1987 (see: http://newarkwww.rutgers.edu/IJS/berger-carter-fund/index.html), as well as additional funding provided by longtime IJS supporter John Van Rens.
Eligibility: Candidates should be currently enrolled in or a recent graduate of an ALA-accredited master’s program in library and information science or an accredited master’s program in archival studies. Candidates should be able to demonstrate an interest in jazz and/or African American history and a commitment to a career as an archivist. Candidates should be committed to contributing to the university’s goals of diversity and inclusion. Please see: http://diversityweb.rutgers.edu/mission.php and http://www.libraries.rutgers.
Candidates from under-represented ethnic minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.
To Apply: Review of applications and interviews will begin immediately. The deadline to apply for selection is December 15, 2015. All applicants will be notified of the committee’s decision by January 31, 2015. Submit resume, cover letter that addresses candidate’s interest in jazz as well as commitment to an archival career, and names of three references to: Lila Fredenburg (Jazz Fellowship), Director of Administrative Services, Rutgers University Libraries, 169 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1163, email: [email protected].