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Technical Coordinator, The Barnum Museum and Bridgeport Public Library, Bridgeport, CT

Posted June 30, 2016

Position Description:

The P. T. Barnum Digital Collection Project seeks a collaborative and detail oriented candidate with metadata and digitization expertise and enthusiasm for the humanities to perform multiple duties as part of a comprehensive digitization project supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). A primary goal of the project is to create catalog records and metadata for approximately 200 artifacts, 125 photographs, 325 manuscript items, and 440 print material items as these materials are digitized and to make these files discoverable through the Connecticut Digital Archive (CTDA). The archives and artifacts are in the collections of The Barnum Museum (Museum) and the Bridgeport Public Library’s History Center (BHC), both located in downtown Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Reporting to the Project Director/Barnum Museum Curator, the Technical Coordinator will work collaboratively as part of a team, taking direction from the Bridgeport History Center Archivist and working closely with the Project Cataloger.

The position is temporary (up to 18-months), and is funded through an NEH grant. The Technical Coordinator will begin employment as soon as possible, and complete 15 hours of work per week at a rate of $35 – $40 per hour to be paid by The Barnum Museum. The Coordinator will divide his/her time between the museum and library. This is a 15-hour per week position.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Coordination of outsourced digitization activities for BHC and the Museum. This includes Quality Assurance [QA] for professional-standard best practice results for digital file production and management of digital assets, including implementation of file-naming schemes, creating duplicate files of any files produced by the vendor for safety and preservation, and tracking the delivery of collection materials to and from the vendor sites
  • Coordination of the cataloging activities, including oversight of the project’s Cataloger and harmonizing of input and output from the different cataloging systems in use by the BHC and Museum (Past Perfect and Collective Access); this includes QA for professional-standard best practice results for the metadata and its readiness for ingest into the CTDA (Connecticut Digital Archive)
  • Maintaining communication with the CTDA Digital Content Administrator, and serving as point-person with the CTDA to ensure that digitized content and associated metadata are successfully ingested into the CTDA
  • Regular monitoring of CTDA updates, including those provided in the CTDA website’s weekly blog, to ensure that advisories about technical issues (e.g., timeframes when uploading must be temporarily suspended) as well as other pertinent information (e.g., tips to avoid errors) are known to project staff
  • Setting up appropriate digital asset management protocols and efficient procedures, to be continued post-project by BHC and Museum
  • With Cataloger, producing detailed end of project report

Qualifications:

  • Masters in Library/Information Science from ALA-accredited program or equivalent degree in museum or archival studies is preferred
  • Relevant training or experience in metadata creation in a library or museum (previous experience with a digital repository, or in library or museum technical services is desirable)
  • Experience in and knowledge of XML-based standards such as MODS and Dublin Core
  • Ability to learn new processes and programs quickly and adapt to changing technology
  • Knowledge of current industry standards and best practices for digital curation and preservation of digital objects and databases
  • Experience in digital asset management
  • Ability to implement work processes that adhere to archival and museum standards and procedures, including care and handling of material to be digitized, as directed by the Archivist and Curator
  • Ability to work effectively in both a team environment and independently
  • Excellent interpersonal communications skills
  • Strong organizational skills, high level of concentration, and attention to detail
  • Strong service orientation and awareness of end user needs as related to metadata creation
  • Awareness of cataloging issues and trends, especially for small, cultural heritage organizations is desirable.

Duties:

  • Acquire or improve knowledge of cataloging software systems Collective Access and PastPerfect
  • Coordinate vendor’s digitization activities, track delivery of collection materials, and produce duplicate files from vendor’s for cloud storage
  • Work with Cataloger, BHC, and Museum staff to establish description and access standards for record creation that will result in uniform, quality metadata for the CTDA
  • Troubleshoot technical issues pertaining to the project
  • Direct Cataloger to format metadata for ingest into shared repository
  • Review MODS records created by cataloger for quality and viability
  • Ingest metadata and associated image files into CTDA
  • Monitor, at least bi-weekly, the CTDA website updates and information provided in their Resources blog and communicate information to the primary project staff
  • Coordinate work schedule with Cataloger to ensure overlap of time and regular communication
  • Meet deadlines, achieve milestones stipulated
  • Attend and contribute to project team meetings

To apply please send cover letter of interest and c.v. to the attention of John Swing, Assistant Director, The Barnum Museum, 820 Main Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604, or via email to [email protected]. No phone calls, please.

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