Lead Archivist, Boston Public Library – Copley Branch, Boston, MA

Posted February 3, 2020

Position Overview

Oversees processing of archival collections held by the Boston Public Library across all formats. Ensures that collections are arranged and described in accordance with established standards and best practices at an appropriate level of detail and effort. Leads development of the library’s processing policies and procedures for archival materials from basic initial control through full, detailed description. Establishes accessioning, deaccessioning, and processing priorities for archival collections and tracks and reports progress. Provides oversight of grant-funded archival projects and internship programs.

 

Reports to

Head of Special Collections or delegate

Supervises

Professional and support staff as assigned

 

Scope of Responsibility

1. Oversees the development and implementation of policies, procedures, standards, workflows, and best practices for archival materials, including collection analysis and management, selection, processing, description, housing, storage, security, and digitization.

2. Supervises archives department staff, including hiring, performance evaluations, scheduling, and staff training. Responsible for the training of staff and interns in processing methodologies and tasks according to local and national best practices.

3. Prioritizes workflows and develops processing plans for archival collections, including determining level of granularity at which to process, arrangement, housing, and writing and editing finding aids. Coordinates priorities and processing plans with curators and preservation staff as appropriate.

4. Leads the effort to reprocess and bring legacy finding aids for archival collections up to current descriptive standards. Oversees the encoding of finding aids for online publication.

5. Works closely with Preservation and Conservation staff to determine appropriate housing of archival materials and identify and recommend materials for conservation treatment. Participates in stacks maintenance and inventory projects.

6. Under the direction of the Head of Special Collections, oversees the selection, evaluation, and maintenance of new archival materials within established collecting areas and in alignment with the Library’s Collection Development Policy. This includes assisting with acquisition decisions, suggesting areas for future growth, and evaluating donations and gift proposals. Collaborates with curators and preservation staff as appropriate.

7. Participates in instructional and outreach programs and activities to promote knowledge and use of the archival collections.

8. In collaboration with curators, specialists, catalogers, and content discovery staff, establishes digitization priorities and designs and implements project plans to address those priorities.

9. Provides support for reference and research inquiries regarding archival collections.

10. Alternates with other staff members in supervising a special collections reading room in such a way as to maintain an atmosphere conducive to research while responsibly preserving and protecting materials. Instructs patrons in the proper handling of archival materials.

11. Contributes to cultivation and stewardship of prospective donors and identification of potential archival collections for acquisition.

12. Contributes to the development of initiatives using new technologies to encourage the use of primary sources by a broad scholarly and educational public.

13. Contributes as appropriate to the development of grant narratives, work plans, and budgets.

 

Competencies 

• Demonstrated knowledge of current archival theory and accepted best practices; comprehensive knowledge of descriptive standards for archival and manuscript materials, especially DACS and EAD, and familiarity with other relevant standards, such as DublinCore, EAC, MODS, METS, MARC, AACR2, RDA, LCNAF, and LCSH; familiarity with technologies and systems developed or adopted by the archival community for the management of and access to archives. 

• Successfully demonstrated leadership experience within a library or other educational institution

• Knowledge of current archival preservation principles and best practices.

• Ability to plan and supervise the work of others.

• Ability to demonstrate vision, strategic thinking, initiative, collaboration, flexibility and adaptability; and willingness to embrace change.

• Ability to carry out detailed procedures with accuracy.

• Demonstrates initiative and appropriate independent decision-making skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a diverse population of library users, staff, donors, and community members.

• Ability to execute library policy.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

 

Minimum Entrance Qualifications:

Education

Bachelor’s degree from a recognized college or university and a Master’s degree in library and information science with formal training and professional experience in archival theory and practice required. In exceptional instances specialized education, training, and/or experience may be substituted for a part or all of the educational requirements.

Experience

Five years of professional experience in archival processing and description in library, museum, or other similar cultural heritage institution. Supervisory and/or management experience required.

 

Requirements

• Technology skills appropriate to perform the duties of the job

• Excellent public service skills

• Reading knowledge of one or more foreign languages and the ability to deal with unfamiliar foreign languages preferred

• Ability to exercise good judgment and focus on detail as required by the job

• Residency – Must be a resident of the City of Boston upon the first day of hire

• CORI – Must successfully clear a Criminal Offenders Record Information check with the City of Boston

 

Terms

Union/Salary Plan/Grade: PSA/P/4

Hours per week: 35

 

To view the full position and apply, please visit the following link.