Part-Time Archivist, Temple Israel, Boston, MA

Posted April 12, 2021

Description:

Temple Israel of Boston seeks an experienced, professional archivist for a part-time position. This contract position is currently funded at 12 hours per week, but additional funding may become available. The Temple Israel Archives is an institutional archive that collects, holds, and makes accessible records pertaining to its clergy, lay leaders, religious school and preschool, and other programs, auxiliaries, and administrative offices, in addition to materials related to congregants, from its founding in 1854 to the present. The collections include paper records, born digital material, photographs, audio-visual materials, and some objects. Located in Boston’s Longwood Area, Temple Israel is New England’s largest Reform congregation. The synagogue also maintains a museum and a library staffed by a librarian. The archivist reports to the Temple Israel librarian and works closely with the Archives Committee Chair.

Primary Responsibilities: The archivist’s primary responsibilities are to collect, maintain, preserve, and catalog the Archives’ collections and make them accessible, including:
– Providing reference services for temple administrators, congregants, and the general public
– Accession, arrange, describe, preserve, and create access tools for archival records
– Regularly maintain inventories and logs of material in the archives
– Develop and oversee archival policies and procedures as needed
– Do follow up work from audio digitization grant
– Perform other occasional duties including research for museum displays, exhibitions, and educational programs, supervising interns and volunteers, and providing content for the archives’ web page
– Manage the synagogue’s record management program and regular acquisition of historical records from departments, offices, and committees

Qualifications:
– MLS/MLIS with a concentration in archives and/or records management or other graduate degree with equivalent experience or certification in archival studies or records management.
– Experience managing archival collections, preferably with institutional records collections
– Demonstrated project management experience
– Ability to multi-task and work independently
– Excellent writing, interpersonal, and communication skills, including the ability to work well with committees, staff, researchers, and volunteers
– Knowledge of current standards for processing and describing electronic and paper records
– Familiarity and some experience with current approaches with archiving born-digital materials including social media
– Demonstrated knowledge and experience with current archival arrangement and description standards such as DACS and EAD
– Some knowledge of digital preservation and providing access to digital formats
– Familiarity with current records management standards and best practices
– Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Dropbox, and Google Docs
– Ability and willingness to lift boxes weighing up to forty pounds
Preferred:
– Background in history and/or knowledge of Judaism

Salary: $22 per hour

How to Apply:

To apply: Please submit cover letter, resume, and list of three references to Susan Porter, Archives Committee Chair, at [email protected]. This position is available as of April 15, 2021; applications will be accepted until the position is filled. More information about Temple Israel and the Temple Israel Archives can be found at www.tisrael.org.