Collections Digitization Coordinator, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

Posted November 14, 2022

Job Summary

Reporting to the Imaging Services Collections Digitization Librarian, the incumbent provides support for the digitization of archival collections and printed, published works. Working in close collaboration with collections librarians, curatorial staff, and Preservation Services conservators, the Collections Digitization Coordinator plays key roles in planning and coordinating multiple, concurrently run digitization projects. The incumbent reviews collections at local repositories, assists in developing technical specifications, schedules work, receives and returns collections, prepares materials for digitization, performs quality assurance tasks, and produces metadata essential for managing, discovering, and delivering digital resources. 

Position Description

• Contributes to project planning processes that establish workflows, best practices, timelines, and budgets. 
• Coordinates project schedules and activities and informs the prioritization of work across concurrent project workstreams. 
• Searches various systems for information including HOLLIS, Alma, OCLC WorldCat, ArchivesSpace. 
• Batches published material and visual resources for digitization. 
• Develops and edits finding aids as required by projects. 
• Edits descriptive metadata records within Harvard’s bibliographic database (HOLLIS), catalog of visual resources at Harvard (HOLLIS Images), and other specialized collections catalogs. 
• Maintains item-level tracking inventory of source materials, throughout the digitization process. 
• Prepares materials for digitization to make each item “camera ready” (e.g., by removing fasteners, unfolding pages, identifying items requiring conservation treatment, rehousing items as needed, creating instructions for image capture, batching items for production). 
• Reviews and manipulates the data for collections that will be used to describe and structure digital objects. 
• Prepares job tracking and billing paperwork for queued production batches. 
• Schedules with repository staff the delivery and pick-up of batches of library materials. 
• Coordinates the transfer of materials from conservation and imaging production areas. 
• Undertakes quality assurance of digital objects for consistency and completeness; requests or applies remedies for errors.  
• Works to facilitate effective and frequent communication between project partners (repositories, curators, and conservators) to manage and resolve project issues as they arise. 
• Participates in committees and/or working groups as appropriate; stays current with developments in archival/library practice. 
• Communicates with information technology staff to resolve technical issues that arise with various systems, including follow up requests for outstanding issues and Beta testing new systems/upgrades as necessary. 

Basic Qualifications

• 3+ years of library experience required; a combination of education and library experience may be considered. 
• Demonstrated working knowledge of archival theory and practice. 
• Understanding of cataloging practices and procedures and of library automated systems. 
• Understanding of descriptive metadata encoding standards, such as MARC, EAD, METS, MODS. 

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging and anti-racism.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred. 
• Graduate coursework in library or information science. 
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to manage workflows, work with changing priorities, and achieve goals. 
• Ability to handle rare and fragile materials carefully. 
• Must be able to pay strict attention to detail. 
• Experience cataloging manuscripts, archives, books, or visual resources is highly desirable. 
• Familiarity with book structure and library preservation practices desirable. 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. 
• Working knowledge of one or more foreign languages desirable. 

Physical Requirements

• Physical demands are associated with the daily use of a PC, loading, packing, and moving books, book-trucks, and archives cartons. 
• Exposure to deteriorating library materials (mold, dust). 

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in a library/office setting.

For the application and additional information please visit: https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/home/HomeWithPreLoad?PageType=JobDetails&partnerid=25240&siteid=5341&Areq=60447BR#jobDetails=1976713_5341