Digital Programs Librarian, Boston Athenaeum, (Boston, MA)

Posted August 25, 2023

Reporting to the N.E.H. Chief Technical Services Librarian, the Digital Programs Librarian plays
a critical role in preserving, providing access to and promoting the Boston Athenæum’s
collections by overseeing all facets of image production, including the post-capture processing of
digital surrogates; ingestion into the Athenaeum’s digital asset management system (DAM),
CONTENTdm; and adding appropriate metadata. The position also maintains the integrity of
the Athenaeum’s DAM; adheres to file naming protocols; and maintains the organization of the
digital surrogate drives and files. Additionally, the position is responsible for fulfilling rights and
reproduction requests for images for internal and external patrons.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Work the Chief Technical Services Librarian, Curators, Library, and Conservation staff in identifying collection material for digitization
Responsible for safely gathering materials selected for digitization; ensuring their security while in the imaging lab; and safely re-shelving items, after digitization in a timely fashion
Work with the Chief Technical Services Librarian to coordinate workflows, prioritizing projects, setting method of digitizations, determining timetables and accessing available metadata
Consult with Conservation when necessary to assess the suitability of materials for digitization
Operate digital imaging equipment to produce high-resolution images, making post-capture decisions as to composition, cropping, color correction, and alignment in accordance with digitization best practices
Perform post-capture production of digital surrogates and ingest them into the Library’s digital asset management system CONTENTdm
Ensure the integrity of CONTENTdm by maintaining the directory access searches
Digitizes collection material to fulfill specialized internal, departmental projects (e.g. exhibitions, promotional material, social media, lectures, etc.)
Ingest digital surrogates and accompanying, quality metadata into external platforms such as the Internet Archive and Digital Commonwealth
Create documentation for new departmental procedures and keep existing documentation up-to-date
Fulfills requests for rights and reproduction of images of items from the Athenæum collections
Serve as a supervisor in the Special Collections Reading Room once a week
Work with the Athenaeum archivist in developing policies related to institutional electronic records
Train, supervise, and monitor Technical Services interns when necessary
Keep up with current industry standards, best practices, and policies in digitization
Give tours of the Imaging Studio, as needed

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

Master of Library and Information Science degree from an ALA-accredited institution or equivalent training and experience required
At least three years of professional experience in the production and management of digital surrogates of cultural heritage materials required
Knowledge of CONTENTdm digital asset management system required
Demonstrated ability in operating and maintaining a range of capture and imaging technology, camera, scanner hardware, and lighting techniques required
Knowledge of digital image editing software such as Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, and Bridge required
Knowledge of metadata practices and standards such as Dublin Core required
Knowledge of current trends and best practices in digitization (e.g. FADGI, IIIF) required
Experience handling rare and fragile art objects and paper-based materials, required
Ability to carry out detailed procedures with accuracy under minimal supervision; to plan and prioritize job responsibilities and tasks required
Effective organizational and communication skills, including the ability to present complex concepts and ideas clearly in written or oral form required
Capacity to work collegially with other staff members and to interact respectfully with patrons required
Commitment to fostering a workplace culture of diversity and inclusion required
Experience ingesting digital surrogates into external platforms such as Internet Archive and Digital Commonwealth preferred
Coding capabilities preferred
Supervisory experience preferred
Knowledge of rights management and copyright issues related to digital surrogates preferred

Research shows that women and people from underrepresented groups often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of this job description describes you, then please apply for this role.

Salary: $55,000-$59,000/year

TO APPLY:

Please submit a cover letter and resume using the following link:
https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=0c217
2f4-dddf-44f5-9300-133cc1de3cd2&ccId=19000101_000001&lang=en_US

The Boston Athenæum is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage individuals of diverse
backgrounds to apply and are committed to hiring individuals who value a diverse and
inclusive work environment. The Boston Athenæum is also committed to providing access,
equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in
employment. To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact HRNora Conley
Generalist at 617-720-7630

ABOUT THE BOSTON ATHENAEUM
Founded in 1807, the Boston Athenæum is located at 10½ Beacon Street on Beacon Hill. A
distinguished membership library and cultural institution with a long history at the center of
intellectual life in Boston, the Athenæum hosts events year round and supports a dynamic
exhibition program. It is welcoming to all, a place that nurtures a sense of wonder and delight in
sharing the joy of physical books, maps, prints, and other works of art, and a place that fosters
community and civil discourse as members and visitors connect and converse.
The Athenæum’s collections are housed within a National Historic Landmark that is widely
regarded as one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. The reading rooms—including the
barrel-vaulted fifth floor—have served as a haven and inspiration to countless writers and
researchers. The library maintains over 600,000 volumes with strengths in history, biography,
and literature, as well as fine and decorative arts. Notable holdings include primary materials on
the American Civil War; the largest portion of President George Washington’s library; a first
edition of Audubon’s The Birds of America; a 1799 set of Goya’s Los caprichos; one of the most
extensive collections of contemporary artists’ books in the United States; and numerous
artworks, including portraits of notable Americans such as Hannah Adams, John Marshall, and
Alexander Hamilton, and by artists such as Gilbert Stuart, John Singer Sargent, Allan Rohan
Crite, and Polly Thayer Starr. Membership is open to all, and visitors are warmly welcomed