Job location: Smith College

Employment Type: Full-time
Posted data: 2019-10-15
Req: R-201901062
LibrariesJob Description

PRIMARY FUNCTION(S): Responsible for executing, maintaining, and improving the business processes by which new collection materials enter Special Collections’ management. Responsible for the preparation of new Special Collections acquisitions for researcher access as soon after transfer as possible.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Accessioning: Manage the intake of all materials into the Sophia Smith Collection of Women’s History, the Smith College Archives, and the Mortimer Rare Book Collection and make them available for research use.

• Promptly establish intellectual and physical control over new acquisitions of special collections materials acquired in any format (book, archives, manuscripts, digital, physical, analog audiovisual, etc).
• Survey incoming materials, applying archival appraisal criteria to assess the condition and historical value of the materials, as well as to identify potentially sensitive materials.
• Develop, review, and execute accessioning plans.
• Prepare and describe new acquisitions to a baseline level so that they are discoverable and available for research as soon as possible after acquisition.
• Assess new accessions for additional processing needs.
• In collaboration with the Metadata Archivist, convert and ingest descriptive metadata provided by donors and others into standard archival systems.
• Assists collection stewards in appraising and preparing materials in the field for transfer to Special Collections.
• Collaborate with the Digital Preservation Archivist on the accessioning and preparation of newly-acquired born-digital content for researcher use.
• Prepare archival collections for research by arranging them into logical groupings, taking appropriate preservation measures, analyzing and describing contents, and publishing standard descriptive metadata (finding aids and container lists).
• Oversee the physical preparation of books acquired for Special Collections, and coordinate or assist with their cataloging.
• Recruit, hire, and train undergraduate student assistants
• Plan, direct, and review the work of undergraduate student assistants, as well as possible undergraduate or graduate student interns.
• Keep up-to-date on best practices and routinely engage with professional peers, in order to assist in the ongoing improvement of Special Collections’ practices.
• Keep statistics on accessioning and document the accessioning process.

Operational Support: As a member of the Technical Services team, provide general operational support to Special Collections and the Smith College Libraries when and where needed. For example: process or oversee the processing of archival collections; serve regular hours in the reading room; provide reference backup support; help prepare collection materials for delivery between locations. Perform related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Experience:

• Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited library school or equivalent degree, with formal training in archival theory required; other advanced degrees will be considered in combination with significant and additional training and/or experience that specifically addresses the skills required for the position.
• Two years of experience in arranging, describing, or accessioning archival and manuscript collections required, including experience applying extensible or efficient archival processing practices.
• Experience with archival collection management software and library cataloging software required; familiarity with ArchivesSpace strongly preferred.
• Experience accessioning, arranging, and/or describing large archival collections (over approximately 100 linear feet) preferred.
• Experience with current archival approaches to born-digital materials preferred.
• Education and experience with rare books or rare book cataloging strongly preferred.
• Facility with data manipulation processes (or interest in developing this facility) required.
• Strong cultural competencies and desire to work with a diverse group of patrons, staff, and student workers required.

Skills:

• Knowledge of relevant US history required, women’s history preferred
• Knowledge of current national standards related to control of bibliographic and archival collection materials (RDA, MARC, DACS, controlled vocabularies) required
• Knowledge of relevant archival theory and practice, especially regarding accessioning, appraisal, arrangement and description required
• Attention to detail required
• Strong communication, organization, problem-solving, and research skills are required
• Ability to work independently, collaboratively, and as part of a team required
• Expert ability to use standard office suite software required
• Aptitude for learning and adapting new technologies required

Please attach/upload a current resume and cover letter in order for your application to be considered for this position.

Review of applications will begin

October 25, 2019

Compensation Grade:

Grade J

Position Type:

Regular

About Smith College

Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is one of the largest women’s colleges in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts.  A faculty of outstanding scholars interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Students cross-enroll and faculty cross-teach across the Five Colleges.

Smith College is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression or veteran status in the recruitment and employment of faculty and staff, and the operation of any of its programs and activities, as specified by all applicable laws and regulations. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.