What I’ve learned since I graduated.
Posted: April 20, 2015 Filed under: Advice, Advice: Job Search, Advice: New Professionals, Discussion, Professional Associations 1 CommentAs of this writing, it’s been just about six months since my degree was awarded. I handed in my last coursework at the end of August 2014, and did some nail-biting while my thesis was graded. But I didn’t actually see my physical degree, framed and signed and in all its majesty, until last week, when I went home for Easter! It was surprisingly affecting — I didn’t think seeing my name all gussied up like that was going to be such a gut-punch of emotion, but I am really proud of that big piece of paper.
Between seeing that and reading this, I thought I’d try my hand at articulating a bit of perspective. It’s hard for me to write a “what I’ve learned” article without hedging my bets a bit — there are things I’ve started to dig into deeper, but I wouldn’t say I’m an expert or that my knowledge has yet paid off in practical terms. I started a full-time job as a corporate archivist the week after handing in my thesis, so a lot of what I can recommend isn’t directly applicable to arts librarianship or even the majority of MLIS/MISt graduates who might be reading this. But, I’m going to tell you what I do anyways, and it starts with how I …
1. Criticize myself.
There is no time for a break, no time to kick back and separate yourself from the field once you hand in your last assignments. Chances are you’ve got a job offer lined up, unfinished research projects, a handful of applications to send out, a move, some volunteer commitments or conferences, or some other thing that should be occupying your time.
But you should prioritize a few hours (ideally with wine) to assess your situation, yourself, and your goals: what gaps are left in your education that will stand between you and your dream jobs? What experience do you lack based on the job postings you’re seeing? What’s the most likely progression going to be for you, from entry-level onwards? How can you prepare for each of those steps?
One of the best little tricks is to go back and read the term papers and assignment you handed in in your first semester. Does it make you cringe now to see how naive you were? Alternatively, aren’t you impressed with how far you’ve come in such a short time?
I never would’ve guessed I’d end up in corporate, but here we are, and I’m trying to look critically at which of the soft skills I’m picking up here (project management, training, research and policy-writing, etc.) are transferable and provable, and which ones I still need to acquire, so that I can start out at higher than entry-level when I get back into art and media work. But I have to acknowledge that some of my discipline-specific skills are getting rusty, so I …
2. Keep abreast.
Are you happy with all the listservs and newsfeeds you belong to? Could you stand to add more, or lose a few of the less-relevant options?
Personally, my feed for information on the profession comes from a couple of Canadian archiving lists, ARLIS, AMIA, SHARP, MCN, and the ALCTS eForum I mentioned previously. I’ve pared down a bit, and there are a few lists I’d like to be on for which I can’t afford a membership.
AMIA, for example, is a fantastic way just to keep in mind all the weird format issues and preservation challenges that multimedia workers face every day — there are always emails about finding a specific fitting for a rare tape player, or how best to clean a certain type of film with flourescent dye on it. If you’re bad at mechanical terminology, I guarantee you’ll pick it up quickly.
I use the Art News mailing that comes via CARLIS-L to remind me to check websites like Artforum and Canadian Art. Otherwise I tend to forget.
I don’t read any librarianship-specific websites regularly (other than job boards, for ArLiSNAP), but because of Twitter I’m constantly seeing blog posts from people like Barbara Fister on Inside Higher Ed, updates to journals, etc. If you want art-specific Twitter accounts to follow, check out the institutions and individuals that the ArLiSNAP account follows. (I follow a more eclectic collection, but hey, here are a couple suggestions.)
I can’t afford individual journal subscriptions, and I don’t have institutional access to that stuff, but I do read up on accessible (OA, PD) things when they go by in my feed. I only splurge on one physical publication, and that’s Cabinet Magazine, which doesn’t keep me up-to-date so much as inspire me regularly on all fronts.
On WordPress I follow things like Archives Gig, SNAP RT, most of the ARLIS SIGs’ and Sections’ blogs, and a few oddballs like Artist-Driven Archives and Failure in the Archives. I’m sure someone will tell me that I should consolidate or aggregate a bit better, but, nah.
I’ve also got a special label in Gmail just for Calls For Proposals from the various listservs: I’m not going to apply for many this year, and most of them aren’t applicable to what I do, but I like being able to see what kinds of research and projects are being asked for, when the various deadlines come up, and which journals and conferences I might just want to consume without contributing to. But, occasionally, I do apply for stuff, because it’s always important to …
3. Hustle.
On top of the full-time job, I’ve got a few guest posts and articles queued up for publishing, two regular volunteer commitments (ArLiSNAP, and a journal I help copyedit) and some irregular ones (peer-reviewing for two journals), an ongoing data-mining project with a non-profit here in Toronto (no funding, just fun!), writing for ArLiSNAP and my own blog, and maintaining a Twitter presence of questionable quality.
I’ve done two conferences so far this year, and have two more to come (both speaking engagements, one of which is reporting on a yearly survey I run using Google Forms). This weekend I decided to start a project to improve listings of library and archives associations in Canada (probably with the goal of making Wikipedia pages for each). I have at least four copyright-related tumblrs I’d like to start. Now that I’m thinking of it, I volunteered to copyedit a new book by CARLIS, which I should be hearing about any day now ….
I think of all this as essential to keeping myself engaged with the fields I want to be in. As opposed to grad school, where my time was occupied in shallow exploration of a lot of subjects of varying interest to me, now I get to dig deep into the things I’m passionate about, and construct a broader career arc that includes artists’ practices and intents, copyrights and moral rights for creators, the history of print, preservation and access of both art and art-related documentation, and new techniques for analyzing art. Without calling it “personal branding,” I will say it was a lot easier to define some long-term research goals once I distanced myself from the generalist approach of my classes. Which leads me to …
4. Forget about everything I did in school.
No offense to my alma mater, but I didn’t leave school with a huge network of trusted peers and great professors (or respect for government funding for higher-ed, or ALA accreditation, or …). There was little critical education in the classes I took, which is understandable given the breadth of what has to be taught, but it meant I didn’t find people who thought and argued like I do. Being thrown into a room with people doesn’t guarantee you’ll find things to talk about — and the #1 thing I’ve learned since graduating is that there is a huge variance of why people got into this profession, and what it is they want to accomplish within it.
I moved away from Montreal when graduation was in sight, so I may have shot myself in the foot a little there (also I’m not on Facebook and am only a recent convert to Twitter), but I’ve managed to network so much better back in Toronto, without many ties to the people I spent a year and a half interacting with. A lot of it is online, through associations and listservs and volunteer work with eventual face-to-face meetings at conferences — and a lot of it is engaging people on social media once I’ve come to know and respect their work.
I think the best part of my MLIS was the four jobs I did during that time — one RA position, one job in the library, one internship for a design company, one summer contract with a non-profit — because it gave me at least some experience in a diversity of settings. While I am invested in the academic use of the degree, I wasn’t going to get a job without being able to articulate some proven skills and accomplishments. So, yeah, I recycled some term papers as applications for student awards, sure, but I don’t think my classwork and student chapter attendance are worth much now — and I’m sure they’re not all you have to offer the world, either. Which is why it’s good to ….
5. Stay smart about career moves.
I’ve taken to reading Get Bullish for career inspiration and advice; you might enjoy one or more of the following, if these questions are on your mind:
http://www.getbullish.com/2012/10/bullish-how-to-compete-when-youre-young-and-inexperienced/
http://www.getbullish.com/2015/04/bullish-qa-how-to-effectively-share-examples-of-your-work/
https://www.themuse.com/advice/no-really-these-are-the-best-conference-networking-tips-weve-ever-heard
http://www.getbullish.com/2012/03/bullish-the-nerdy-reflective-persons-guide-to-networking/
http://www.getbullish.com/2015/03/bullish-qa-how-do-you-get-motivated-for-a-huge-unimaginable-life-change-like-graduation/
http://www.getbullish.com/2012/06/bullish-three-tips-for-pitching-your-dream-gig-and-why-you-need-to-pitch/
I am also a fan of the Billfold, not just for the voyeurism involved in their “how other people do money” column, but for some of these:
http://thebillfold.com/2013/05/how-to-make-a-linkedin-profile-that-will-actually-help-you-get-a-job/
http://thebillfold.com/2013/02/meet-people-get-a-job-even-if-youre-an-introvert/
http://thebillfold.com/2012/05/reader-mail-how-much-should-i-be-earning-after-graduation/
… I think that’s it. Other than “Don’t be ashamed of using a lot of spreadsheets to get things done.”
A Success Story: An Interview with Lindsey Reynolds
Posted: January 30, 2015 Filed under: Advice, Advice: Job Search, Advice: New Professionals, Interviews | Tags: art librarianship 1 CommentLindsey Reynolds is the new(ish) Art Librarian at the Birmingham Museum of Art, in Birmingham, Alabama (http://www.artsbma.org). She’s graciously agreed to answer some questions for us here at ArLiSNAP.
Can you tell us a little bit about your background and your current position?
I got my MLIS degree from the University of Alabama in December 2011. I was fortunate to receive the ARLIS/NA internship award that year, so I went to New York in the Spring of 2012 to intern with the New York Art Resources Consortium (MoMA, the Frick, and the Brooklyn Museum libraries). After that, I took an archiving job at an architecture firm in Atlanta. In mid-2013 I went back to New York to work at the Whitney as the Library Assistant. And last September I started as the Librarian at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
What drew you to this position and art librarianship in general?
I had frequented the BMA as a student and really respected their permanent collection. I enjoy being at a smaller institution – I’ve gotten to know all of my colleagues and get to work on more museum-wide projects. The museum has recently challenged itself to grow from a regional clearing house for travelling exhibitions to a nationally-recognized and locally relevant museum, producing our own exhibitions and providing a socially-engaged, creative platform for our community. I’m excited to be a part of that change.
What are your main roles/duties at your current position?
I have a few interns and volunteers, but I’m the only librarian at the museum which means I am responsible for both the library collection and the institutional archives. So far I’ve been getting familiar with the collection and doing some housekeeping. I’m planning a stacks shift for the summer, and am working on a records retention policy for the museum which will hopefully help to grow our institutional archive. I’m most excited to start acquiring artist’s books.
What is a typical day like for you?
My days vary tremendously, that’s one of my favorite parts of the job. Since I’m the only one, I can really tailor my day to suit my moods – some days I do a little bit of everything (policy writing, outreach, reference, acquisitions), other days I dedicate to one task (cataloging or processing usually), and other days I have so many meetings that I hardly get to sit down at my desk!
What were/are some challenges for you as a new art librarian? Are these related to larger challenges in art librarianship?
At first my biggest challenge felt like finding a job. Now that I’ve tried a few, I think one of the biggest challenges for me, and for museum libraries in general, is staying relevant and visible to my colleagues and to the public. It can be hard to push for more funding since libraries don’t typically generate income – I see it as an opportunity for creativity and collaboration.
What are the most important things emerging art librarians should know?
There are so many opportunities out there! Look around and find a career path that suits you (see the “New Voices in the Profession” panel at the ARLIS/NA conference if you need ideas!)
When you’re applying for jobs pay attention to where the library falls in an institution’s hierarchy – it can tell you a lot about the institution’s priorities and their commitment to the library/archives department.
Just for fun – what is your favorite library? Work of art or artist?
Oh geez – those are unanswerable questions. I’m pretty enamored with Etel Adnan’s work lately. I had never seen her artist’s books until the Whitney Biennial last year, and I think they’re great. I also really enjoy the things that the Office of Culture and Design are doing in the Philippines, especially the Manila Review. They are using publications as a platform for community engagement and are a great example of what social practitioners can achieve and keeping a sense of humor throughout it all.
On Freelancing and Contracting: some conference cogitations
Posted: August 1, 2014 Filed under: Advice, Advice: Job Search, Alternative Careers, Archives, Discussion 5 CommentsI spent the end of June in beautiful, temperate, layers-friendly Victoria, BC, attending the Association of Canadian Archivists’ annual conference. It was amazing, scary, inspiring, and weirdly comfortable — no business cards were exchanged, but plenty of people wanted to gush about ideas.
I presented on the student panel between two very intelligent and articulate colleagues — my presentation was, let’s say, a bit more informal than theirs, but I think it went well. It was gratifying to hear some of my sentiments echoed in the closing plenary by Laura Millar. The main point I ended my student presentation on, which was picked up again by Millar, was the idea that the archiving profession needs to delve into freelancing models of employment.
This theme has been covered by the usual GLAM publishers (HLS on freelancing librarians; Hiring Librarians on contract work; INALJ on freelancing) — as has, of course, the dearth of cushy, steady, benefits-laden jobs you can hold for thirty years (or at least until all our icons and role models retire). I haven’t seen much discussion on how to freelance in art libraries or art archives, but I’d like to think there’s plenty of project work to be done in preserving and cataloguing artists’ files, implementing digital asset management, developing metadata schemes or collections mandates, digitization, publishing and reproductions management, exhibits and auctions, conservation for artists’ books….
#aca2014 Millar: We cannot wait for records creators, we have to go to them. We cannot do this on our own, we must enlist society to help us
— Sweeney139 (@Sweeney139) June 28, 2014
Millar: we need to engage actively and persistently with our communities if we are to survive #aca2014
— Hannah (@hannahwiseman) June 28, 2014
Millar: funding cuts is not our crisis. Our crisis is a chaotic digital world crashing into itself, destroying trust, authenticity. #aca2014
— ACA (@archivistsdotca) June 28, 2014
My presentation focused on diverse and underrepresented communities that have media-collecting and -preserving needs not being met by institutionalized archiving systems. I focused on virtual communities (because social-network websites are where the best media are being collected, obviously), which meant that everything archival got put into a very technological framework.
I tried not to scare anyone off with the fear of archiving in the digital age (“Imagine you work for a historical society that has collected materials from each and every single resident of the town,” I suggested, to get a scope of the problem/potential of virtual communities), but I’m afraid it’s a very real part of the future of the profession, especially as we start moving from digitization projects to interface design for presenting our materials.
Bringing information-professional skills and techniques to your average website-builder or community-organizer is likely a consultancy task: you start with assessment, then they find enough money for implementation, you make some recommendations for maintenance, and eventually every community or arts group has an archivist-on-call, or a librarian for a half-day a week.
That means we all juggle multiple clients and bounce from one deadline to the next. Many people do not find this a very rosy picture of the industry’s future. Then again, there are those of us that can’t imagine working the same full-time processing or reference job day in and day out.
There are definitely ways to do it right. I’ll be interviewing some freelancing and entrepreneur archivists and librarians in the near future, on this blog, so you can see for yourselves. There’s even an association for independent information professionals, and plenty of opportunities for mentorship, entrepreneurial bootcamps, start-up funding, and guides to the legal and financial steps to declaring yourself a businesswoman.
Ideally, I’d love to do private archiving with artists — which is never high-paying. It tends only to happen when the artist is anticipating an eventual donation of their records to an institution — there, the benefit of getting things organized beforehand is the tax credit offered upon appraisal (in Canada, anyways). While an artist or arts group may want to get the job done, the money, often, simply isn’t there.
[Ironically, I just found contract archiving work in the private sector, which is not exactly walking-the-walk, but maybe I’ll have time for some pro-bono projects with individuals and non-profits. Stay tuned!]
I’m interested to know everyone’s thoughts. There were lots of nodding heads when Millar said it, but I still felt a bit radical suggesting it myself (ah, what the confidence a thirty-year career could give!).
What do you think: are librarians and archivists destined for lots of part-time, contract-based, multi-tasking jobs, helping everyone manage unique information needs? Or will the majority of us find the full-time, paid-vacation unicorn we dream of? Is there a balance between the two?
More scarily: will freelancing mean we all have to learn how to administer databases and provide cut-rate graphic design services? Is there a way to freelance in GLAM-related work that isn’t technologically dependent?
Part-Time Librarian – The Modern Museum, Fort Worth, TX
Posted: February 19, 2014 Filed under: Advice: Job Search, Art Librarianship, Cataloging, Museum Librarianship, Museums | Tags: Cataloging Comments Off on Part-Time Librarian – The Modern Museum, Fort Worth, TXOriginal job posting by the TLA available here.
| Position Starts:3/17/2014 | Listing Closes: 2/21/2014 | Listing Submitted: 1/13/2014 | |
| Position Description: | The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth seeks a part-time (2 days per week) librarian to assume cataloging and organizational duties for the Museum’s library. Candidates should possess knowledge of art history and/or visual arts; knowledge of Library of Congress System and OCLC; knowledge of bibliographic cataloging; knowledge of RDA standard; and knowledge of stacks management.
Candidates should be able to research and evaluate materials for collection development; provide reference and research consultation to staff members; assist with reciprocal material situations; and assist with other duties as needed. |
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| Institution: | Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth | ||
| Type of Library: | Other | ||
| City: | Fort Worth, Texas | ||
| Annual Salary: | Commensurate with experience | ||
| Salary Comment: | |||
| Telephone: | Fax: | ||
| Email Address: | bmitchell@themodern.org | ||
| Website Address: | www.themodern.org | ||
| Required Education: | Master’s degree in Library/Information Science from an ALA accredited program | ||
| Required Experience: | |||
| Contact: | Brent Mitchell | ||
| Send Resume to: | Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth 3200 Darnell Street Fort Worth, TX 76107 |
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| Special Instructions: | |||
| Interviews will not be conducted at the conference placement center. Please contact directly. | |||
Assistant Librarian and Archivist – American Textile Museum, Lowell, MA
Posted: January 22, 2014 Filed under: Advice: Job Search, Archives, Art Librarianship, Museum Librarianship, Museums Comments Off on Assistant Librarian and Archivist – American Textile Museum, Lowell, MAvia INALJ, see original posting here.
| Institution: | American Textile History Museum, Lowell, Mass. |
|---|---|
| Job Title: | Assistant Librarian and Archivist |
| Duties/Description: | Search Re-opened: The American Textile History Museum (ATHM) seeks a creative, motivated team-player for the part- time position of Assistant Librarian and Archivist in the Osborne Library. Reporting to the Librarian, this position is responsible for assisting with recording, maintaining and conserving ATHM’s library holdings. The collection includes books, pamphlets, manuscript collections, photographs, prints, insurance maps, and trade literature, all relating to some aspect of the textile industry. The Osborne Library serves researchers through on-site visits, telephone, and email inquiries; researchers include in- house staff, national and international researchers, the local community, students, teachers, and families.The Assistant Librarian and Archivist will assist the Librarian in all aspects of library work, including processing manuscript collections using appropriate archival techniques; providing services to researchers; cataloging and processing books, photographs, etc. into the museum database; identifying materials needing repair and conservation; ensuring the use of proper preservation techniques; storing/reshelving materials; helping to prepare information and collections for web-based use; and performing any other functions necessary to the operation of a special collections library.Primary responsibilities include: process incoming and backlogged manuscript collections by accessioning them into the museum’s database, organizing the materials, re-housing documents in acid-free folders and boxes, creating an inventory and/or finding aid, and cataloging into OCLC if warranted; assist on-site researchers at the Osborne Library by explaining library and archival policy, conducting interviews, identifying and retrieving research materials, photocopying documents, and monitoring researchers; answer in-house, telephone, and e-mail requests by searching for the materials, producing required reproductions, corresponding with researchers, and mailing materials; collaborate with the Librarian in setting policy to determine preservation practices, reproduction and usage fees, research use of the collections, and copyright issues involved in digitization; assist the Librarian in maintaining the library’s website, the Chace Catalogue, and other digitization projects; accession newly acquired books and pamphlets into the museum’s database; supervise student interns and volunteers in various library and archival tasks; handle daily library duties including answering visitor’s reference questions, shelving books, maintaining the stack area, and ordering supplies; provide collaborative support to the museum curator in museum exhibit research and preparation, and work with museum staff in developing library exhibits that highlight the library’s collections. This position is 20 hours/week with no benefits. |
| Qualifications: | MLS/MLIS with concentration in archival studies from an ALA- accredited program; at least two years’ experience supporting library and archives operations, including collection preservation, online migration, maintenance and digitization of collections. Proven track record of coordinating and completing projects with limited resources, working in a collaborative culture, and being able to manage a changing and varied workload. Must be able to work independently as well as part of a team. The candidate possessing skills that include computer data management, collections’ marketing, ability to communicate with a wide range of audiences, strong research interests in American history and willingness to assist researchers, attention to detail, and a sense of humor will have the edge. |
| Salary: | |
| Closing Date: | February 5, 2014 |
| Send: | To apply: Please submit cover letter, resume, and three professional references to Jane E. Ward, Librarian, at jward@athm.org (please put Assistant Librarian in subject field) or mail to Jane E. Ward, Librarian, American Textile History Museum, 491 Dutton Street, Lowell, MA 01854. |
Assistant Archivist – Charles M. Schulz Museum, Santa Rosa, CA
Posted: January 22, 2014 Filed under: Advice: Job Search, Archives, [ ArLiSNAP ] Comments Off on Assistant Archivist – Charles M. Schulz Museum, Santa Rosa, CAvia Simmons Jobline, see original post here.
The Charles M. Schulz Museum, a not-for-profit institution located in Santa Rosa, California, seeks a collaborative, organized, and enthusiastic Assistant Archivist to join our collections team. The Museum is home to an active Research Center that provides care and access to correspondence, periodicals, books, news clippings, and business records pertaining to the life and art of Charles M. Schulz.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Assistant Archivist reports directly to the Archivist, who is responsible for the overall administration of the Research Center of the Charles M. Schulz Museum. This position is focused on processing archival records related to the life and legacy of Charles M. Schulz, creator of Peanuts, as well as institutional archives. The Archivist Assistant works to implement archival management of records in electronic formats, assists with the public service functions of the Research Center, and engages in active outreach. This position also has responsibility for encoding finding aids using Encoded Archival Description (EAD). In addition, the Assistant Archivist will work with processing assistants, including paraprofessional archival processors and interns. The successful candidate may also participate in digitization projects, acquisition of manuscript and archival collections, and donor relations.
Qualifications
Required
- A graduate degree in library science from an ALA-accredited institution, a graduate degree in archival studies, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Formal coursework or training in archival management and theory.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team in a dynamically changing environment.
- Experience processing archival collections and preparing finding aids.
- Familiarity with concepts related to archival management of electronic records.
- Knowledge of basic records management principles and current trends.
- Ability to learn new technologies quickly and effectively.
- Fluency with digitization concepts and best practices.
- Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Preferred
- Proficiency with PastPerfect Museum Software.
- Reference service experience in a research or academic library.
- Expertise working with archival collections in non-textual formats, such as photographs, audio recordings, and video recordings.
- Experience working with electronic records.
- A comprehensive understanding of Adobe Creative Suites.
- Experience working with oral history programs.
About the Museum
The mission of the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center is to preserve, display, and interpret the art of Charles M. Schulz. The Museum carries out this mission through exhibitions and programming that:
- Illustrate the scope of Charles M. Schulz’s multi-faceted career,
- Communicate the stories, inspirations, and influences of Charles M. Schulz,
- Celebrate the life of Charles M. Schulz and the Peanuts characters, and
- Build an understanding of cartoonists and cartoon art.
Apply
This is a regular part-time position including pro-rated benefits, requiring 24 hours per week. Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, and samples/links of finding aids to:
Cesar Gallegos, Archivist
Charles M. Schulz Museum
2301 Hardies Lane
Santa Rosa, California 95403 cesar@schulzmuseum.org
Job Posting: Digital Archivist – Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Posted: January 17, 2014 Filed under: Advice: Job Search, Archives, Digital Libraries, Museum Librarianship, Museums, Opportunities: Job Postings | Tags: job postings, jobs Comments Off on Job Posting: Digital Archivist – Museum of Fine Arts, HoustonTo apply, find original job posting here.
Responsibilities:
• The Digital Archivist is responsible for the MFAH Archives digitization program of textual, photographic, architectural, and audio-visual materials
• The Digital Archivist serves on the Electronic Record Archive implementation team
• Oversees digitization of archival materials, creates and color-corrects sub-masters, and creates access copies
• Primarily responsible for the acquisition and maintenance of legacy equipment.
• Responsible for description of a/v collection
• Responsible for the exportation of data from collection management system.
• Will assist with migration of EAD finding aids
• Assists with the accessioning, arrangement and description of the MFAH´s institutional records and manuscript collections in electronic form
• Monitors digitization and ingestion workflows
• Keeps abreast of best practices and standards
• Provides training to staff and volunteer
• Provides reference service to professional staff and scholarly public
Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:
• Knowledge of image technical metadata required
• Knowledge of a/v wrappers and codecs required
• Strong command of archival theory and best practices required
• Demonstrated knowledge of principles of content description
• Demonstrated familiarity with MARC, EAD and DACS required
• Demonstrated familiarity with OAIS Reference model and TRAC principles
required
• Significant knowledge of ingestion and preservation tools for born-digital records, specifically disk imaging tools, write blockers, file format authenticators, metadata extractors, and checksum generators
• Demonstrated ability to work with databases, data mapping and migration of data
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Ability to think creatively required
• Familiarity with PREMIS
• Knowledge of emerging standards such as linked data and semantic web development, specifically FAST, highly desirable
• Familiarity with RDA, EAC-CPF and METS preferred
Education and Experience:
• Masters in Archival Studies, Library and Info Science, History or equivalent degree required
• Two or more years of professional archival experience with similar duties required
• Experience overseeing digitization and volunteer projects strongly preferred
• Experience writing documentation and conducting presentations and training
strongly preferred
• Experience validating EAD finding aids strongly preferred
• Experience with born-digital records archiving and trustworthy digital repository strongly preferred
• Experience with developing, utilizing and documenting workflows strongly preferred
• Experience acquiring and maintaining legacy equipment for accessing obsolete a/v and digital formats strongly preferred
• Art history background strongly preferred. Experience in museum setting highly desirable.
• DAS coursework highly desirable
• Experience providing reference service and processing records preferred
• ACA certification preferred
Job Post: Visual Resources Manager – Boston University
Posted: January 17, 2014 Filed under: Advice: Job Search, Opportunities: Job Postings | Tags: job postings, jobs Comments Off on Job Post: Visual Resources Manager – Boston UniversityTo apply, find the original job posting here.
VISUAL RESOURCES MANAGER, History of Art & Architecture
- Tracking Code
- 1016/L1613*
- Job Description
- Provide leadership, strategic planning, and management of the visual and digital collections of the Visual Resources Center. Work closely with departmental faculty to integrate existing and emerging visual and digital resources into teaching and research. Work collaboratively to facilitate the effective and innovative use of technology in image-driven Digital Humanities projects and other multi-media websites spearheaded by faculty. Manage copyright licensing and supervise one staff member.
- Required Skills
- MLS, MA, or MS, MA must be in History of Art and Architecture or a related field, related graduate level course work required for candidates with an MLS or MS only, strong knowledge of digital technology, and three to five years of experience.
- Job Location
- BOSTON, Massachusetts, United States
- Position Type
- Full-Time/Regular
Job Posting: Head of Library Services – Ringling Museum of Art
Posted: January 17, 2014 Filed under: Advice: Job Search, Art Librarianship, Museum Librarianship, Museums, Opportunities: Job Postings | Tags: job postings, jobs Comments Off on Job Posting: Head of Library Services – Ringling Museum of ArtTo apply, find original posting here.
Department
The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, in its affiliation with Florida State University, is one of the largest museum/university complexes in the nation. Located on an impressive 66-acre Sarasota bay front estate, it preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling, educating and enabling a large and diverse audience to experience and take delight in a world-renowned collection of fine art and special exhibitions; Ca d’Zan, the Ringling historic mansion; the Circus Museums; the Tibbals Learning Center; the Historic Asolo Theater; and historic architecture, courtyard, gardens and grounds overlooking the Sarasota Bay. An Education Building houses our library, conservation facility, classrooms, and staff offices and The Visitors Pavilion serves some 350,000 guests annually.
Anticipated Salary Range
High $40,000’s to low $50,000’s, commensurate with experience
Schedule
If not otherwise specified, schedule is M-F, 8-5.
Responsibilities
The Ringling Art Library seeks an enthusiastic Head of Library Services to serve as Head Librarian and lead the expansion of the Library’s services and collections. This individual will spearhead the conceptualization and implementation of policies, programs, and long-range planning.
Collections Development: In collaboration with Ringling staff, establishes a collections development plan aligned with institutional initiatives. Analyzes the Library’s collections for strengths, weaknesses, and relevance to current information needs. Responsible for purchasing new acquisitions. Selects rare books for conservation.
Research & Program Development: Performs research on all aspects of the Ringling legacy and collections as well as other topics pertaining to the visual arts and cultural history to assist staff, faculty, and public in research, curriculum development, and exhibitions and programming. As member of the library team, assists with reference, circulation, public services, and promotes the use of current and emerging technologies. Promotes the services, and expands the awareness of the collection and resources, regionally and nationally. Leads and participates in library public programming. Handles requests from outside scholars for information relating to the Package exhibitions. Assists with grant proposal preparation.
Professional, Community, and Donor relations: Represents the Ringling Library by participating in professional associations, and regional library partnerships/programs related to the Museum’s mission or initiatives. Monitors developments in the profession as well as best practices to encourage innovation and ensure excellence. In conjunction with Development Department, works with donors and constituents, such as Friends of the Library, to build strong partnerships. Promotes the services, and expands the awareness of the collection and resources, regionally and nationally.
Supervisory and Administrative: Provides dynamic leadership to staff, interns, and volunteers: Assigns, trains, reviews, and/or approves work and special projects. Works with staff to determine goals and objectives; makes recommendations regarding employee hiring, salary adjustments, staff development, discipline, and termination, or performance evaluations. Defines needs, sets priorities, develops policies, identifies possible grants, and prepares the annual budget to ensure effective management and development of services and collections. Monitors budget throughout the year. Provides adhoc reports as requested. Submits annual report of acquisitions and activities.
Job Posting: Part Time Librarian – Art Institute, Fort Worth, TX
Posted: January 16, 2014 Filed under: Advice: Job Search, Art Librarianship, Opportunities: Job Postings | Tags: job postings, jobs Comments Off on Job Posting: Part Time Librarian – Art Institute, Fort Worth, TXTo apply, find the original job posting here.
Job Summary:
Under the supervision of the Dean of Academic Affairs and in collaboration with the Director of Learning Resources and Centralized Library Services Team, the Librarian ensures school library functions and services are appropriate and properly planned, implemented, and managed. The Librarian assists the school community in use of the library materials and resources through appropriate and meaningful information literacy and instruction programs as well as reference and research support. The librarian assists the school community with use of academic support services and technology including tutoring, assessments, student portals, learning management systems, and others.
Incumbent must assure that the EDMC philosophy: quality services to clients; development, growth, involvement, and recognition of employees; sound economic principles; and environment which is conducive to innovation, positive thinking and expansion – is considered in carrying out the duties and responsibilities of this position.
Key Job Elements:
- Plan, coordinate, conduct, and assess library and information literacy instruction sessions and programs.
- Provide reference and research assistance to school community.
- Assist school community use of academic support and technology platforms and services including tutoring, student portal and others.
- Author, implement, evaluate and update school library policies and procedures in close collaboration with the school Dean of Academic Affairs, system Director of Learning Resources, and Centralized Library Services Team.
- Maintain library in an orderly manner; perform regular inventory, weed materials, and engage in minor catalog updates when requested by Centralized Library Services Team.
- Process and maintain print periodicals, tracking receipt and filing claims for missing issues.
- Receive, inspect and oversee shelving of materials purchased through Centralized Library Services Team.
- Inform Centralized Library Services Team of school community suggested library purchases.
- Collaborate with School Dean of Academic Affairs, Institutional Effectiveness staff, and Centralized Library Services Team in compiling and submitting information and reports for both internal and external (accreditation) purposes.
- Serve on school committees in order to promote, share, and gather information regarding library and related support services.
- Collaborate with school IT to oversee library hardware and software, including AV equipment.
- Aid Dean of Academic Affairs in selecting, training, and supervising Library Assistants and Student Library Assistants when applicable.
- Administer academic placement and certification tests when applicable.
- Conduct long range planning related job function.
- Other duties as assigned.
Reports To:
Dean of Academic Affairs
Supervises:
Library Assistants, Student Library Assistants (No. # of Direct Reports varies by school)
Interacts With:
System Director of Learning Resources, System Centralized Library Services Team, faculty, students, administration and staff
Job Requirements:
Knowledge:
- Master’s Degree in Library, Information Science, or related from an ALA accredited school
- At least one year experience working in a post-secondary institution library
- Previous experience delivering instruction preferred
- Knowledge of subjects taught by Art Institute system
- Knowledge of library and educational technologies
Skills:
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong presentation skills
- Superior organizational, prioritization, and self-motivation skills
- Strong computer skills
Abilities:
- Work effectively a team member to insure that system and school goals are met
- Ability to effectively teach information literacy skills
- Comfort level with expanding and contracting sphere of influence as required at times by the role
- Ability to frequently lift up to 15 pounds
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The term “qualified individual with a disability” means an individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the position. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate professionally in person, over the telephone, through email and other electronic means, move about the office or school, handle various types of media and equipment, and visually or otherwise identify, observe and assess. The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 10 pounds unless otherwise specified in the job description.
Notice
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description. Education Management Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and embraces diversity as a critical step in ensuring employee, student and graduate success. We are committed to building and developing a diverse environment where a variety of ideas, cultures and perspectives can thrive.
Job Posting: Research Assistant – Curatorial, Asian Art – Brooklyn Museum
Posted: January 16, 2014 Filed under: Advice: Job Search, Museums, Opportunities: Job Postings | Tags: job postings, jobs Comments Off on Job Posting: Research Assistant – Curatorial, Asian Art – Brooklyn Museumvia INALJ
Research Assistant—Curatorial, Asian Art
(Full-time, 2-year temporary position)
Requirements: The ideal candidate will have excellent communication and organizational skills, as well as reading and speaking knowledge of a pertinent Asian language, preferably Japanese or Korean. A Master’s degree in Art History or related field is preferred, as is previous museum experience.
Responsibilities: The Research Assistant will work with the Curator of Asian Art, Assistant Curator of Asian Art, and Research Associate of Islamic Art to assess and present the Asian collection in preparation for its reinstallation to the permanent galleries. He or she will assist curators with collection surveys and administer reinstallation-related projects involving multiple departments within the Museum, as well as with outside contractors. The position will research select areas of the collection and develop interpretive materials for the new galleries. He or she will also assist with programming and other activities relating to the re-opening.
Starting date: Winter 2013–2014
Work schedule: Five weekdays per week, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Salary: Commensurate with experience
To apply: Please send a cover letter, résumé, and your salary requirements to job.research.assist@brooklynmuseum.org.
Job Posting: Project Manager, William J. Hill Texas Artisans and Artists Archive, Bayou Bend
Posted: January 16, 2014 Filed under: Advice: Job Search, Archives, Art Librarianship, Museum Librarianship, Museums, Opportunities: Job Postings, [ ArLiSNAP ] | Tags: job postings, jobs Comments Off on Job Posting: Project Manager, William J. Hill Texas Artisans and Artists Archive, Bayou Bendvia Careers@MFAH.org
To apply, visit the original job posting here.
Responsibilities:
• Works with the Director of the Kitty King Powell Library and Study Center and the Curator of the Bayou Bend Collection to establish and implement vocabulary and metadata standards for the Texas Artisans & Artists Archive (TAAA)
• Contributes to the selection and implementation of appropriate systems to manage and distribute data, documents, and images in the Archive
• Coordinates the collection of documents, data, and images for the Archive and their entry into the appropriate systems
• Works closely with MFAH staff in the Hirsch Library, Information Technology, Archives, and Photographic and Imaging Services in the selection, implementation, and maintenance of the systems
• Supervises the Project Associate and future Project staff when hired, including Field Researchers
• Coordinates permissions for the use of any copyrighted data or images in the Archive.
• Works with the Director in exploring possible cooperative contributions of data and images with other institutions
• Reads primary documents with accuracy and comprehension in order to add new information to the Archive
• Enters data, images, subject descriptors, and metadata into the system
• Coordinates communications with the TAAA Advisory Board and their meetings
• Develops and coordinates the Archive´s digital and printed communications
• Assists in promoting scholarly awareness and utilization of the Archive and dissemination of related research
• Performs other duties as assigned
Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:
• Must have excellent skills in dealing with the museum staff, docents, researchers, and public visitors
• Knowledge of digital content management systems, metadata schema, and controlled vocabularies required
• Knowledge of American art and decorative arts and appropriate library resources desirable
• Able to prioritize, work with minimum supervision and deal with both public and staff in a professional manner
• Dependability, strong communication skills and great attention to detail are essential
• Excellent organizational skills
• Must be physically able to lift heavy books, climb ladders, and work at a computer terminal for extended periods of time
Education and Experience:
• B.A. degree in a Humanities field required
• Masters in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited program or archival certification preferred
• Thorough knowledge of archival management principles and methodologies preferred
• Relevant work experience in a library or archive is required
• Experience with digitization and database development required
• Supervisory experience preferred
Job Posting: Library Technician (Circulation) – National Gallery of Art
Posted: January 16, 2014 Filed under: Advice: Job Search, Art Librarianship, Museum Librarianship, Museums, Opportunities: Job Postings, [ ArLiSNAP ] | Tags: job postings, jobs Comments Off on Job Posting: Library Technician (Circulation) – National Gallery of Artvia University of Maryland’s BlogMLS
The National Gallery of Art Library is seeking applicants for a student assistant position in the Circulation Section of the Reader Services Department. The primary purpose of this position is to assist with a wide variety of circulation and reader services for Gallery staff and outside readers.
Duties include retrieving materials from the stacks and reshelving returned materials, providing information and instruction on circulation procedures governing use of the Library collection, and maintaining automated and manual departmental files.
Applicants should have a basic knowledge of library collections, online catalogs, and circulation desk procedures, familiarity with using personal computers, an ability to type and file accurately, and an ability to work cooperatively with other staff members and library patrons. Reading knowledge of a Western European language (French, German, or Italian) is desirable.
In order to qualify for this position, an applicant must be registered at least as a half-time student, and be able to provide certification of student status, including a current class schedule. Work schedules will be determined to accommodate the student’s class schedule and the Library’s work requirements. The position is limited to 20 hours per week while classes are in session; full-time employment is available during semester and summer breaks. The incumbent earns sick and annual leave based on the amount of hours worked.
Those interested this position should send a résumé and any inquiries by email to:
Lamia Doumato, Head of Reader Services
National Gallery of Art Library
email: l-doumato@nga.gov
Job Posting: Library Technician (Vertical Files/Non-Print Materials) – National Gallery of Art
Posted: January 16, 2014 Filed under: Advice: Job Search, Art Librarianship, Museum Librarianship, Museums, Opportunities: Job Postings, [ ArLiSNAP ] | Tags: job postings, jobs Comments Off on Job Posting: Library Technician (Vertical Files/Non-Print Materials) – National Gallery of Artvia University of Maryland’s BlogMLS
The National Gallery of Art Library is seeking applicants for a student assistant position in the Vertical Files/Non-Print Materials office of the Reader Services Department. The primary purpose of the position is to assist with the maintenance, development, and consultation of the vertical files and non-print collections.
Duties include preparing newly acquired materials for the vertical files and non-print collections, preparing bibliographic records using an online catalog, and assisting with the organization and use of both collections by Gallery staff and outside readers.
Applicants should have a general knowledge of manual and automated library procedures, a familiarity with using personal computers and online catalogs, an ability to type and file accurately, and an ability to work cooperatively with other staff members and library patrons. Reading knowledge of a Western European language (French, German, or Italian) is desirable.
In order to qualify for this position, an applicant must be registered at least as a half-time student, and be able to provide certification of student status, including a current class schedule. Work schedules will be determined to accommodate the student’s class schedule and the Library’s work requirements. The position is limited to 20 hours per week while classes are in session; full-time employment is available during semester and summer breaks. The incumbent earns sick and annual leave based on the amount of hours worked.
Those interested this position should send a résumé and any inquiries by email to:
Lamia Doumato, Head of Reader Services
Job Opportunity, Director of Libraries, Interlochen Center for the Arts
Posted: November 23, 2013 Filed under: Advice: Job Search, Art Librarianship Comments Off on Job Opportunity, Director of Libraries, Interlochen Center for the Artsvia smartrecruiters.com
Respond to the original posting located here.
Director of Libraries
Interlochen, Michigan , United States
Interlochen Arts Academy
Interlochen Arts Academy, a fine arts boarding high school, offers the highest quality artistic training combined with comprehensive college-preparatory academics. The Academy also offers post-graduate opportunities.
Interlochen Arts Camp
Young artists from around the world gather at Interlochen each summer to learn, create and perform alongside leading artists and instructors. Programs are offered to students in grades three through twelve.
Interlochen College of Creative Arts
Adult artists thrive on opportunities to learn and express themselves creatively. The College of Creative Arts offers programs in a variety of arts disciplines.
Interlochen Public Radio
Classical Music: 88.7 FM, Interlochen; 88.5 FM, Mackinaw City; 94.7 FM, Traverse City and 100.9 FM, East Jordan/Charlevoix
News Radio: 91.5 FM, Traverse City; 90.1 FM, Harbor Springs/Petoskey; 89.7 FM, Manistee/Ludington
Streaming online at ipr.interlochen.org. Through two listener-supported broadcast services, Interlochen Public Radio (IPR) connects northwest Michigan with arts, news and culture on a global scale. IPR also gives significant focus to local and regional news, information and artists.
Interlochen Presents
Interlochen brings dozens of world-renowned artists to northwest Michigan, enhancing the region’s position on the global arts map. Interlochen presents more than 600 events each year by students, faculty and guest artists, making Interlochen one of the nation’s largest arts presenters.
Interlochen Center for the Art’s MISSION…
To engage and inspire people worldwide through excellence in educational, artistic and cultural programs, enhancing the quality of life through the universal language of the arts.
THE CORE PURPOSE…
To ignite lifelong passion for the arts
THE CORE VALUES…
Nurturing, Inspiring, Transforming, Enlightening and Enduring
The library staff
- Build meaningful relationships with faculty, staff and students.
- Assist patrons in finding information.
- Provide a collection that reflects and anticipates patrons’ needs.
- Create a welcoming atmosphere.
This position works closely with its staff in order to provide these services to the ICA community. The Director of Libraries also works with the Division Director team in order to help coordinate library efforts and expertise across the camp and academy curriculum.
- Must possess an ALA-accredited MLS or MLIS
- An undergraduate degree in an arts and/or education related field is desirable
- Progressive managerial experience in a library
- Proficient in teaching and using library databases
- Understanding of current copyright standards
- Have experience in implementing best practices for library collections and services
- Knowledgeable in both the current and future trends and practices in libraries
Application Process:
Required documents for application are: cover letter, resume and a current listing of three professional references. These documents should be uploaded into your application, under the additional documents section. You can complete the online application by clicking the “I’m interested” green button.
If you are unable to upload the additional documents at time of application you can email them to employment@interlochen.org, subject title: Director of Libraries. Materials will only be accepted electronically.
Review of materials will commence December 15, 2013 and continue until the position has been filled. Materials submitted will be held in strictest confidence, and references will not be contacted without the permission of the applicant.
Job Opportunity: Digital Archivist, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Posted: November 23, 2013 Filed under: Advice: Job Search, Archives, Digital Libraries, Employment Resources, Museum Librarianship Comments Off on Job Opportunity: Digital Archivist, Museum of Fine Arts, Houstonvia mfah.org
Original job posting available here.
Position Available at the MFAH
| Title: |  |
Digital Archivist |
| Status: | |
Accepting Applications |
| Location: | |
Rosine Building, a non-smoking facility |
| Reports To: | |
Archives Director |
| Pay Type: | |
Salaried, Exempt, Full Time, 35 hours/week |
| Salary: | |
Commensurate with Experience and Education |
| Benefits: | |
Group Medical and Dental Insurance, Life and Long Term Disability Insurance, Pension Plan, Credit Union, Flexible Compensation Plan, Paid Time Off, Reserve Time Off, Holiday Pay, Museum Membership and Discounts |
| Work Schedule: | |
Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
| Job Code: | |
14-053ARC |
Responsibilities:
• The Digital Archivist is responsible for the MFAH Archives digitization program of textual, photographic, architectural, and audio-visual materials
• The Digital Archivist serves on the Electronic Record Archive implementation team
• Oversees digitization of archival materials, creates and color-corrects sub-masters, and creates access copies
• Primarily responsible for the acquisition and maintenance of legacy equipment.
• Responsible for description of a/v collection
• Responsible for the exportation of data from collection management system.
• Will assist with migration of EAD finding aids
• Assists with the accessioning, arrangement and description of the MFAH´s institutional records and manuscript collections in electronic form
• Monitors digitization and ingestion workflows
• Keeps abreast of best practices and standards
• Provides training to staff and volunteer
• Provides reference service to professional staff and scholarly public
Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:
• Knowledge of image technical metadata required
• Knowledge of a/v wrappers and codecs required
• Strong command of archival theory and best practices required
• Demonstrated knowledge of principles of content description
• Demonstrated familiarity with MARC, EAD and DACS required
• Demonstrated familiarity with OAIS Reference model and TRAC principles
required
• Significant knowledge of ingestion and preservation tools for born-digital records, specifically disk imaging tools, write blockers, file format authenticators, metadata extractors, and checksum generators
• Demonstrated ability to work with databases, data mapping and migration of data
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Ability to think creatively required
• Familiarity with PREMIS
• Knowledge of emerging standards such as linked data and semantic web development, specifically FAST, highly desirable
• Familiarity with RDA, EAC-CPF and METS preferred
Education and Experience:
• Masters in Archival Studies, Library and Info Science, History or equivalent degree required
• Two or more years of professional archival experience with similar duties required
• Experience overseeing digitization and volunteer projects strongly preferred
• Experience writing documentation and conducting presentations and training
strongly preferred
• Experience validating EAD finding aids strongly preferred
• Experience with born-digital records archiving and trustworthy digital repository strongly preferred
• Experience with developing, utilizing and documenting workflows strongly preferred
• Experience acquiring and maintaining legacy equipment for accessing obsolete a/v and digital formats strongly preferred
• Art history background strongly preferred. Experience in museum setting highly desirable.
• DAS coursework highly desirable
• Experience providing reference service and processing records preferred
• ACA certification preferred
Job Postings
Posted: September 4, 2013 Filed under: Advice: Job Search, Opportunities: Job Postings, [ ArLiSNAP ] | Tags: jobs Comments Off on Job Postingsvia NYFA.ORG
Collections Assistant, Archive Specialist
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
(New York NY)
Collections Assistant, Archive Specialist
The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is one of America’s leading historic, cultural and educational institutions. Opened in 1982, the Museum, anchored aboard the former USS Intrepid, a national historic landmark, has welcomed more than 10 million visitors and currently welcomes almost one million visitors annually. The Museum’s mission is “to honor our heroes, educate the public and inspire our youth.” The Museum pursues this mission through a dynamic and enriching exhibition environment recounting human stories behind the machinery on display in relation to the service era of the Intrepid: in World War II, the Cold War, NASA recovery missions and three tours in Vietnam. In connection thereto, the Museum delivers a broad range of credible, innovative, and engaging educational programs supplementing classroom learning in history, science, and leadership as well as extensive public and proprietary programs honoring those who serve our country – all to inspire our youth.
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