Visual Arts Research Data Management

Posted: February 17, 2015 | Author: | Filed under: Alternative Careers, Discussion, Metadata/Tagging | Tags: , , , | Comments Off on Visual Arts Research Data Management

Visual arts research data management (VARDM) seems to be a burgeoning subfield among art librarians and visual resource professionals that will be increasingly relevant to the success of emerging professionals in these fields. VARDM is the subject of a workshop at the VRA Annual Conference in March and, with the advent of data management services and interdisciplinary research, we can expect to see data management spread beyond the sciences into the arts and humanities.

VARDM is currently  more developed in the UK than the US, due to a series of JISC funded projects that have investigated the topic since 2007. These projects have labored to define the field, its component parts and the different roles that exist for researchers and data managers. The projects have made their various outputs available – most notably a series of online training toolkits aimed at students, researchers and data managers.

A common thread among these projects is the struggle to define key terms like ‘research data’, ‘data set’, and ‘research output’ as they pertain to the visual and performing arts. Some definitions that recur in the existing literature appear below.

Research Data

  • “A useful point to consider is that the research data of today may well be the special collections of the future” (cited in Murtagh, 2011)
  • “Research data is digital information created in the course of research but which isn’t a published research output. Research data excludes purely administrative records. The highest priority research data is that which underpins a research output” (Research Data Management Glossary)
  • “Data which arises out of, and evidences, research” (Garrett and Gramstadt, 2012)

Research Output – regardless of presentation, is a planned public statement of new knowledge or interpretation

Data Set – research collated in a certain way to substantiate a particular interpretation, analysis, or argument. May not always lead to a research output (Garrett and Grandstadt 2012)

Evidence – Evidence which is used or created to generate new knowledge and interpretations. (Garrett 2012)

The concept of the ‘visual arts researcher’ is a broad one, drawing from the fields of art, architecture, art history, design, dance, performance, etc. and including both practitioners and researchers from within each – including those who would identify simultaneously as both. Thus, ‘research data’ is understood to encompass sketches, samples, notebooks, process materials, reference materials, and any number of other things. Thinking about VARDM poses interesting challenges because, in addition to the logistics that need to be resolved in order to effectively preserve and provide access to the materials throughout their life cycle, one must constantly be distinguishing between the creative process and the research process, all the while recognizing moments when they intersect and align.

To date, most of the efforts to tackle these problems and get a handle on research data in the visual arts have been funded in various ways by JISC in the UK. Between 2007 and 2009, JISC funded a project called Kultur which developed an institutional repository model for research output in the creative and applied arts. Kultur was succeeded by a project called Kultivate which applied the best practice developed by Kultur. In August 2010, the JISC Managing Research Data Program (MRDP) funded the CAiRO project (Curating Artistic Research Output) which ran until July 2011 with the goal of creating a teaching and learning module designed for researchers at the postgraduate level.

CAiRO was followed by the KAPTUR project (also funded by JISC MRDP) from 2011 – 2013 which, “investigated the nature and scope of research data in the visual arts”, and, “created a sectoral model of best practice in the management of research data in the visual arts, consisting of: toolkits, workshops, case studies, institutional policies, a technical requirements analysis, and business and sustainability plans”. For more information, see the project’s outputs – in particular the  KAPTUR Environmental Assessment Report. The report investigates issues of terminology, the role of the visual arts researcher and the visual arts research data lifecycle by exploring the following two research questions:

What is the nature of visual arts research data?

How can we support the needs of visual arts researchers through institutional infrastructure

KAPTUR also developed three of the previously mentioned online toolkits designed to provide an introduction into research data in the visual arts and its management – two of the toolkits are geared towards researchers (Introduction to Research Data, Data Management Planning) and the third is intended for visual arts data managers (Managing the Material).

KAPTUR was succeeded by a group called VADS4R (Visual Arts Data Skills for Researchers) from February 2013-July 2014 which built upon the work of KAPTUR by piloting and further developing additional training plans and making the KAPTUR toolkits available. VADS4R created two additional toolkits: How to Avoid a Data Disaster and Writing the AHRC Technical Plan.

Within the VADS4R toolkits the merits of effective research data management are discussed at great length and I will not reproduce all of them here. The concise version, available on the project site, is as follows:

Managing your research data can…

…Ensure you meet research funder expectations

…Make it easier to understand successive iterations of your research

…Make it easier to re-visit your research if changes are required, for example by a journal editor or exhibition curator

…Enable easier access to your research for re-use in other projects

…Avoid the serious implications of having to re-do your research from scratch, for example due to data loss or inaccessible data

For emerging professionals, the point of interest here is not so much the history of VARDM projects in the UK, but the methodical aims and prodigious outputs of these projects which are exceptionally well documented and easily accessible online. While earning my MLIS I was not aware of any coursework addressing VARDM and I would be very interested to hear about any programs that offer this kind of material or institutions that are actively addressing it.

In the recent conference co-sponsored by ArLiSNAP and VREPS, “Visualizing the Future: New Perspectives in Art Librarianship”, Kate Thornhill of Lelsley University College of Art and Design discussed the early stages of her foray into VARDM. If you’re interested in initiating VARDM programming at your institution, I would recommend reviewing her presentation in addition to the VADS4R toolkits and Kultur outputs.

For more information:

Advertisement

Library Collections Technician– Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY

Posted: March 25, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Archival Management, Archives, Cataloging, Collections Management, Digital Imaging, Images, Metadata/Tagging, Opportunities: Job Postings, Photography, Special Collections, VRA | Tags: , | Comments Off on Library Collections Technician– Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY

For those of you who are interested in photographic archives…

 

Position Summary:

The department manages a circulating collection of slides, videos, 16mm films, and pictures/clippings and
an archival collection of bookplates, photographs, and design drawings. Under moderate supervision and
with moderate latitude for independent judgment, the employee holding this position participates in the
preservation, maintenance and acquisition of these collections.

Position Duties:

– Participate in the evaluation, scanning, inventory, and de-accessioning of the department’s circulating
slide, video, 16mm, and picture collections.
– Participate in maintenance of archival still and moving image collections including inventorying,
rehousing, and scanning projects.
– Assist Curator in maintaining digital image production work flow and tracking deadlines.
– Oversee filing, shelving, labeling, and repair of circulating departmental collections.
– Participate in acquisition of digital images and videos including entering and tracking orders and
preparing items for circulation.
– Oversee circulation statistics of departmental collections.
– Participate in providing public service as needed, including relaying policies, receiving image orders and
video purchase requests, assisting patrons locate images in ARTstor and the Picture Collection,
circulating slides, videos, and 16mm film.
– Participate in the hiring, scheduling, training, and supervising of student workers and graduate
assistants.
– Propose policies and procedures associated with department services
– Perform all other related duties as assigned

Education:
High school diploma or equivalent; and relevant associate’s degree or minimum 2 years related college
required. Bachelor’s degree or minor in film or photo-related field preferred.

Experience:
Must have experience handling rare or fragile materials, especially slides, photographs, and film.
Experience working with cataloguing and databases preferred.

Other:
Excellent organizational, interpersonal, communication, and customer service skills required.

To Apply: Please submit your cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information for three
professional references.

PRATT INSTITUTE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND RECOGNIZES AND
VALUES THE BENEFITS OF A DIVERSE WORKFORCE.
Position Type – Full-Time/Regular
Salary – 39,400.50 USD
Tracking Code – 1386

 

From VRA Job Opportunities.

Library Assistant III- The Getty

Posted: February 4, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Digital Imaging, Digital Libraries, Metadata/Tagging, Opportunities: Job Postings, [ ArLiSNAP ] | Tags: , , , | Comments Off on Library Assistant III- The Getty
Overview:
Working under the supervision of the Digital Library Specialist and the Head of Digital Services, the Digital Library Assistant: participates in the creation and maintenance of digital collections; works closely with staff in Digital Services, Special Collections Cataloging, Information Systems, and other Getty Research Institute units; converts audio-visual digital master copies to streaming media formats; creates derivatives of digital images, video, and audio; analyzes, maps, extracts, and transforms existing cataloging data into usable metadata for digitized materials using Excel, Perl, XSL; creates ingest packages for the digital repository and performs ingest procedures. Knowledge of data modeling, metadata schemas, and controlled vocabularies and thesauri preferred. Knowledge of archival and library descriptive practices helpful.
Responsibilities:
* Utilizes solid understanding of digital imaging, audio, and video best practices, capture devices, and file formats* Applies digital library policies, industry standard software applications and production methodologies to create streaming audio and video files* Manages fulfillment of Digitization on Demand requests in a timely manner

* Performs regular troubleshooting and quality control of digital assets, filenames, and database functionality

* Demonstrates ability to learn and employ processing scripts and style sheets to transform files and metadata

* May work with born-digital materials and participate in discussions regarding their preservation and access

* Maintains awareness of current trends and developments in the field

* Applies advanced knowledge of libraries, online systems, and records
Qualifications:
* Bachelor’s degree in art history or related discipline; Master’s degree preferred* Minimum 4-5 years related experience* Familiarity with digital repository functionality, digital preservation issues and metadata standards

* Demonstrated understanding of audio visual preservation and access file formats such as Motion JPEG2000, WAV, MPEG, MP4 and MP3

* Experience using software such as Adobe Premiere and SONY SoundForge for AV editing

* Ability to work independently, exercise good judgment, discretion, and initiative

* Excellent written and verbal skills; attention to detail

* Reading knowledge in at least 1-2 foreign languages preferred

Apply here.

Library Assistant II- The Getty

Posted: February 3, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Digital Libraries, Images, Metadata/Tagging, Opportunities: Job Postings, Technology, [ ArLiSNAP ] | Tags: , | Comments Off on Library Assistant II- The Getty
Overview:
Working under the supervision of the Digital Library Specialist and the Head of Digital Services, this position participates in the creation and maintenance of digital collections. Works closely with staff in Digital Services, Special Collections Cataloging, Information Systems, and other Getty Research Institute units. Creates derivatives of digital images, and may occasionally create derivatives of video and audio files as well. Troubleshoots and reconciles errors (e.g. data orphans, malformed files) before ingest package is created. May create ingest packages for the digital repository and performs ingest procedures. With guidance from the Digital Library Specialist, maps, extracts, and transforms existing cataloging data into usable metadata for digitized materials. Familiarity with data modeling, metadata schemas, and controlled vocabularies and thesauri preferred. Knowledge of archival and library descriptive practices helpful.
Responsibilities:
* Applies knowledge of libraries and online records to assignments of moderate complexity * Competent to work with and answer questions regarding library information resources * Assists in development and maintenance of databases and operating procedures * Tolerance for detail-oriented, high-volume, and, at times, repetitive work * Familiarity with digital imaging best practices, capture devices, file formats * Familiarity with digital repository metadata standards helpful
Qualifications:
* Bachelor’s degree in art history or related discipline
* Minimum 2-3 years related experience
* Reading knowledge in at least one modern foreign language preferred
* Good written and verbal skills; attention to detail

Apply here.

Educational Opportunities!

Posted: September 5, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Advice: New Professionals, Archives, Art History, Art Librarianship, Collections Management, Opportunities: Awards, Opportunities: Calls for Papers, Opportunities: Conferences, Opportunities: Internships, Opportunities: Meetings, Opportunities: Professional Development, Workshops, [ ArLiSNAP ] | Tags: , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Educational Opportunities!

There are A LOT of educational opportunities in this post so read carefully! As always, you can also see what’s coming up through the Educational Opportunities Calendar. Keep reading for details about all the great webinars, CFPs, internships and more opportunities below!

Webinars/Online Chats

  1. Mark your calendar now for Sept 13th chat: Tips for a successful job interview. Open to all! http://connect.ala.org/node/186969. The interview stage of a job search can be riddled with emotions; excitement, nervousness, and stress to name a few. This chat will explore some of the ways you can be better prepared for your big day. Topics to guide our discussion include but are not limited to what activities your interview day may include, how you should prepare, how should you dress, what questions you might expect to get from the search committee, and what to expect after your interview is complete. While we will focus on academic libraries, many of the topics cross-over to other types of libraries. Please come with your questions and be prepared for a fun and informative chat! Deana Groves, ALCTS New Members Interest Group (ANMIG) Webmaster, will be your host along with the assistance of Liz Siler, ALCTS ANMIG Chair. The chat will be on September 13th from 2:00 – 3:00pm EST and is open to ALA members of all types. To join the chat: connect.ala.org/node/186576
  2. Title:  Successful Librarians Share Their Stories of Career Growth and Advancement
    Presenters:  Deb Hunt and David Grossman
    Format:  Webinar
    Date:  Thursday, September 6, 2012 Start Time:       12 Noon Pacific 1PM Mountain 2PM Central 3PM Eastern. This webinar will last approximately one hour. Webinars are free of charge.  Please note: we have changed hosting services fromWebEx to Adobe Connect, so we advise you to test your browser before the webinar: http://intesolv.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm For more webinar tips, see: http://infopeople.org/webinar/tips. For more information and to participate in the Thursday, September 6, 2012 webinar, go to http://infopeople.org/training/librarians-share-their-stories. How are some librarians finding practical ways to cope, successfully navigate, and even thrive in the face of a lingering recession? How can you recognize and avoid the most common mistakes that can determine the difference between success and failure in any career situation? How can you to reinvent yourself and prepare for success in a new career in a very different or less traditional role? What secrets can be learned from successful individuals who have become leaders in the library/information profession? What new career opportunities are possible for you and how can you plan a strategy to pursue something new? This webinar will assist library staff, both professional and paraprofessional, in understanding the wide range of career opportunities available to them and how to visualize a path to success. A number of successful and unsuccessful stories will be discussed. Attendees will review and analyze successful and unsuccessful case studies to help them chart a path to career advancement, such as moving into a less traditional library role or making a lateral move into a very different career.  They will also learn how to identify, select and acquire the most relevant “front runner” or leadership “personas” that contribute to professional success in the current climate. At the end of this one-hour webinar, participants will: Be able to envision their path to advancement through the analysis of the accomplishments of other librarians and information professionals who have successfully climbed the organizational ladder, transitioned into a new career, or become a “front runner” or leader in our profession. Learn how to continually reinvent themselves to overcome adversity and achieve success in any work environment. Gain insight into some exciting career opportunities often overlooked by librarians and information professionals. Know how to prepare themselves for one of the numerous alternative career opportunities readily available to librarians and information professionals. This webinar will be of interest to professional and paraprofessional library staff contemplating the next job opportunity or career change and those seeking to identify their current skills and acquire new ones. This is the third in a series of four webinars presented by Deb Hunt and David Grossman. You can view their previous webinars at http://infopeople.org/training/identifying-and-acquiring-new-skills. If you are unable to attend the live event, you can access the archived version the day following the webinar.  Check our archive listing at:  http://infopeople.org/training/view/webinar/archived

Internships

  1. Call for applications: 2013 ARLIS/NA Internship Award. Please share with current students and recent graduates of graduate programs in library science, art history, architectural history, architecture, studio art or museum studies. The Art Libraries Society of North America is now accepting applications for its annual Internship Award for 2013.

    The ARLIS/NA Internship Award provides financial support for students preparing for a career in art librarianship or visual resources curatorship. The award grants $2,500.00 to the selected recipient to support a period of internship in an art library or visual resources collection.
    The deadline for applications is October 15, 2012.
    For detailed information about the award and application instructions please see the ARLIS/NA website: http://www.arlisna.org/about/awards/internship_info.html

  2. WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART LIBRARY FALL INTERN PROGRAM 2012 — Library and Archives. The Whitney Museum of American Art Library is seeking applicants for internships to begin this fall 2012.  Under the supervision of professional library staff, interns will gain first-hand museum library experience by participating in regular departmental activities that range from research to routine administrative and clerical tasks.  Each intern will also focus on one individual project.  Participants must be willing to commit to at least 120 hours during the semester and may arrange to receive college credit.

    QUALIFICATIONS AND APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Preferred candidates are students already enrolled in a certified graduate library degree program with an interest in American art and/or museum work, have internship or experience working in a library and excellent administrative skills.  If interested, please submit, via e-mail, your cover letter, current resume and references to library[at]whitney[dot]org .  Please include dates you will be available for an interview with Library staff.

CFPS

  1. ACRL 2013 Conference Call for Poster Proposals
    Got an innovative library-based project, best practices to solve a problem, or unique research findings? Consider sharing them in a poster session! Posters should be an eye-catching visual representation of a topic, including graphics, tables, charts, text, and images. Presenters can communicate additional details via online handouts. Presenters share their ideas with colleagues as attendees circulate during one hour time blocks in the poster session area, located in the exhibits hall. Since space is limited at a poster session, a maximum of two presenters per poster at any one time is recommended. The Poster Session Committee looks for topics that will engage attendees during repeated presentations.
    Potential topics can be seen in the program tags that are included on the proposal instructions page (link below). Poster topics from underrepresented categories are of particular interest.  Here are some examples:
    cataloging & technical services
    collections projects
    preservation projects
    digitization
    data management and services
    Use the application form to sell your idea in a short, dynamic summary and provide a more complete discussion of the contents for the reviewers.  Please plan to submit an electronic version of your poster so that it can be posted online with conference handouts. Submissions are due by November 9, 2012.
    Program Proposal Instructions https://s4.goeshow.com/acrl/national/2013/abstract_instruct.cfm
    Proposal Submission Form  https://s4.goeshow.com/acrl/national/2013/abstract_submission.cfm
    Questions should be directed to Margot Conahan at mconahan[at]ala[dot]org or call (312) 280-2522.
  2. Marginalized Bodies:  Studies in Deformities and Disabilities in Early Modern Art
    Deformities and disabilities have been depicted in art since antiquity, and yet a comprehensive text on the subject as it pertains to art of the Early Modern era has yet to be written. Barry Wind glosses over the topic in A Foul and Pestilent Congregation, dealing primarily with dwarfism and gibbosity as they pertain only to the themes of “the world upside down” and the Commedia dell’ Arte.  These tropes of entertainment or curiosity are also discussed in monographs, mainly on artists like Velazquez and Callot, again limiting the discussions to depictions of dwarves at court and the comical aspects of deformity.  Deformities and disabilities also figure in texts on teratology and the kunstkammer, for example, Datson and Park’sWonders and the Order of Nature. The richness of the social, cultural, religious, political, and philosophical aspects of deformity and disability in the Early Modern era have yet to be revealed.  We wish to address this lacuna in Early Modern art scholarship by producing an anthology that integrates all aspects of deformity and disabilities as depicted in Early Modern art, utilizing an all-inclusive perspective.  We seek papers that offer particular case studies on Early Modern depictions of deformities and disabilities that address the subject from this broader outlook.
    Topics might include the apotropaic qualities of deformity and disabilities, deformities and disabilities as a means to exercising charity—the Catholic and Protestant approaches, deformed and disabled beggars, deformed and disabled saints, demonizing/idealizing deformities and disabilities, deformities and disabilities caused by disease, deformities and disabilities as reflections of sin, deformity and disability in mythology, deformed and disabled artists, aging and disability in artists and patrons, considerations of deformities and disabilities in architecture, the theoretical aspects of depicting the hideous in art, the treatment  of deformity and disability in portraiture, concealment/disclosure of deformities and disabilities, and scapegoating the deformed and disabled at times of catastrophic  events.
    To be considered for the project, kindly submit a 500 word abstract to Sandra Cheng (schengnyc[at]gmail[dot]com), Kimberlee A. Cloutier-Blazzard (kac9b[at]mindspring[dot]com), and Lilian H. Zirpolo (lilianzirpolo[at]gmail[dot]com), along with a short CV, by September 15, 2012.

Conferences & Continuing Education

  1. We are looking for additional peer reviewers for Art Documentation, the journal of the Art Libraries Society of North America.  We welcome reviewers in all areas of interest and expertise, but in particular we are seeking those with the knowledge and background to be able to review articles about cataloging/metadata, digital collections, museum libraries, and new media/new technology.
    Reviewers are needed for the Spring 2013 issue.  You would receive the article by September 15 and have 3 weeks to prepare your comments and recommendations.  We’d like to expand the pool of reviewers for future issues as well, so even if you are not available at this time but are interested in reviewing, I would like to hear from you.
    Please follow this link to take the short Survey Monkey survey to indicate your interest in reviewing, your availability, and your areas of expertise:
    https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BZL3QPR
  2. Archiving the Arts:
    addressing preservation in the creative process
    Saturday, October 13, 2012
    9:00 AM–5:00 PM
    Michelson Theater
    NYU Tisch School of the Arts
    Department of Cinema Studies
    721 Broadway, 6th Floor
    New York, NY 10003
    Presented by:
    Association of Moving Image Archivists Student Chapter at New York University
    and Independent Media Arts Preservation (IMAP)
    Archiving the Arts unlocks dialogue concerning preventive preservation, the creative process, and where the two concepts intersect.
    Unlike corporate or policy-based content, independent media art evolves and is often born from fleeting processes, creative approaches, and undocumented methods. Its unique development deserves to be addressed by both its makers and those who fight for its welfare after creation.
    Our primary goal is to straddle an antiquated divide. Instead of finite responsibilities dictated by title, archivists and artists must learn to work collaboratively in the complex independent media environment. Join us on October 13 as we bridge the gap!
    Registration Fee: $15.00
    Students with valid ID: $9.00
    Seating is extremely limited
    Register at:
    http://www.imappreserve.org/join/membership.html
    Questions:
    Kathryn Gronsbell via NYU.AMIA@gmail.com
    Jeff Martin via imap@imappreserve.org
    Archiving the Arts is part of New York Archives Week, which is organized by the Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York. www.nycarchivists.org.
  3. ALCTS web course: Fundamentals of Collection Development and Management
    Session: October 1-October 26,  2012
    This four-week online course addresses the basic components of collection development and management (CDM) in libraries. The course was developed by Peggy Johnson, University of Minnesota. Complete definition of collection development and collection management
    – Collections policies and budgets as part of library planning
    – Collection development (selecting for and building collections)
    – Collection management (evaluating and making decisions about existing collections, including decisions about withdrawal, transfer, preservation)
    – Collection analysis-why and how to do it
    – Outreach, liaison, and marketing
    – Trends and some suggestions about the future for collection development and management
    Outcomes: At the end of this course, you will be able to:
    – Describe the range of CDM responsibilities and the required skills and competencies
    – List the elements in a collection development policy
    – Write a collection development policy
    – Explain the importance of collection analysis
    – Perform one or more types of analysis
    – Explain outreach and liaison responsibilities and be able to develop a plan to increase your activities in these areas
    Who Should Attend: This is a fundamentals course that will appeal to anyone interested in the topic with no previous experience.
    Credits: This course is one-third of the Collection Management elective course approved by the Library Support Staff Certification Program (LSSCP)<http://www.ala.org/alcts/confevents/upcoming/webcourse/lsscp>
    Registration Fees:  $109 ALCTS Member and  $129 Non-member
    For additional details including registration links and contact information
    see: http://www.ala.org/alcts/confevents/upcoming/webcourse/fcdm/ol_templ
    For questions about registration, contact ALA Registration by calling
    1-800-545-2433 and press 5 or email registration[at]ala[dot]org. For all other questions or comments related to this web courses, contact Julie Reese, ALCTS Events Manager at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 5034 or alctsce@ala.org.

Educational opportunities- free webinar & more!

Posted: July 25, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Opportunities: Calls for Papers, Opportunities: Professional Development, Workshops, [ Opportunities ] | Tags: , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Educational opportunities- free webinar & more!

Remember, for ongoing opportunities and deadlines please visit the Educational Opportunities Calendar.

Free Webinar: Developing Your Plan for Successful Career Growth and Advancement

Presenters: Deb Hunt and David Grossman

Format: Webinar

Date: Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Start Time: 12 Noon Pacific
1PM Mountain
2PM Central
3PM Eastern

This webinar will last approximately one hour. Webinars are free of charge. Registration is ONLY done on the day of the event on the WebEx server starting 30 minutes before the start of the webinar. No Passwords are required. For Tips and Registration Information, please go to http://infopeople.org/training/webcasts/tips.html

For more information and to participate in the Tuesday, August 14, 2012 webinar, go to http://infopeople.org/training/developing-your-plan

The first webinar in this series focused broadly on skills that are needed in the contemporary library environment, and where to find training in those skills. This webinar will focus on your individual skills and skill gaps. Determining the specific combination of skills you need to acquire in order to advance your career or take it in a different direction can be a daunting challenge.

How can you:
Determine which skills are essential for pursuing your chosen career path?
Craft a plan to acquire the critical skills that may be lacking or increase your level of competency for skills you already possess?
Acquire the new skills necessary for career advancement if you are unable to attain those them within the confines of your current job?
Successfully break through these barriers and smooth the way to career growth and expansion?
Design and create a resume that will rise to the top of the pile and maximize you chances of landing your dream job?
In this one-hour webinar, participants will learn a number of proven strategies to acquire new skills and be shown how to formulate a plan to attain those new skills or bolster the skills they already possess. They also learn how to successfully overcome some of the greatest barriers to career growth. Finally, they learn how to redesign their resumes to garner maximum impact.
At the end of this one-hour webinar, participants will:
Be able to generate a customized list of the skills they need and levels of expertise they must attain in order to move their careers forward and meet their career objectives.
Be able to conceptualize and prioritize their skill acquisition strategies to meet their career objectives.
Be able to create a customized plan for the acquisition of new skills or improvement of existing skills to meet their career objectives.
Learn how to overcome the five biggest obstacles for career advancement
Know how to rewrite their resume to stand out from the crowd and maximize their chances of success.
This webinar will be of interest to Library staff contemplating the next job opportunity or career change and those seeking to identify their current skills and acquiring new ones.
This is part of a series of four webinars. The other presentations can found at:
Webinar 1: Identifying and Acquiring New Skills: The Key to Career Growth and Advancement July 10, 2012
Webinar 2: Developing Your Plan for Successful Career Growth and Advancement August 14, 2012
Webinar 3: Successful Librarians Share Their Stories of Career Growth and Advancement Coming in September 2012
Webinar 4: Telling Your Story: Five Secrets for Successful Career Growth and Advancement Coming in October 2012
If you are unable to attend the live event, you can access the archived version the day following the webinar. Check our archive listing at: http://infopeople.org/training/view/webinar/archived

Submit reports for “E-Resources Round Up” column 

If you attended ALA Annual or other professional conferences this summer, you are invited to submit reports for programs dealing with electronic resources in libraries to the “E-Resources Round Up” column for volume 24, number 4 of the Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship (JERL).

The “E-Resource Round Up” column is dedicated to helping JERL readers better understand topics related to the ever-changing world of electronic resources and their roles in libraries. It covers developments in the areas of new and emerging technologies and systems related to electronic resources and the digital environment; reports from professional discussion groups, meetings, presentations, and conferences; news and trends related to electronic resource librarianship; tips and suggestions on various aspects of working with electronic resources; opinion pieces; vendor activities; and upcoming events of potential interest to JERL readers.

Your contribution to the column does not have to be lengthy, and could be on any of the topics listed above. This could be an ideal opportunity for you to report on sessions you attended that may benefit others in our profession. If you are interested in submitting a program report, please check with the presenters first to make sure they are not planning to write their own version for publication.

The editors would like to receive contributions to the column by Friday, August 17, 2012.

If you have a submission or questions, please contact the column editors:

Bob Wolverton
Mississippi State University Libraries
(662) 325-4618
bwolverton[at]library[dot]msstate[dot]edu

Karen Davidson
Mississippi State University Libraries
(662) 325-3018
kdavidson[at]library[dot]msstate[dot]edu

ALCTS Web Course: Fundamentals of Preservation
Session: September 10 – October 5, 2012

Four-week online course that introduces participants to the principles, policies and practices of preservation in libraries and archives. It is designed to inform all staff, across divisions and departments and at all levels of responsibility. Provides tools to begin extending the useful life of library collections.

Course components:
Preservation as a formal library function, and how it reflects and supports the institutional mission
The primary role of preventive care, including good storage conditions, emergency planning, and careful handling of collections
The history and manufacture of physical formats and how this impacts on preservation options
Standard methods of care and repair, as well as reformatting options
Challenges in preserving digital content and what the implications are for the future of scholarship
This course is one-third of the Collection Management Elective course approved by the Library Support Staff Certification Program (LSSCP).

Registration Fees: $109 ALCTS Member and $129 Non-member

For additional details, registration, and contact information please see: http://www.ala.org/alcts/conf! events/upcoming/webcourse/fpres/ol_templ

For questions about registration, contact ALA Registration by calling 1-800-545-2433 and press 5 or email registration[at]ala[dot]org. For all other questions or comments related to the web courses, cont! act Julie Reese, ALCTS Events Manager at 1-800-545-2433, ext.! 5034 or alctsce[at]ala[dot]org.
To view this Event in Connect, go to http://connect.ala.org/node/184047

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION: Remaking Research: Emerging Research Practices in Art and Design

Remaking Research: Emerging Research Practices in Art and Design invites artists, designers and educators to submit proposals for Featured Research Projects to be presented at the symposium.
Remaking Research is an AICAD ‘working symposium’ centred on the discourse, pragmatics and possibilities of creative practice as research, both within art and design institutions and in the context of interdisciplinary, inter-institutional, and partnered relations taking place at Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver, Canada from November 1-3, 2012.

We are currently accepting proposals to present research projects that address the Remaking Research Symposium themes:
The Production of Knowledge in Art and Design
The Political Economies of Art and Design Research
Networked and Partnered Research Practice
The ten-minute Featured Research Projects presentations are an opportunity to share a project or collaboration.
To submit a proposal to present a Featured Research Project, please send the following information to remaking[at]ecuad[dot]ca:
your name and institution
a short description of your project (300- 500 words)
no more than 5 images (jpeg or pdf)
an indication of the theme to which your project responds
DEADLINE: Thursday, September 20, 2012
SUBMIT TO: remaking[at]ecuad[dot]ca
PLEASE NOTE: Remaking Research is not able to support travel or conference fees for those presenting Featured Research Projects. We are happy, however, to support your participation by providing a letter confirming your contribution.

Job Posting: AudioVisual Preservation Solutions – Project Cataloger

Posted: February 28, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Cataloging, Digital Libraries, Opportunities: Job Postings | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Job Posting: AudioVisual Preservation Solutions – Project Cataloger

AudioVisual Preservation Solutions – Project Cataloger

AudioVisual Preservation Solutions is seeking a short-term project cataloger to work on an audiovisual collection inventory. The position, ideal for current students and recent graduates of moving image archive studies or library science programs, would begin in early March and be full time for approximately 2 weeks. The ability to identify video and audio formats is an absolute must! The full commitment is required, as is an understanding of the basic principles of cataloging. Familiarity with generation types or production of broadcast materials is preferable. You must be computer and PC literate, able to work with basic image software, perform detail-oriented work of an often repetitive nature, work self-directedly, and follow concepts of controlled vocabularies and other cataloging needs. The work will take place at the AVPS offices located near Penn Station. This is a short-term position only.

 

AVPS is a full service media preservation and information management consulting firm providing effective individualized solutions in the areas of collection assessment, metadata management, digital preservation, facilities, workflows, and more. We work with national and international clients in universities, government, broadcasting, cultural arts, museums, and both the corporate and non-profit sectors to help ensure the preservation and long-term access to the valuable media and data they collect or create.

To apply, send resume and letter of interest to miwa@avpreserve.com

No phone calls please.

Out of the Ordinary: Preserving Paper-Based Ephemera Symposium

Posted: May 4, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Archives, Art Librarianship, Opportunities: Conferences, Opportunities: Events, [ Opportunities ] | Tags: , , , , , , | 1 Comment

OUT OF THE ORDINARY: PRESERVING PAPER-BASED EPHEMERA  
Presented by the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts
June 17, 2011
Baltimore, MD

Co-sponsored & hosted by:
Johns Hopkins University, Sheridan Libraries, Department of Conservation & Preservation at The George Peabody Library

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

This symposium will examine the myriad of challenges faced in preserving a wide variety of non-standard paper items produced in the 19th and 20th centuries, including paper dolls, greeting cards, posters, maps, blueprints, baseball cards, miniature books, scrapbooks, and oversize objects such as posters, maps, and blueprints .  The size, the use of mixed media, and the often-transient nature of these objects add to the complexity of their preservation needs.  The symposium will address the need to retain basic preservation guidelines while creatively developing effective storage, handling, and exhibition strategies and solutions for a variety of items.

This program is intended for curators, librarians, archivists, collection managers, and others involved in the care of collections that include paper-based objects large and small.

SPEAKERS INCLUDE

Barbara Fahs Charles, Principal, Staples & Charles
Joan Irving, Paper Conservator and Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Delaware
Corine Norman McHugh, Paper Conservator, Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts
Debra Hess Norris, Chairperson and Professor of Photograph Conservation, Art Conservation Department, University of Delaware

Information about our speakers, host, and cosponsors is available at: www.ccaha.org/education/program-calendar

LOCATION & TIMES

The George Peabody Library
17 East Mt. Vernon Place
Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Friday, June 17, 2011
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Registration & refreshments
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Program

NOTES

* Lunch will not be provided. However, a list of local restaurants will be available.
* Refunds will be given until two weeks prior to program date, minus a $25 cancellation fee.
* If you have special needs, please contact CCAHA three weeks prior to the workshop date so that accommodations can be made.

REGISTRATION & FEES 

$95  CCAHA members
$110 Non-members

Registration Deadline: June 3, 2011

Registration, secure credit card payment, and additional program information are available on our website at:  www.ccaha.org/education/program-calendar

The Academy of Certified Archivists will award five Accreditation Recertification Credits (ARCs) to eligible Certified Archivists (CAs) attending this program. For more information, go to: www.certifiedarchivists.org.

Major funding for this program was generously provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

To learn more about CCAHA and its programs and services, please visit our website at www.ccaha.org.

QUESTIONS?  Call 215-545-0613 or email pso@ccaha.org

Job Posting: Visiting Digital Preservation Coordinator @ University of Illinois U-C

Posted: April 5, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Opportunities: Job Postings | Tags: , , , , | Comments Off on Job Posting: Visiting Digital Preservation Coordinator @ University of Illinois U-C

Title: Visiting Digital Preservation Coordinator – University Library (A1100134)
Category: Academic Professional
Opened Date: April 1, 2011
Close Date: April 28, 2011
College Name or Administrative Unit: University Library
Position Description: Visiting Digital Preservation Coordinator / Visiting Academic Professional at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Position Available: Position is open immediately.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign seeks applications for a Digital Preservation Coordinator. The incumbent will provide a range of preservation services for digital content as well as support for digital products produced through other preservation reformatting functions. The Digital Preservation Coordinator reports to the Head of Preservation and serves all of the University Libraries by coordinating digital preservation and access services. This is a full-time, regular, academic professional position

Responsibilities: This position plays a key role in preserving the University of Illinois Library’s valuable and unique collections by enhancing the University’s capacity to preserve and provide access to digital documents, programs, and data sets, as well as images and media materials preserved through the Preservation Unit, by supporting the Preservation Librarian in all digital preservation efforts. The incumbent will report to the Head of Preservation, and maintains a number of critical working relationships with units and groups that are engaged in preservation, curation, and access to digitized content; including Library units such as Digital Content Creation, Content Access Management, the University Archives, Visual Resources, the Systems Office and appropriate campus units.

The coordinator will assist the preservation librarian, brittle books coordinator, and media preservation coordinator in establishing best practices for digital media produced for preservation purposes and in establishing workflows for the dissemination and preservation of digital files. They will also contribute expertise to the development of a broader digital preservation program with specific attention toward ensuring access to legacy digital files and datasets owned or stewarded by the Library. Specific responsibilities will include:

  • Processing digital files to be included in the Library’s online catalog, digital repository, and the HathiTrust
  • Preparing estimates and developing project workflows
  • Monitoring conversion quality
  • Assisting in the preparation of grant proposals
  • Identifying vendors and completing RFPs for services
  • Collaborating with other library personnel to develop appropriate access methods and tools for digitized collections, including, but not limited to both platforms and metadata.

Environment: The University of Illinois Library at Urbana-Champaign is one of the preeminent research collections in the nation and the world. With over 11 million volumes and a total of 23 million items, it ranks highly among academic libraries in the United States and first among public university libraries in the world. As the intellectual heart of the campus, the Library is committed to maintaining the strongest collections and services possible and engaging in research and development activities—both of which support the University’s mission of teaching, research, and public service. The Library employs approximately 100 library faculty and 300 library staff. For more information, see http://library.illinois.edu.

The Library consists of more than thirty five departmental libraries that are located throughout campus and administratively organized into eight divisions. The Preservation Unit reports to the Associate University Librarian for Collections and works in tandem with the Conservation Unit. Formed in 2001, the Library’s Preservation and Conservation Program has developed rapidly to meet the needs of a collection rich in material resources. The Digital Preservation Coordinator will provide new services for the University Libraries on behalf of the Preservation Unit. More information about the unit’s development, history, and current capacities is available at: http://www.library.illinois.edu/prescons

Qualifications:

Required: A Bachelor’s degree; Training or professional experience in digital preservation and processing; Demonstrated familiarity with common standards and practices in contemporary digital library management; Demonstrated familiarity with data integrity techniques and technologies (RAID, backup strategies, redundancy, etc); Strong written and oral communication skills; Demonstrated ability to meet production deadlines and goals.

Preferred: Graduate degree with training in preservation or data curation; Supervisory experience; Experience with XSLT, Perl or other scripting languages, and/or experience with major repository platforms; Experience assessing and evaluating library or archival materials in order to develop and coordinate preservation projects; Professional or pre-professional experience reformatting print or non-print items; Experience applying digital preservation guidelines and prioritizing needs in an institutional environment; Experience contributing to grant applications; Demonstrated ability to work with a diverse constituency of university personnel; Demonstrated knowledge of metadata and cataloging standards and practices; Experience working with commercial service providers.

Salary: Salary is commensurate with credentials and experience. These positions are Academic Professional appointment.

Terms of Appointment: 12 annual sick-leave days (cumulative), plus an additional 13 sick-leave days (non-cumulative) available, if needed, each year; health insurance requiring a small co-payment is provided to employee (with the option to purchase coverage for spouse and dependents); required participation in State Universities Retirement System (SURS) (8% of annual salary is withheld and is refundable upon termination), with several options for participation in additional retirement plans; newly-hired employees are covered by the Medicare portion of Social Security and are subject to its deduction.

Campus and Community: The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a comprehensive and major public, land-grant university (Doctoral/Research University – Extensive) ranked among the best in the world, including “Top 20” programs in Chemistry, Engineering, English, Mathematics, Music, Library & Information Science, Psychology, and Veterinary Medicine. Chartered in 1867, its faculty and staff provide undergraduate and graduate education in more than 150 fields of study, conduct theoretical and applied research, and provide public service to the state and the nation. It employs 3,000 faculty members serving 31,000 undergraduate and 11,000 graduate and professional students; approximately 25% of faculty receive campus-wide recognition each year for excellence in teaching. For more information, see:http://www.uiuc.edu. The University is located in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana, which have a combined population of 100,000 and are situated approximately 140 miles south of Chicago, 120 miles west of Indianapolis, and 170 miles northeast of St. Louis. The University and its surrounding communities offer a cultural and recreational environment ideally suited to the work of a major research institution and its members. For more information, see: http://www.uiuc.edu/community/

To Apply: To ensure full consideration, please complete your candidate profile at https://jobs.illinois.edu and upload a letter of interest and resume. Online application will require names and contact information for three professional references. Applications not submitted through this website will not be considered. For questions, please call: 217-333-8169.

Deadline: In order to ensure full consideration, applications and nominations must be received by 04/28/2011. Interviews may occur before the closing date; however, no decisions will be made prior to the closing date.

Illinois is an Affirmative Action /Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and ideas who embrace and value diversity and inclusivity. (www.inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu).

Fundraising for Preservation and Conservation workshops

Posted: April 1, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Archival Management, Art Librarianship, Instruction, Lectures, Opportunities: Professional Development, Workshops | Tags: , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Fundraising for Preservation and Conservation workshops

Fundraising for Preservation and Conservation workshops

Presented by the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts
WATERFORD, NY – APRIL 27, 2011

Hosted and cosponsored by:

Bureau of Historic Sites
Peebles Island Resource Center (PIRC)
Division for Historic Preservation
NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and
Historic Preservation

RICHMOND, VA – APRIL 29, 2011

Hosted by:

Maymont Foundation

Cosponsored by:

Virginia Association of Museums
Virginia Conservation Association

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Through thoughtful planning and effective grant writing, your organization can be competitive in the race for public and private funding to preserve cultural collections. This workshop will examine the planning process that funders want to see in place and the components that make a grant request compelling. With examples drawn from success stories at museums, historic sites, libraries, and archives, program participants will gain an understanding of how to effectively develop and implement a funding strategy to raise money for their collections.

The workshop will address:

§  Planning: Moving from a preservation needs assessment to a funding strategy

§  Potential funding sources: Triaging your time to focus on your best funding prospects

§  Writing the request: Anticipating the funder’s questions and answering them concisely

§  Evaluation: Incorporating the new standards

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Lee Price, Director of Development at the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts, has worked as a fundraising consultant for many regional and national cultural institutions.  He has written successful grant requests for preservation funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Save America’s Treasures.

LOCATIONS, DATES & TIMES

Waterford, NY – April 27, 2011
Peebles Island Resource Center (PIRC)
Peebles Island State Park
Waterford, NY 12188

Richmond, VA- April 29, 2011
Maymont
1700 Hampton Street
Richmond, VA  23220

Program Times

8:45 am – 9:15 am: Registration & Refreshments
9:15 am – 4:45 pm: Program
4:45 pm: Optional Tours: Maymont Mansion, Richmond, VA & Conservation Laboratory, PIRC, Waterford, NY

Registration & Payment

Program Fee: $110
Registration Deadline: 2 weeks prior to program date
Registration, secure credit card payment, and additional program information are available at:
www.ccaha.org/education/program-calendar

NOTES

§  Lunch will not be provided. However, a list of local restaurants will be available and
participants are welcome to bring lunch.

§  Refunds will be given until two weeks prior to the program date, minus a $25 cancellation fee.

§  If you have special needs, please contact CCAHA three weeks prior to the workshop date so that accommodations can be made.

COURSE CREDITS

The Academy of Certified Archivists will award five Accreditation Recertification Credits (ARCs) to eligible Certified Archivists (CAs) attending this program. For more information, go to: http://www.certifiedarchivists.org.

The Virginia Association of Museums (VAM) will award one credit in External Affairs or Collections Management to students in the Virginia Certificate in Museum Management program who attend this program. For more information about the VAM program, go to: http://www.vamuseums.org

This program was made possible with generous funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

To learn more about CCAHA and its programs and services, please visit our website at www.ccaha.org.

Questions? Call CCAHA Preservation Services at 215.545.0613 or email them at pso@ccaha.org.