Hack Your MLIS Program: Visual Resources Librarianship
Posted: June 3, 2015 Filed under: Advice: Students, Collections Management, Digital Imaging, Images, Visual Resources, VRA | Tags: digital collections, images, library school, mlis, Visual Resources, VRA 1 CommentHi Arlisnappers! After a yearlong absence, I am back on the blog as a feature post writer and excited to be a part of the ArLiSNAP team once again. I recently graduated with my MLIS and I currently work as the Director of Visual Resources at the University of Georgia.
In April 2014, I shared my tips for hacking your MLIS program to focus on art librarianship. Now I’m back with a better-late-than-never follow-up on how I hacked my MLIS program to prepare for my career in visual resources librarianship. We have discussed how to plan your coursework so you are prepared to manage digital collections before, and this post will focus specifically on what you need to manage visual resources collections.
Visual Resources Center, Lamar Dodd School of Art, University of Georgia. Image courtesy of Courtney Baron.
What is visual resources librarianship?
Visual resources librarianship is a bit different from art librarianship, though the two fields require similar skills and educational backgrounds. I have worked as a full-time visual resources professional for one year now, so I have a good idea of what the profession involves and what is required to do the job successfully. That being said, each position is unique depending on the needs of the institution. Visual resources professionals historically functioned as slide librarians, usually in art/art history departments or libraries. Now, we primarily manage digital image collections, though slide collections still exist at many institutions, and assist faculty and students with their image needs. We may also manage public visual resources spaces that range from digital scanning and projects labs to libraries with circulating materials.
Become involved in VRA
The Visual Resources Association (VRA) is smaller than ARLIS, but equally as welcoming. Hands down, this is the best way to get – and stay – connected to the field, especially if you are one of the few people in your program interested in art and visual resources librarianship. Not only do you have access to a large network of art and visual resources professionals, but you can also follow news, concerns, and trends on the VRA listserv. I encourage you to be active on the listserv as well since name recognition can help you in your job search later on! Seriously – my predecessor was very active, and I get asked about him all the time. If you have been involved with ARLIS but haven’t yet ventured into VRA, there is a joint conference next year in Seattle, WA, so it will be an opportune time to check out both organizations and annual conferences. There is also a similar group to ArLiSNAP called vreps – visual resources association emerging professionals and students – that you should join. The VRA Bulletin is the journal of the association and each issue contains a wealth of information about current issues and practices in the field.
Focus coursework and projects on visual resources topics
As I said in part one, the best way to ensure you are getting a similar education to a MLIS program that does offer an art librarianship track is to see which courses they require and which electives they offer. I also recommend looking at similar tracks, such as digital content/asset management or archives. I recommend courses on the following topics, since they relate to visual resources: humanities information services, digital libraries, descriptive cataloging and metadata, database design, digital humanities, and digital archives. Basically, looks for classes that focus on metadata, technologies, databases, and managing or curating digital archives, libraries, and other collections. These classes will give you an overview of the information you need and you can focus your projects and papers specifically on arts and humanities topics.
Independent study
In part one, I discussed an independent study on art and visual resources librarianship that I designed as an elective in my MLIS program. If you would like more information on that, I’m happy to share my syllabus and course projects in a later post.
This time, I’m focusing on what you can do independently outside of coursework to build some of the skills you need to work in visual resources.
Photography, Photoshop, and Lightroom
Knowledge of photography, especially editing software, is very helpful for managing image collections. I still have a lot to learn about photography, but I have heard that ShootFlyShoot has fantastic photography classes. Why is this important? So you understand how the images you work with are produced, and you can produce images if required. Some visual resources positions require original photography of works of art, either from works in museum or galleries, or from faculty and student work. I do not produce original photography in my current position, but I do a lot of scanning, and knowledge of photographic editing techniques is essential. I use Adobe Photoshop, and recommend Photoshop Classroom in a Book to learn the basics of using Photoshop. The book has a disc with tutorials and sample images to practice editing. Adobe Lightroom is a simpler and easier way to edit images and is preferred over Photoshop by some visual resources professionals.
Metadata
Just like a library book would be lost without a catalog record, images would be lost without good metadata. I believe that metadata is perhaps the most important part of managing image collections. After all, what’s the point of having a collection if your content cannot be easily found? Just as there are cataloging standards and formats for cataloging books, archival materials, etc., these also exist for visual resources collections. Cataloging Cultural Objects (CCO) is a content standard for visual resources collections (comparable to RDA) and VRA Core is a metadata schema used to describe images (comparable to MARC). If you have access to Adobe Bridge, you can download the VRA Core panel and practice creating metadata for images. It’s also essential to be familiar with the Getty vocabularies, which are now available as Linked Open Data. The vocabularies will give you the structured terminology for art, architecture, and other materials and are essential tools for the proper cataloging of images.
Image resources
Working in visual resources doesn’t just mean managing image collections. There is a reference and instruction component. You must be able to help others find and locate images using subscription databases, institutional image collections, and free resources on the web. The most popular subscription database for images is Artstor Digital Library. If the institution where you attend school or work does not have a subscription, you can still check out the website or YouTube videos to learn more about how the database works and how to use it. There is a section with free guides, including subject-specific guides, and studying these is an excellent way to increase your knowledge of this resource.
Visual resources professionals manage institutional image collections or archives. These collections can include images from faculty and student image requests, images from digitized slides, images purchased from vendors, and images related to institutional history. In order to properly manage these image collections, you need to know how digital asset management systems work. A broad knowledge of DAMs is important, because there are many different systems out there. The most popular DAMs for visual resources include Artstor’s Shared Shelf, Luna Imaging, and Madison Digital Image Database (MDID). These can be high cost for some institutions, so in-house solutions are also popular.
You also need to know how to locate high-quality and accurate images on the web. Libguides are an excellent way to compile these resources, and many institutions have great libguides on locating images for you to browse and study. My personal philosophy behind libguides, or curating image resources in general, is this: quality over quantity. Your job isn’t to know all instances of where to find images of the Mona Lisa. Your job is to know where to find the best images of the Mona Lisa.
Copyright and fair use
You also need to know how the images you manage, or how images available in subscription databases or on the web, can be used. This is why copyright and fair use comes into play. For general information on copyright law, look at Copyright Law for Librarians and Educators: Creative Strategies and Practical Solutions. For copyright information related to the visual arts, your best resources are from the College Art Association. Copyright, Permissions, and Fair Use among Visual Artists and the Academic and Museum Visual Arts Communities was released in 2014 and and the Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for the Visual Arts was released earlier this year. Study these documents and know them well.
Get experience – if you can
Some institutions don’t have a visual resources collection, but those that do usually need help. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a visual resources professional and ask if you can volunteer, intern, or even just visit the collection and learn more about what they do and what a typical day is like for them.
So this is what I recommend doing as a library science student if you are interested in visual resources. If other visual resources professionals are reading this, I’m curious to hear what you also recommend!
Job Posting: Visual Resources Curator – FIT – NY,NY
Posted: May 16, 2015 Filed under: Opportunities: Job Postings, Visual Resources | Tags: academic libraries, Visual Resources Comments Off on Job Posting: Visual Resources Curator – FIT – NY,NYJob Description:
Full-time staff member to curate digital-image databases for department teaching and other activities. Responsibilities include: acquiring and cataloguing digital images for in-house and subscribed databases; working with Department Technologist and FIT Library in maintaining and expanding FIT Digital Image Library (FITDIL); creating and managing workflow for digital-image database maintenance; working with faculty to maintain currency and accuracy of databases and their metadata; orienting new faculty with available databases; maintain survey-course and textbook files for course-specific image folders; responsibility for the department and major’s visual materials and presence in the college.
Requirements:
M.A. in Art History; reading knowledge of French, German, Italian; library experience: familiarity with ULAN, Library of Congress headings, Getty Thesaurus; computer literacy.
Job link here.
Job Posting: SAH and CAA Seek Digital Humanities Researcher – Deadline Extended
Posted: January 6, 2015 Filed under: Opportunities: Job Postings, Visual Resources | Tags: Visual Resources Comments Off on Job Posting: SAH and CAA Seek Digital Humanities Researcher – Deadline ExtendedThis position has several listed, conflicting dates — from what I can tell, the contract will start once the position has been filled, for eight months part-time, and the deadline for applications is January 15th. It does not appear to have an online application process, but interested applicants could contact:
Pauline Saliga, Executive Director
Society of Architectural Historians and Charnley-Persky House Museum Foundation
Position Description: Digital Scholarship Researcher
Period: January 2015 – July 1, 2015
College Art Association and the Society for Architectural Historians
Reports to the CAA and SAH Executive Directors and CAA Director of Publications
The Digital Scholarship Researcher will play an integral role in the development of Guidelines for Promotion and Tenure in Digital Art and Architectural History, a project of CAA and SAH funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Working closely with the CAA and SAH Presidents as Co-Chairs of the task force on digital scholarship, the Executive Directors of CAA and SAH, and the CAA’s Director of Publications, the Digital Scholarship Researcher will:
- Identify fifteen universities and colleges where digital scholarship is developed and published by faculty, post doctoral students and graduate students in art and architectural history disciplines;
- Review existing tenure and promotion guidelines to determine which criteria are applicable to digital scholarship; review newly developed criteria required for digital scholarship; and consider the processes used to develop guidelines in other disciplines
- Review and compile bibliography of the extant literature for developing guidelines for digital scholarship;
- Interview visual arts faculty and administrators who have developed new digital research tools, utilized visual and spatial technologies, and who have utilized new computational technologies in order to determine the different evaluative criteria needed for each category;
- Interview members of tenure committees to determine how they presently evaluate digital scholarship in the visual arts and the criteria they would like to see included;
- In consultation with a statistician, develop a survey to gather information from CAA and SAH members related to the evaluation of digital scholarship in the visual arts;
- And prepare a summary draft of the research results with recommendations for criteria for tenure and promotion related to digital scholarship. Include bibliography of the extant literature for developing guidelines for digital scholarship. The draft will be reviewed by the CAA and SAH Presidents, Executive Directors, and the CAA Director of Publications before it is sent the task force which will develop the final guidelines.
Experience and skills: This position requires a graduate degree in a humanities field; knowledge of digital research, scholarship and publication in academic art history and architectural history; statistical data computation skills; and good writing and communication skills.
Schedule: CAA anticipates that this research project and the preparation of the recommendations to the task force will take eight (8) months from November 2014 through June 2015. His/her written report will be crucial to the task force will develop and published guidelines.
Residency: This position does not require residency in New York or Chicago where the CAA and SAH are located. The research will be conducted by phone, on the internet and at libraries. The presentation of the final research document to the task force will occur at one face-to-face meeting where the hotel and expenses will be compensated.
Compensation: $30,000 plus health insurance
Commitment: Half-time for eight months (December 2014 through July 1, 2015)
How to Apply: Please submit a CV with a cover letter and three references to: CAA Researcher, 50 Broadway, Floor 21, New York, NY 10004.
Deadline for Applications: January 15, 2015
Submit your proposal for the ArLiSNAP/VREPS Virtual Conference!
Posted: October 15, 2014 Filed under: Opportunities: Calls for Papers, Opportunities: Conferences, Opportunities: Professional Development, Visual Resources | Tags: art librarianship, virtual conference, Visual Resources 6 Comments
ArLiSNAP and VREPS (Visual Resources Emerging Professionals and Students) are joining forces to host a virtual conference this winter! The conference is titled Visualizing the Future: New Perspectives in Art Librarianship, and will take place on the afternoon of Saturday, January 17th, 2015. This is an excellent opportunity for those who cannot be physically present at our annual conferences.
We are looking for students and new professionals with an interest in art librarianship or visual resources management to present their work. Have you been working on a project using technology in a new way? Do you have thoughts to share on topics such as metadata and visual resources, copyright and the arts, or visual literacy? Would you like to share your work with the ARLIS and VRA communities? Submit your proposal, and add your voice to our discussion on the future of the field!
Other sessions in this event will include:
- A roundtable of new professionals, who will share advice about starting out in your career. The speakers will answer questions about their work, as well as their thoughts on the best ways to gain experience and job hunt in this field.
- A panel on initiatives in art archiving, where speakers working on documentation and preservation will discuss their work, and suggest ways for students to get involved.
- A keynote speech from art librarian Elizabeth Lane, who will discuss her current work and her thoughts on the future of the profession.
Requirements:
- Presenters must be MLIS students or new professionals with fewer than five years of experience in the field.
- Presentations will be between ten and fifteen minutes in length.
- Ideally, presenters will be available for a live presentation and brief Q&A session on the afternoon of Saturday, January 17th, 2015. However, pre-recording the presentation prior to the event may also be possible.
Submit your proposal via this link by Saturday, November 15th.
If you have any questions about this event, please don’t hesitate to contact Ellen Tisdale, ArLiSNAP Co-Moderator, at ellen.j.tisdale [at] gmail [dot] com.
Job Postings: Student Jobs at the University of Toronto
Posted: September 19, 2014 Filed under: Opportunities: Job Postings, Visual Resources | Tags: archives, Canada, student jobs, Visual Resources Comments Off on Job Postings: Student Jobs at the University of TorontoGraduate Student Assistant in Visual Resource Library
http://current.ischool.utoronto.ca/jobsite/2014/graduate-student-assistant-visual-resource-library
Description and duties:The graduate student will help to digitize teaching, research and archival collections for FADIS and other image resource collections at the University of Toronto. This position will involve skills and knowledge about the visual arts and an interest in in archives or museums. An interest in cataloguing is important.
Qualifications:This position will involve skills and knowledge about the visual arts, archives or museums. An understanding of archival inventories and/or museum collections would be helpful. Knowledge of basic computer programs, as well as, photoshop for editing images is required.
Candidates must be eligible for the work study program.
Compensation:
$18.00 per hour for a maximum of 120 hours; starting October 2014 through to April 2015; flexible work hours can be arranged.
Archives Assistant
http://current.ischool.utoronto.ca/jobsite/2014/archives-assistant-5
Description and duties:Sexual Representation Collection, Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies
The Sexual Representation Collection at the Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies is looking to hire an archival assistant for a work study position. The student will work on a team to complete a variety of listing and housing projects as well as aid in hosting researcher hours and contributing to other projects through the year as needed. Please forward cover letter, resume and a copy of unofficial transcript to curator nicholas.matte@utoronto.ca
Qualifications:The ideal candidate will be interested in sexuality and general archives management, as well as have some experience working in archives, especially archival listing and housing.
Compensation:
This is a work study contract position for 180 hours between hire date and February 27, 2015. No more than 12hr/week, $11/hour, 4% vacation pay.
Job Posting: Visual Resources Librarian, Lafayette College, Easton, PA
Posted: September 18, 2014 Filed under: Opportunities: Job Postings, Visual Resources | Tags: academic libraries, job postings, jobs, librarian, Visual Resources Comments Off on Job Posting: Visual Resources Librarian, Lafayette College, Easton, PAhttp://hr.lafayette.edu/2014/09/17/visual-resources-librarian/
The Visual Resources Librarian, embedded within the Department of Art, coordinates the creation, management, and use of Visual Resources for art history and studio art instruction at Lafayette College, as well as for faculty and students from other academic departments. Manages digital imaging lab within the Department of Art. Participates in the Library’s instruction program, serving as campus lead for visual literacy education. Contributes to the development of disciplinary image collections to support the curriculum, including image production, using and displaying digital assets, and consultation on best practices for daily use of digital resources.
Job Posting: Rights and Reproductions Coordinator, Dallas Museum of Art
Posted: August 27, 2014 Filed under: Copyright, Opportunities: Job Postings, Visual Resources | Tags: Copyright, museums, Visual Resources Comments Off on Job Posting: Rights and Reproductions Coordinator, Dallas Museum of ArtThe Dallas Museum of Art is seeking a Rights & Reproductions Coordinator for a full-time position. Working within the Digital Media department, the Rights & Reproductions Coordinator secures permissions for images and other digital content, resolves issues surrounding copyright and intellectual property, and retains appropriate documentation. The activities are primarily pertaining to the museum’s collections, but extend to related Museum exhibitions, publications and programs. This staff position spends equal time administering DMA-owned object photography requests and securing appropriate permissions for exhibition and publications projects.
Ideal candidates will thrive in a fast-paced environment and enjoy working as part of a dynamic and active team.
http://ch.tbe.taleo.net/CH07/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=DMA&cws=1&rid=259
Job Postings: Reproductions Coordinator and Reprodutions Technician, Chicago History Museum
Posted: August 19, 2014 Filed under: Opportunities: Job Postings, Visual Resources | Tags: museum, Visual Resources Comments Off on Job Postings: Reproductions Coordinator and Reprodutions Technician, Chicago History MuseumThe Chicago History Museum has two new job openings in their Rights and Reproductions department. Details are listed below:
LICENSING AND REPRODUCTIONS COORDINATOR
JOB SUMMARY:
The Licensing and Reproductions Coordinator increases the visibility of CHM collections and generates earned revenue by providing for the delivery of reproductions of CHM collection materials for publication, media, research, licensing, and other commercial and non-commercial uses, both internal and external. The Coordinator also seeks out and supports income-generating licensing and product development opportunities and initiatives in an efficient and cost-effective manner.ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
* Receive and prioritize internal and external requests for reproductions and use rights, negotiate usage terms and fees, process contracts and payments, and ensure on-time delivery of reproduction orders
* Prepare original materials for digitization, including retrieving requested collection materials, checking rights status, scheduling photographic work with the Photo Lab, and generating caption, credit line, and other descriptive and administrative metadata
* Ensure that original collection materials are handled appropriately according to safe object handling protocols and returned to appropriate storage locations following reproduction
* Accurately organize and safely maintain files of reproduction negatives, slides, and transparencies
* Utilizing digital asset management system, enhance, verify, and create descriptive and administrative metadata for digital objects following national and local metadata/cataloging protocols and procedures
* Accurately maintain databases and other systems for documenting service activities and tracking order status and payments
* Lift, carry, or otherwise move objects weighing up to 20 lbs.
* With Department Head and supervisor, participate in the development of policies, procedures, and strategies governing digitization, order fulfillment, and digital assets management
* Recruit, train, and supervise volunteers, interns, and work study students* Create a team spirit and enhance communication within the Collections Department so that staff members work collaboratively and in a supportive manner across departmental and functional area boundaries
* Contribute to and promote a positive culture at CHM by demonstrating the values of CHM in interactions with colleagues, external partners, and all audiences and through the products developed and services delivered.
OTHER DUTIES:
* Prepare financial reports and weekly transmittals to the Accounting Department
* Serve as liaison with external research and licensing agencies and other external contractors
* Serve on interdepartmental staff committees
* Other duties as assignedFor information on qualifications required and applications instructions, please go to: https://home.eease.adp.com/recruit/?id=10414991
LICENSING AND REPRODUCTIONS TECHNICIAN (PART-TIME)
JOB SUMMARY:
The Licensing and Reproductions Technician provides clerical, customer service, and research assistance to support the delivery of reproduction and licensing services for internal and external constituents, ensuring that collection materials are handled in a safe and prudent manner, digital assets contain accurate and complete metadata, and that services are delivered efficiently, on time, and in a helpful and professional manner.ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
* Respond to internal and external requests for reproductions and use rights, provide customers with information on licensing usage terms and fees, prepare licensing contracts, and record and route payments received
* Prepare original materials for digitization, including retrieving requested collection materials, checking rights status, and generating caption, credit line, and other descriptive and administrative metadata
* Ensure that original collection materials are handled appropriately and returned to appropriate storage locations following reproduction
* Maintain physical files of reproduction negatives, slides, and transparencies
* Utilizing digital asset management system, enhance, verify, and create accurate descriptive and administrative metadata for digital objects following national and local metadata/cataloging protocols and procedures
* Maintain databases and other systems for documenting service activities and tracking order status and payments
* Lift, carry, and otherwise move boxes or objects weighing up to 25 pounds
* Create a team spirit and enhance communication within the Collections Department so that staff members will work collaboratively and in a supportive manner across departmental and functional area boundaries
* Contribute to and promote a positive culture at CHM by demonstrating the values of CHM in their interactions with colleagues, external partners, and all audiences and through the products developed and services deliveredOTHER DUTIES
* Other duties as assignedFor information on qualifications required and applications instructions, please go to: https://home.eease.adp.com/recruit/?id=10414781
Job Posting: Assistant Archivies (contract), Whistler Museum, BC
Posted: July 15, 2014 Filed under: Opportunities: Job Postings, Visual Resources | Tags: archives, Canada, job postings, Visual Resources Comments Off on Job Posting: Assistant Archivies (contract), Whistler Museum, BCThis is a Young Canada Works jobs for a recent graduate under 30 years of age:
http://aabc.ca/resources/job-board/assistant-archivist-temporary-whistler-museum/
It’s a six month contract cataloguing photographs and slides, and the deadline to apply is July 25th.
Term of employment: $15.00/hr for 40 hrs/week – 6 month position – 8 Sept 2014 – 20 Feb 2015 (There can be some flexibility with the start date as long as the candidate can complete 24 weeks before March 23rd 2015.)
Overall responsibility: to catalogue a large archival fonds of photographs. The collection dates from approximately 1986-1999 and is comprised of 35mm slide film.
Key areas of responsibility:
- Arrangement and description of a large archival collection
- Cataloguing into our online database (ICA-AtoM) using the Rules of Archival Description (RAD)
- Re-house photographs into archivally safe housing.
The successful applicant will possess the following skills and abilities:
- Recent graduate (must have graduated in the past 2 years)
- Minimum 4 years of post-secondary education
- Interest in history and/or museum studies
- Internally motivated and demonstrates initiative
- Reliable and professional work standards
- Good organizational skills and attention to detail
- Customer service skills
- Works cooperatively with others and is flexible
- Computer literate
The following would be an asset but are not essential:
-
Masters or Diploma in archives management or similar
-
Experience with Museum and/or archive principles, materials, methods and practices
-
Knowledge of RAD
Job Posting: Digital Asset Specialist / Product Photographer, Joe Fresh, Toronto
Posted: July 8, 2014 Filed under: Opportunities: Job Postings, Visual Resources | Tags: Canada, digital image collections, job postings, Visual Resources Comments Off on Job Posting: Digital Asset Specialist / Product Photographer, Joe Fresh, TorontoThis position isn’t something I’d usually post, but it looks like it could be great for someone who started out in photography and/or design and then moved into visual resource management:
The Digital Asset Specialist works within the Content Team assisting with the development and maintenance of digital web content to help drive customer acquisition and engagement. This Colleague is an expert at image production and manipulation to achieve the highest image quality and creative goals in the digital realm, including photography, retouching, post production work on digital photography, Data Asset Management, and a variety of design studio elements. This Colleague must demonstrate a positive, professional attitude and have the ability to work under pressure, within extremely tight deadlines.
Major Responsibilities:
• Oversees and updates online digital content that is customer facing, product-specific;
• Works with internal teams, external partners and third-party agencies to identify digital asset requirements including creative direction and technical requirements;
• Creates digital assets using in-house equipment which includes cameras, lightbox and relevant software.
• Develops creative direction for website photography, styling, lighting, angle of each digital assets whether producing the digital assets in house or providing direction to external vendors, managing overall quality;
• Secures digital assets from internal Loblaw systems and external partners as required; .
• Modifies both created and secured digital assets as required. Modification includes clipping path, retouching, colour masking, colour correction or other as required; Responsible for maintaining eCommerce digital assets and metadata within the company’s Digital Asset Management System;
• Responsible for producing best in class creative solutions across company website including establishing and maintaining standards for design and production best practices;
• Suggests new ideas; identifying the possibilities of new initiatives, processes and innovative programs.Job Qualifications:
• B.A . in Graphic Design or related field
• 2-5 years photography experience preferred
• 1-3 years of related experience
• Possess a strong sense of design fundamentals including color, composition, typography, and in-depth knowledge of web design principles
• An entrepreneurial attitude, who is self-motivated, independent, able to deftly multi-task, and work in a fast paced environment.
• Exceptional verbal, written and visual communication skills to work with cross-functional teams to plan, collaborate, develop and refine ideas
• A dedicated team player with strong interpersonal skills and commitment
• Strong portfolio that demonstrates creative skills (provide examples)
Professional Development: the VRAF Internship Award
Posted: July 4, 2014 Filed under: Opportunities: Professional Development, Visual Resources, VRA | Tags: awards, Internships, Professional Development, scholarships, Travel Awards, Visual Resources, VRA Comments Off on Professional Development: the VRAF Internship AwardSimilar to (but different from) the VRAF Professional Development Grant is the VRAF Internship Award, which is a fantastic way to fund or supplement an un- or underpaid internship in arts and visual resources work.
The Visual Resources Association Foundation (VRAF) Internship Award provides financial support for graduate students preparing for a career in visual resources and image management. The award grants $4,000 to support a period of internship in archives, libraries, museums, visual resources collections in academic institutions, or other appropriate contexts.The recipient will receive a stipend of $3,000 for 200 hours completed at the host site. A professional development component of $1,000 supports conference attendance or attendance at the Summer Educational Institute for Visual Resources and Image Management. The recipient will receive a one year complimentary student membership in the Visual Resources Association.
Who May Apply
Students currently enrolled in, or having completed within the last 12 months, a graduate program in library or information science, art history, architectural history, architecture, visual or studio art, museum studies, or another applicable field of study may apply for this award. Applicants must have completed at least 10 credits of their graduate coursework before the application deadline, or demonstrate an equivalent combination of coursework and relevant experience.
I would strongly consider applying even if your (planned or proposed) internship is only tangentially related to visual resources or arts librarianship: metadata, digitization, conservation, rights management, administration, or plain old cataloguing.
Only one VRAF Internship is awarded per year. Once an award recipient has been selected, he or she will select an institution to act as host for the internship. This Institution must be approved by the VRAF Internship Award Committee. VRAF and VRA are not responsible for matching candidates with a host institution, but will gladly assist with the process.
This Internship Award will be granted during the 2014 to 2015 academic year. The intern is required to work on site at their chosen host institution for a minimum of 200 hours. The intern will choose to initiate their internship in the fall of 2014 or the winter or spring of 2015. The internship must begin within 30 days of the official beginning of the selected academic session of the participant’s home institution and be completed within one academic semester or two academic quarters. Exceptions are allowed by agreement between the selected intern and the VRAF Internship Awards Committee. In all cases, the internship must be completed within twelve months of the recipient being notified of the award.
This language can be complicated: if you’re a recent graduate, why would you need to start the internship within the beginning of a semester? (What’s your “home institution” in that case?) Especially if the award isn’t necessarily going towards internships for graduate credit? Unfortunately, I hold no answers for you; you’ll have to work towards “agreement” with the awards committee.
To apply for the award, please submit the following:
- A current resume.
- A current transcript [this does not need to be issued directly from the institution].
- An essay of up to 300 words addressing the applicant’s professional goals, expectations of the internship experience, and any skills or background that might benefit visual resources. A brief description of the proposed project is desirable.
- The names of two professional or scholastic references with address, telephone numbers, and email addresses.
- Recommended, but not required: Host institution and contact information of internship supervisor.
Application materials in electronic form are preferred and should be submitted as a single PDF file to:
Margaret Webster
Visual Resources Consulted
Phone: 607-257-3365
Email: mnw3@cornell.edu
- 7/31/2014; Deadline for submission of applications to the VRAF Internship Award Committee.
- 9/12/2014; VRAF Internship Award Committee announces the award recipient for 2014 to 2015.
Guest Post: Alison Verplaetse on the Summer Educational Institute for Visual Resources and Image Management
Posted: July 26, 2013 Filed under: Guest Posts, SEI, Visual Resources, VRA | Tags: digital image collections, image resources, SEI, Visual Resources, VRA Comments Off on Guest Post: Alison Verplaetse on the Summer Educational Institute for Visual Resources and Image ManagementAlison Verplaetse took part in the most recent Summer Educational Institute on June 18-21, 2013. Find out more about this program at http://sei.vrafoundation.org/index.html
The Summer Educational Institute (SEI) is an excellent learning and networking opportunity for anyone currently involved or interested in a career in image management. As a fairly recently degreed librarian, I found SEI incredibly valuable: it not only taught immediately applicable skills, but also provided me with insight into future avenues of the profession. I would recommend SEI to anyone considering pursuing a career in Visual Resources as it provided a perfect opportunity to gain a broad perspective on what people are accomplishing in this area of librarianship.
SEI provided a unique opportunity to learn about the core aspects of image management –namely, metadata, imaging, copyright, and outreach–from top experts in their respective fields. I am incredibly grateful to have been a participant at SEI, and I feel I gained knowledge and professional connections that will benefit me throughout my career. Here is a quick run-down of the workshop sessions and speakers:
Our first afternoon at the institute included a lecture on Intellectual Property Rights given by the University of Michigan’s Associate General Counsel Jack Bernard. Mr. Bernard’s presentation was thoroughly engaging and informative, providing compelling copyright case studies that illustrated the essential tenets of copyright law in an accessible and useful way for library professionals.
The second day of SEI was the Metadata Intensive part of the workshop. The first session began with a Metadata Overview by Jenn Riley, the Head of the Carolina Digital Library and Archives at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library. We discussed the most popular metadata schema currently used by cultural institutions and participated in completing sample metadata records in VRACore. In the afternoon’s session, Greg Reser, the Metadata Specialist at University of California, San Diego, introduced the group to the concept and application of embedded metadata for image professionals.
The third day at SEI was an Imaging Intensive taught by Alex Nichols, the Academic Technology Coordinator at the Visual Resources Library at Michigan State University. His sessions spelled out the best practices and standards for digital imaging in terms of equipment, image quality, and workflow. In conjunction with the late afternoon session regarding the “Tools of the Trade,” in the Visual Resources field, this day introduced me to a number of relevant and useful applications for managing digital images.
The final day of the conference was organized in an “unconference” style, allowing us to interact and hear the ideas of our colleagues regarding collaboration, project management, keeping current in the field, and several other areas of visual resources management. In a similar vein, the afternoon’s session, entitled “Expanding Your Role,” presented us with great ideas for reaching out to the community, both the people we serve in our profession and other professionals.
Whew! A lot happened in a just a few days at SEI. The best part, though, was getting to know my fellow participants. I met an excellent group of like-minded individuals whom I look forward to working with again in the future, and I was able to bring back a wealth of knowledge germane to both my current and aspirational professional endeavors.
Grant, webinar, and other professional development opportunities!
Posted: June 27, 2012 Filed under: Advice: Job Search, Advice: New Professionals, ARLIS/NA, Employment Resources, Libraries: Visual Resources Collections, Opportunities: Calls for Papers, Opportunities: Conferences, Opportunities: Grants, Opportunities: Professional Development, Visual Resources, Workshops, [ ArLiSNAP ] | Tags: conferences, job market, Professional Development, Visual Resources, Webcasts, webinar Comments Off on Grant, webinar, and other professional development opportunities!See educational opportunities, such as CFP, workshops, events, webinars, etc.? Please email Braegan Abernethy (bcabernethy[at]gmail[dot]com) or Emilee Mathews (mathewse[at]indiana[dot]edu) to get them posted here.
For ongoing opportunities and deadlines, please visit the new Educational Opportunities Calendar.
REMINDER: The final deadline for Papers, Sessions, and Workshops Proposals for the ARLIS/NA 2013 Annual Conference Crafting Our Future is this Friday, June 29.
Call for Contributors
A new website devoted to art, thought, and surprise inspired by the content found in freely available digital archives, Each Moment a Mountain is seeking contributions and collaborations with writers, archivists, teaching librarians, and other educators.
www.eachmomentamountain.org
Contributions
Each Moment a Mountain is looking for contributors in the following categories: blessays (see http://www.dancohen.org/2012/05/24/the-blessay/), fiction, poetry, music, visual/multimedia art, and interviews of artists and scholars working with the concept of memory. More information on submissions can be found at the following URL:
http://www.eachmomentamountain.org/submissions/
Collaborations
Each Moment a Mountain is also looking for history educators, teaching librarians, archivists, and others interested in using the site as a pedagogical tool. The editors are open to your ideas, but provide the following as examples of the collaborations we’re looking for:
-The design and execution of information literacy sessions, student assignments, or classroom activities around the use of Each Moment a Mountain in your classroom (including both responses to the site and student contributions).
-The nomination of archives to be featured on the site.
-The development of curricular tools and documentation that illustrate use of Each Moment a Mountain to meet curricular standards like The Common Core, VALUE rubrics, and others.
-Sustained partnerships and titled positions for the right collaborators.
Potential contributors and collaborators can get in touch with the editors at eachmomentamountain@gmail.com. All are welcome to follow Each Moment a Mountain on Twitter for content updates and more: @eachmomenta
Nancy Pearl Presents Book Lust Rediscoveries
Tuesday, July 10, 2pm Eastern
Join esteemed Seattle librarian Nancy Pearl in conversation with two authors from her new book series, Book Lust Rediscoveries, a publishing program devoted to reintroducing some of the best (and now out of print) novels originally published between 1960-2000. Each new edition is personally selected by Nancy Pearl and includes an introduction by her, discussion questions for book groups, and a list of recommended further reading. She will be joined by Rhian Ellis, author of After Life, and Frederick G. Dillen, author of Fool, to discuss the series, as well as their own favorite moments of discovering a wonderful book. The discussion will be moderated by the series’ editor, Alan Turkus, and hosted by Booklist Adult Books senior editor Donna Seaman.
https://alapublishing.webex.com/mw0307l/mywebex/default.do?nomenu=true&siteurl=alapublishing&service=6&rnd=0.6519851798076816&main_url=https%3A%2F%2Falapublishing.webex.com%2Fec0606l%2Feventcenter%2Fevent%2FeventAction.do%3FtheAction%3Ddetail%26confViewID%3D1002700739%26%26%26%26siteurl%3Dalapublishing
The Visual Resources Association’s 31st Annual Conference will be held in Providence, Rhode Island, from Wednesday, April 3 through Saturday, April 6, 2013, in the Providence Biltmore, a cherished architectural treasure.
Proposals are now being solicited for the 2013 program sessions, workshops, papers, special interest/user groups, and case studies. All proposals are welcome, especially those related to the 2013 VRA Conference theme, “Capitalizing on Creativity”. Click here to go to the conference proposal form, which can also be accessed through the Visual Resources Association page.
A session is a 90 minute moderated session with 3 to 4 speakers at 20 minutes each followed by a facilitated brief question and answer period.
A workshop is a 3 to 4 hour workshop to develop skills and experience in the field of Visual Resources, preferably with hands-on activities.
A paper is an individual idea submission, which will be reviewed for possible grouping into a session.
A special interest group is a 60 to 90-minute informal facilitated group discussion on topics related to a specific community within VRA.
A case study is detailed information about an individual, small group, or project, generally including the accounts of subjects themselves. Moderators are encouraged to submit proposals. Individual case study proposals will be reviewed for possible groupings similar to the session format.
The quality of conference content depends upon YOUR ideas and contributions, so get those creative juices flowing. Use the “Capitalizing on Creativity” conference theme, suggested topics from VRA members (see below), and your imagination to propose ideas which expand our outlooks beyond that which is familiar. If there is an area of concern or interest that you feel has not been adequately addressed in previous programs, do consider participating in this process by submitting a proposal. Moderators may put out calls for speakers within a proposed topic before submission of completed topics. The VRA Executive Board will be looking for complete, concise and articulate submissions with lists of presenters, when applicable. Specificity regarding audio-visual needs including live internet connectivity is recommended.
To stimulate the creative process, here are some excellent suggestions for proposal themes and topics selected from the post-conference survey responses, listed in no particular order:
- VRC physical space issues
- Cross-disciplinary outreach
- Multidisciplinary cataloging
- African art cataloging
- Project and time management
- Copyright sharing
- Open access
- Budget cut impacts
- Digital content archiving and preservation
- Digital asset management
- Digital Humanities initiatives
- VRC/Library collaboration
- Fate of VR analog collections
- VR curators/teachers (dual roles)
- eBook and eJournal image content
- Crisis management
- Image tagging
- Digitizing and access of student work
Questions about the proposal process and the various presentation formats included in the VRA Conference program can be directed to me at .
The proposal deadline is July 27, 2012. I look forward to receiving your proposals!
Visual Resources Association Foundation Professional Development Grant
Purpose:
The purpose of the VRAF Professional Development grant is to support professional development in the field of visual resources and image management. The grant will support attendance at an educational event of the grantee’s choosing (such as an association conference, symposium or workshop), or engagement in relevant research activities (such as publications and/or fieldwork). In recognition of the differing professional development needs for an emerging professional and an established career professional, two awards will be funded. One grant will be awarded to a student or new professional who has up to five years of experience in the field, and the other grant will be designated for a career professional with six or more years of experience. At the discretion of the VRAF Board and with approval of the applicant, an application may be moved to a different category that better fits the experience criteria or the applicant can choose to withdraw the application
Although the specific criteria for the grant may change from year to year in order to provide support for a range of experiences and community members, with the 2012-2013 awards we encourage the VR community to consider opportunities at any visual resources-related professional development venue.
The VRAF Professional Development Grant is part of the Foundation’s mission to advance awareness of critical issues for effective digital information management (including intellectual property and copyright); to encourage the application of professional standards, innovative technology, and metadata cataloging protocols; and to facilitate workplace training. The VRA Foundation supports a range of educational offerings to help ensure that such information reaches a diverse, global audience.
Award Amount:
Each of the two 2012-2013 awards will provide a grant of $850. The grant is for use between September 1, 2012 and August 31, 2013.
Eligibility:
The grant is open to all visual resource professionals, including retirees and those currently unemployed. The Foundation also encourages students seeking educational, training, and research opportunities in support of broad access to cultural information, to apply. Membership in the Visual Resources Association is not required. Each applicant’s financial statement of need will be considered, together with other applications for funding for the same event or project, which must be disclosed by the applicant.
Grant monies may be used for:
- transportation
- registration/tuition
- accommodations
- meals
- research
- expenses
Application Deadline and Decision Announcement:
Applications for the 2012-2013 grants due: Friday, July 20, 2012
Award decision public announcement: August 31, 2012
Guidelines and Application Form: http://vrafoundation.org.s119319.gridserver.com/index.php/grants/professional_development_grant/
Application Form:
http://vrafoundation.org/downloads/VRAF_PDGrantCall_for_Applic2012.doc
http://vrafoundation.org/downloads/VRAF_PDGrantCall_for_Applic2012.pdf
Completed applications, as well as any preliminary questions, should be sent via e-mail to:
Alix Reiskind, VRA Foundation Board Director areiskind@gsd.harvard.edu
Infopeople’s webinar “Hack Your Career: Dream Job FTW!”
Title: Hack Your Career: Dream Job FTW!
Presenters: Nicole Pasini and Jesse Lanz
Format: Webinar
Date: Wednesday, July 18, 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 Wednesday, July 18, 2012 webinar, go tohttp://infopeople.org/training/hack-your-career
- Do you know what your dream job is, but don’t quite know how to get it?
- Are you an ideal job candidate with less-than-ideal interview skills?
- Are you stymied by the civil service process?
There is no denying that the job market is tough these days, but there are steps you can take to ensure that your next interviewer sees you as the best candidate for the job. And for those of you who are employed, there are steps you can take to ensure that the work that you do today could help land your dream job someday.
In this one-hour webinar you will:
- Learn to approach the job search and interview process from the perspective of the person doing the hiring.
- Gain insight into how to think strategically about your current job, as well asabout how to prepare to get the next one.
- Discover tips for navigating the often baffling world of the civil service application and interview.
- Learn the things that hiring managers wish every job candidate knew.
Though we can’t promise a recovery of the job market, we’re certain that in this webinar you’ll learn ways to Hack Your Career—Dream Job, For the Win!
At the end of this one-hour webinar, participants will:
- Identify the three questions they need to answer before beginning the job search process.
- Understand the three major ways that civil service hiring processes differ from hiring processes in the private and nonprofit sectors.
- Identify ten steps that go into successful resumes, applications and interviews, from the perspective of hiring managers.
This webinar will be of interest to public library staff (though there will be plenty of useful information for staffs of all types of libraries), library school students, job seekers, or any people who are thinking about the next stage of their careers.
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
Paid Internship Post: Northwestern University Library
Posted: April 4, 2012 Filed under: Cataloging, Opportunities: Internships, Visual Resources | Tags: archives, Cataloging, job postings, Visual Resources Comments Off on Paid Internship Post: Northwestern University LibraryMetadata Internship: 2012
Northwestern University Library has an archival collection that requires the generation and/or clean-up of metadata for an EAD finding aid.
Background information:
Item level cataloging for 1044 photographs held in the Vernon McKay papers in the Melville J. Herskovits Library of African Studies. The photographs visually document about 25 African countries in the immediate pre- or post-independence eras. The vast majority of the photographs were issued by either outgoing colonial information departments or the newly independent government ministries of information. Many of the photographs have detailed contemporary labels. The photographs are an extraordinary resource that document political, social, educational, economic, industrial and public health development.
An EAD finding aid describing the 121 boxes of documents and other materials in the McKay collection was completed several years ago. This finding aids notes four boxes of photographs, but does not describe the photographs individually. The job will involve transcribing information accompanying the photographs or, in some cases, providing titles and other descriptive information where none currently exists. The intern will enter this and other descriptive metadata into the Library’s archival management system, Archon (http://www.archon.org/), which will export a properly formatted finding aid in EAD XML that will be accessible through the Library’s web site (http://www.library.northwestern.edu/libraries-collections/evanston-campus/university-archives/holdings/finding-aids).
The applicant must have an interest in cataloging/metadata. This is a 20-hour per week, paid internship. Relocation reimbursement and on campus housing is not available. The internship will begin June 2012, last fourteen weeks, and be located in Northwestern University Library in Evanston, IL.
Please send cover letter and resume to n-finzer@northwestern.edu,
Nicole Finzer, Visual Resources Librarian Digital Collections, Library Technology Division, Northwestern University Library
Job Posting: Director, Wold Resource Center, Colorado State University
Posted: December 1, 2011 Filed under: Art Librarianship, Opportunities: Job Postings, Visual Resources | Tags: job postings, jobs, Visual Resources Comments Off on Job Posting: Director, Wold Resource Center, Colorado State Universityfrom VRAweb.org
Director, Wold Resource Center
Art Department, Colorado State University
Position: Director, Wold Resource Center, Administrative Professional Position – full-time 9 month position.
Qualifications:
- BA or MA in Art History or arts-related discipline or Library Science or Information Science required.
- Non-Art degrees require an additional minor in Art History.
- Demonstrated expertise with archives management, art/metadata standards and best practices.
- Knowledge of issues of copyright and intellectual property rights as they affect our image collections.
- Experience in creating, capturing, processing and cataloguing images in a variety of digital formats.
- Familiarity with one or more metadata standards.
- Familiarity with various commercial and subscription-based image bases such as ARTstor. Experience with digital resource management software.
- Strong technological skills in both Window and Macintosh environments and
demonstrated ability with some if not all of the following software programs: Adobe PhotoShop, PowerPoint, Excel, FrontPage, DreamWeaver, MS Access, Filemaker Pro, EmBARK and webKiosk. - Ability to work with other campus constituencies to develop coordinated standards and policies governing image collection, use, and sharing.
- Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to orient faculty, staff, and students in the use of the collections and computer applications.
- Candidates who can advance the Department’s commitment to diversity and multiculturalism are encouraged to apply.
Responsibilities:
- Oversee the digitization of the collection’s slide images and integrate the image database
with the slide database. - Select and purchase necessary software, hardware.
- Work closely with art faculty and University Art Museum to support their teaching and research needs.
- Oversee the access and storage of MFA theses and Art History capstone papers.
- Purchase teaching resource materials (DVDs, computer bubble testing sheets, reference books, etc.).
- Manage/maintain the computerized database, including performing scheduled
back-ups and routine file maintenance, coordinating software upgrades, communicating with the software
vendor regarding problems, customizations, and related issues. - Collaborate with Library staff to develop coordinated standards of collection development and image delivery.
- Work closely with Academic Computing and Networking Services (ACNS) and the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) technology staff.
- Supervise workstudy students, including their selection, hiring, training, scheduling, and oversight.
- Assist faculty, students, and visitors, in locating and using digital resources and traditional slides.
- Assist with digital repository of images from University Art Museum exhibitions, including uploading into ARTstor.
- Maintain all equipment in the Wold Resource Center and assist, when possible, with Visual Art classroom equipment and software needs.
- Develop policies and long-range planning for the collections, facilities, and services within the Department of Art, Morgan Library and the University Art Museum.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Proposed Salary: $35,000
Beginning Date: August, 2012
Application Deadline: January 19, 2012. Search may be extended if suitable candidate is not identified. Once the search committee has identified a list of semi-finalists, Department faculty will have access to these candidate’s files, including letters of recommendation.
To initiate application submit ONLY a resume; letter of interest addressing position criteria; names, addresses and phone numbers of three references who can be contacted (no letters, please).
Submit application to:
Chair, Wold Resource Center Director Search Committee
Department of Art
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1770
To view the full posting and more info on Colorado State University, click here.
Job Posting: Assistant Visual Resource Manager (AAOA), Metropolitan Museum of Art
Posted: November 16, 2011 Filed under: Archives, Art Librarianship, Cataloging, Collections Management, Digital Imaging, Libraries: Museum Libraries, Museum Librarianship, Museums, Opportunities: Job Postings, Visual Resources, VRA | Tags: AAOA VRA, arrangement, arts of africa oceania and the americas, Assistant Visual Resource Manager, Cataloging, collections management, description, digital media, metropolitan museum of art, museum archivist, museums, Visual Resources Comments Off on Job Posting: Assistant Visual Resource Manager (AAOA), Metropolitan Museum of ArtThe Metropolitan Museum of Art – Assistant Visual Resource Manager, AAOA
Under the direction of the Collections Manager, the Assistant Visual Resource Manager will be responsible for arranging, describing, and cataloging the collections of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas Visual Resource Archive (AAOA VRA). A successful candidate will work closely with the Museum Archivist and the Collections Management staff in the Digital Media Department to establish and maintain archival and cataloguing standards for the Museum. Incumbent will create processing plans, arrange, house, and describe the records; create detailed online finding aids and catalog records; assist patrons of the collections and respond to collections queries, and seek out additional methods for online presentation of the collections to the public. Background research on collections to be undertaken with the aid of departmental curators, when necessary.
Primary Responsibilities and Duties:
• Responsible for the identification, arrangement, inventory, organization, and preservation of photographs and manuscript materials so they are accessible for reference
• Maintain national archival standards and utilize specific archival training to catalog archival collections
• Create finding aids for individual collections
• Provide reference assistance and answer research queries of museum staff and outside researchers
• Train and supervise volunteers and interns in the care, processing, and digitization of photograph collections
• Undertake collections surveys and identify possible funding to improve presentation and access of collections
• Other related duties
Requirements and Qualifications
Experience and Skills:
• 3-5 years of professional experience processing archives, personal papers, or manuscripts
• Successfully demonstrated experience applying processing and descriptive standards including DACS, EAD, and MARC-XML
• Must be proficient with Microsoft Office
• Proficiency with The Museum System (TMS) preferred
• Basic knowledge of the preservation and conservation practices for historical records
• Strong interpersonal skills, writing, and historical research skills
Knowledge and Education:
• Masters Degree from an ALA-accredited program in library and information science with a concentration in archives administration, special collections, or related discipline with coursework and experience in the care and management of historical photograph collections
• Demonstrated knowledge of Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS), Encoded Archival Description (EAD), and other professional standards
• Background in art history preferred
The Metropolitan Museum of Art provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, alienage or citizenship status, marital status or domestic partner status, genetic information, genetic predisposition or carrier status, gender identity, HIV status, military status and any other category protected by law in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment.
Curator and Manager, Visual Resources Library, City College of New York
Posted: October 17, 2011 Filed under: Advice: Job Search, Architecture Librarianship, Art Librarianship, Images, Opportunities: Job Postings, Visual Resources, [ ArLiSNAP ], [ Opportunities ] | Tags: architecture, job postings, Visual Resources Comments Off on Curator and Manager, Visual Resources Library, City College of New YorkCurator and Manager, Visual Resources Library
The City College of New York
New York, New York
Closes 10/28/2011
Curator and Manager, Visual Resources Library
Maintain Architecture Visual Resources Library. Catalogue and update the slide and digital collection. Provide tutorial services in using the library collection and equipment. Supervise staff. Evaluate digital image collection in order to maintain quality and overall balance. Provide reference services for faculty and students. Provide research and obtain images for faculty symposia and publications.
QUALIFICATIONS
BA -Liberal Arts, 5 years experience as same or as assistant Curator required. Must be familiar with metadata standards and proficient with cataloging software, particularly Embark Cataloger and ARTstor Shared Shelf.
HOW TO APPLY
Attn: Peter Gisolfi, Chair, Architecture
The City College of New York
141 Convent Avenue,
New York, NY 10031
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
We are committed to enhancing our diverse academic community by actively encouraging people with disabilities, minorities, veterans, and women to apply. We take pride in our pluralistic community and continue to seek excellence through diversity and inclusion. EO/AA Employer.
http://www1.ccny.cuny.edu/jobs/MP-141101.cfm
Job Posting: Visual Resources Librarian for Islamic Art & Architecture, Harvard College Library
Posted: August 30, 2011 Filed under: Academic Librarianship, Architecture Librarianship, Art History, Art Librarianship, Collections Management, Instruction, Libraries: Academic Art & Architecture, Opportunities: Job Postings, Outreach, reference, Special Collections, Visual Resources | Tags: aga khan program for islamic architecture, Architecture, art librarianship, cambridge, harvard, islamic art and architecture, massachusetts, middle east, Visual Resources Comments Off on Job Posting: Visual Resources Librarian for Islamic Art & Architecture, Harvard College LibraryVisual Resources Librarian for Islamic Art and Architecture, Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture
Harvard College Library
Cambridge, MA
Reporting to the Public Services Librarian, this position is responsible for research support, collaboration, and outreach for visual materials in the field of Islamic art and architecture to faculty, students, and researchers. Visual materials collections include digital images and slides for teaching as well as other formats documenting all aspects of Islamic art and architecture in the Fine Arts Library including historic photographs, postcards, and ephemera. Additional responsibilities include implementation of appropriate and forward-looking image metadata schemes, digital access, and participation in collection development and management. Works closely with the Bibliographer in the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture and the Photographic Resources Librarian in the Fine Arts Library and the faculty and staff of the Aga Khan Program.
Typical Duties and Responsibilities:
Collection Management, Development, and Access
- Identifies, evaluates , and acquires images, digital resources, historic photographs, and other visual materials for the library’s teaching and research collection
- Assesses and selects historic photographs and other visual materials in the Fine Arts Library’s collection for digitization and preservation (in consultation with the AKPIA Bibliographer and FAL Photographic Resources Librarian)
- Works with AKPIA and other faculty members, students, fellows, and visiting scholars to set collection priorities based on research and curricular needs
- Coordinates and prioritizes production of different digital products (scanning, uploading, cataloging); tracks workflows and timely service to users
- Provides intellectual control for Islamic visual materials in OLIVIA, ARTstor Shared Shelf project, and other catalogues including collaboration to establish best practices and authority control
- Participates in planning and implementing projects involving visual materials
- Develops long-range planning for Islamic visual images collection in consultation with AKPIA faculty and staff
Reference and Instructional Support
- Provides research services for visual materials in Islamic art and architectural history for faculty, students, and researchers
- Selects and provides teaching images in appropriate formats and other visual resources for classroom lectures and course websites
- Provides individual and group research support including in-class workshops and personalized instruction
- Assists faculty and students in integrating GIS, Prezi , and other visual tools in lectures, course websites
- Prepares online research guides, reference tools, and finding aids for Islamic visual materials
- Assists with image research and provides images, as needed, for Muqarnas and other Harvard and MIT AKPIA publications
Collaboration and Outreach
- Collaborates with diverse Harvard colleagues including the Loeb Design Library, NELC, CMES, and Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Islamic Studies Program
- Collaborates with AKPIA Documentation Center at MIT, Archnet, and other external initiatives on the creation and sharing of metadata, content, and services for users of visual materials on Islamic art and architecture such as SAHARA
- Works with other Harvard groups supporting interdisciplinary and digital scholarship such as academic departments and programs, DASH, CGA, and the Library Lab Initiative to develop content and research/teaching opportunities
Supervisory Responsibilities
- Supervises year-round student employees and temporary/project staff (as needed) in the creation of item level and collection-level cataloging and indexing for Islamic visual materials in all formats
- Working together with other stakeholders, develops special projects for access to and dissemination of Islamic visual culture
Basic Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in library and/or information science or equivalent experience
- Advanced degree at the master’s level or higher in the history of art and architecture related to the study of the Islamic world, or the equivalent combination of education, experience and/or background etc.
- 3-5 years related professional library experience required
- Knowledge of at least one Middle Eastern language (Arabic, Persian, Turkish)
- Expertise in image metadata standards and online data creation and access
- Computer skills including databases and digital image file management, required
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills required
Additional Qualifications:
- Working knowledge of western European languages, especially French and German
- Knowledge of the contemporary field of Islamic art and architecture historical study and its constituents
- Knowledge of other archival collections projects related to visual culture and history of the Middle East
- Ability to use a computer, monitor, keyboard, and mouse
Please apply with a cover letter and resume at the Harvard Employment Site.
Apply Here: http://www.click2apply.net/wy6zy39
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