Electronic records jobs: City of Seattle, Library of Congress, Byrd Hoffman Watermill Foundation

A trio of jobs this week, two of which require substantial technical skills and one of which would be an ideal fit for a lone arranger appreciative of the performing arts:  the City of Seattle Washington is looking for a Digital Asset Manager (application deadline 18 June 2013), the Library of Congress seeks an Information Technology Specialist who will join its Web archiving team (application deadline 25 June 2013), and the Byrd Hoffman Watermill Foundation is looking for an Archivist who will manage the digital and analog collections of the Watermill Center, its Long Island arts and humanities facility.  Full position descriptions appear below.

Electronic records jobs: Vermont Agency of Transportation, Archives of the Episcopal Church, Duke University

Between preparing and delivering two presentations for the joint 2013 meeting of the New York Archives Conference and the Archivists Roundtable of Metropolitan New York and spending hours trapped in the canyon of hell known as the Cross Bronx Expressway, I've fallen way behind on posting job opportunities.  And there are some interesting positions available:  the Vermont Agency of Transportation is looking for an experienced records manager, and both the Archives of the Episcopal Church and Duke University seek digital archivists with serious technical chops. Complete position descriptions appear below the fold.

Daniel J. Witek charged with stealing documents from the Buffalo History Museum

A few days ago, federal authorities arrested Daniel Jude Witek, 50, and charged him with stealing approximately forty letters and postcards from the Buffalo History Museum's A. Conger Goodyear Papers collection and attempting to sell them to a New York City autograph dealer.  The theft came to light when the dealer contacted the Buffalo History Museum in an effort to verify that the sale was aboveboard.

Witek was a Buffalo History Museum volunteer, and the complaint against him filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York indicates that he also had ties to several Buffalo-area public libraries. He is known to have used two aliases:  Daniel Mountbatten-Witeck and Walter Payne.

Witek has been released on his own recognizance pending trial.  One of the conditions of his release is that he must not visit the Buffalo History Museum, several other Buffalo-area cultural heritage institutions, or "any public or private establishment where rare books are."

Private collectors and cultural heritage professionals who suspect that Witek may have stolen items from their collections should contact the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation at 716-856-7800.

For your convenience, here's the criminal complaint against Witek.  It's an interesting little document.

Criminal Complaint Against Daniel Jude Witek 2013-05-23 by blweddle

And here's the document outlining the conditions of Witek's pretrial release:

Daniel Jude Witek Conditions of Release 2013-05-24 by blweddle

SAA Records Management Roundtable hangout

On Friday, the Society of American Archivists' Records Management Roundtable (RMRT) sponsored a Google Hangout focusing on records management training and outreach.  Given that 2013 seems to be The Year l'Archivista Can't Get Her Act Together, it's probably not surprising that I neglected to post about this event in advance.  However, a recording of the hangout is readily available on YouTube -- and embedded above.

As is so often the case with Web-based training, the hosts ran into some technical difficulties.  Two of the people who were scheduled to take part in this hangout -- Dan Noonan (Ohio State) and Joanne Kaczmarek (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) -- were unable to participate and there were a few other hiccups along the way.  However, moderator Brad Houston (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) and panelists Peg Eusch (University of Wisconsin-Madison) and Tom Wellman (Michigan State University) persevered and in the process shared some interesting information about creating and sustaining records management in sprawling, decentralized institutions.  Their insights will be of particular interest to records managers employed by public colleges and universities, but other archivists and records managers may also find them useful.

The participants also shared some resources that may be helpful to other archivists and records managers seeking to create records management training materials. Peg Eusch created the video above in order to convey basic records management information to University of Wisconsin-Madison employees who worked in distant offices or didn't have the time to attend in-person training.

Joanne Kaczmarek wasn't able to take part in the hangout, but Brad Houston shared the video she created to explain the basics of e-mail management to University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign staff (unfortunately, this video is not embeddable).

RMRT is planning to host future Google Hangouts and will publicize them via the RMRT blog. And in the unlikely event that I manage to get my act together, I'll post about them here.

Well played, Ms. Sanford

Many people destroy the deeply personal papers that chronicle their broken relationships. Jenny Sanford, the former First Lady of South Carolina, seems to be made of sterner stuff.

In June 2009, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, who had told aides that he was planning an Appalachian Trail hiking trip and would be out of touch for a few days, tearfully admitted that he had been having an extramarital affair and that he had actually been visiting his mistress in Argentina.  Sanford's marriage fell apart, and in 2010 Jenny Sanford published a best-selling memoir detailing her former husband's stinginess, emotional tone-deafness, and other defects.  The book -- at least according to the reviews I've read -- also makes it plain that, politically, the two were well-matched. Both Sanfords are staunch conservatives, and she was his closest adviser and his phenomenally effective congressional and gubernatorial campaign manager.

Mark and Jenny Sanford's post-divorce relationship is apparently pretty contentious.  Nevertheless, when Mark Sanford decided earlier this year that he would run in a special election for a congressional seat, he asked Jenny Sanford -- who is now an adviser to South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley -- to serve as his campaign manager.  She said no.

Much to everyone's surprise, a few weeks ago Mark Sanford -- who is now engaged to his former mistress -- won the special election.  And earlier this week, the College of Charleston made available to the public the Jenny Sanford Papers.  Sanford said that she donated her personal papers to the college in summer 2012 because she was moving and needed to downsize and because she thought they would be of interest to scholars of political campaigns and, in future years, her sons.

In addition to political materials, the Jenny Sanford Papers include letters that the Sanfords wrote to each other, a scrapbook that she created to celebrate their fifteenth wedding anniversary, and photographs and other materials documenting their public and private lives.

Jenny Sanford has not restricted access to any of this material. Every item in the collection is open to anyone who wishes to see it.

Wyoming State Archives is searching for a Deputy State Archivist

If you have a some archival or records management experience, some information technology and project management skills, immense amounts of vision and drive, and love the thought of living in a small, sunny, semi-arid Western city, the Wyoming State Archives may have a job for you:

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF WORK
The Wyoming State Archives' mission is to be a resource to those within and outside state government in need of records with administrative, legal, fiscal and/or historical value; a source for those interested in Wyoming's non-governmental history; and an active participant and leader in the archival community. To help the Archives achieve and maintain these goals, the Deputy State Archivist will direct and instruct professional and other staff on completion of duties as assigned, promote access to documents and information held in the Wyoming State Archives, and facilitate communication between the different work areas within the Archives, and between the Archives and other archival institutions, state agencies and departments, and county and city governments. The Wyoming State Archives has been charged by the state legislature to develop a comprehensive approach for records management of born-digital state records, and the incumbent will play an active role in that project. The incumbent will also represent the Wyoming State Archives as the Deputy State Archivist in local, state, and national professional groups and organizations.

 ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Work with the State Archivist to plan, organize, and direct the daily operations of the Wyoming State Archives. 
• Work with the State Archivist to develop, track, and manage the Wyoming State Archives’ budget. 
• Work with the State Archivist to develop long-term and short-term goals and priorities consistent with the Wyoming State Archives’ mission statement and strategic plan. 
• Work with the State Archivist to motivate and assist staff professionals in continuously expanding and improving their archival knowledge and regularly advocating for the mission and needs of the entire agency. 
• Promote the Wyoming State Archives’ services and resources to our many constituencies including state agencies and departments, county and city governments, and Wyoming residents. 
• Manage the first line supervisors in the State Imaging Center and Records Management Unit, the latter charged with a major project to develop processes and methods for the control, preservation, and access of born-digital state government records. 
• Directly supervise reference and processing archivists and directly assist researchers. 
• Work with the State Archivist to review and develop standards, policies, and procedures. 
• Facilitate communication among different work areas in the Wyoming State Archives. 
• Coordinate projects involving Wyoming State Archives staff. 
• Interact with other archival institutions to exchange information about best practices and explore opportunities for collaborative projects. 
• Engage in professional activity including attending meetings, workshops, and other professional gatherings.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Knowledge of archival theories, principles and practices. 
• Knowledge of records management theories, principles and practices. 
• Knowledge of governmental records systems, particularly electronic records systems. 
• Knowledge of principles and concepts of program management and project management. 
•  Skill in information technology. 
• Skill in leadership, including managing and motivating others, and defining and implementing change. 
• Excellent communication skills. 

The hiring salary range for this position is $4,569.00 - $5,375.00 per month, and Wyoming offers its employees a wide range of benefits. There is no application deadline; this position will remain open until filled. For more information and detailed application instructions, consult the job posting.

University of Illinois at Chicago is looking for a Special Collections Librarian

If you're an experienced university archivist or special collections librarian, have the knowledge, skills, and drive needed to lead a large academic special collections department, can spur the development of digital preservation and digital asset management protocols, and live or would like to live in the Chicago area, the University of Illinois of Chicago would like to hear from you:

The University of Illinois at Chicago, a Carnegie RU/VH institution located near the Chicago Loop, with a student enrollment of 27,000 and offering doctoral degrees in 60 areas and master’s degrees in nearly 80, seeks a talented and innovative librarian to head its Special Collections Department. This is a tenure-system faculty position with research and publication expectations.

The Special Collections Librarian provides innovative user-centered leadership to a department comprised of 10.5 FTE professionals, 4 civil service staff members and several student employees. Reporting to the Associate University Librarian and in consultation with the Assistant University Librarian for the Health Sciences, this position will lead the department in expanding collections and enhancing in-person service, outreach activities and online presence. The Special Collections Librarian will serve as a key point of interaction with other library departments, faculty members and external stakeholders to assess needs and deliver value added services. The successful candidate will work with the department staff and UIC stakeholders to implement comprehensive digital asset management and preservation practices.

The department includes Special Collections, University Archives, and Maps and Geographic Information Systems. Special Collections at the Richard J. Daley Library houses collections of rare books, manuscripts, photographs and artifacts with particular strength in the social, political, and cultural history of Chicago. Special Collections at the Library of the Health Sciences-Chicago documents Chicago's rich history as a center for the education and practice of the medical arts. The University Archives at both locations is the depository for historical records of the University of Illinois at Chicago and also contains selected papers of prominent faculty, staff, students, and alumni. The University Archives also manages the Chicago portion of the University-wide Records and Information Management Services program. The Maps and Geographic Information Systems section at the Richard J. Daley Library supports research and instructional needs by providing access to cartographic materials and digital data.

A current specially funded project includes processing of Chicago Board Options Exchange historical records. The Library also actively participates in collaborative efforts to increase awareness, discovery and access to special collections materials through organizations such as the Chicago Collections Consortium and the Black Metropolis Research Consortium.

Responsibilities

• Lead the department in creating a clear vision for Special Collections and University Archives. Develop and implement priorities and long-term planning.
• Oversee the acquisition, processing, cataloging, preservation, public service, and outreach activities of the manuscripts, rare books, university archives, maps, and records management staff.
• Engage staff in planning, goal setting, and problem solving. Coach and mentor staff to enhance skills and build self-managing capabilities.
• Work with the Library Development Officer to initiate and pursue external funding sources. Identify and pursue grant opportunities.
• Establish and cultivate donor relationships and build the collections according to the mission of the department.
• Contribute to and participate in the overall mission of the library.
• Cultivate external relationships with University faculty to assess needs, develop and deliver value-added services, and promote collaborations.
• Actively promote Special Collections and University Archives to the campus and the scholarly and public communities.
• Work with the department and UIC Library stakeholders to implement comprehensive digital asset management and preservation practices. This includes digital copies of department materials as well as a range of born-digital content increasingly being donated to Special Collections and University Archives.
• Foster and contribute to newly emerging collaborations across Chicago academic and cultural institutions to enhance discovery and digital access to Special Collections and University Archival materials.
• As a tenure-system faculty member, exhibit continued progress in meeting the library’s norms, expectations and standards of excellence in research and scholarship.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Library Science from an ALA-accredited library school program.
• Five years progressively responsible experience working in library special collections or archives in a university setting.
• Outstanding donor relations and collections development skills.
• Proven track record of fundraising and grant writing.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of emerging trends in special collections and technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with colleagues, staff, and users.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills contributing to a collaborative environment that empowers others to excel.
• Evidence of ability to meet University standards in publication and professional service commensurate with appointment as a tenure-system faculty member. Rank is dependent on the candidate’s record of scholarship.

Additional Desirable Qualifications

• Experience managing large and diverse collections in a public research university.
• Understanding of digitization initiatives and knowledge of digital formats and standards.
• Knowledge of Chicago history.
• A second master’s degree in a related area.
• Certification by the Academy of Certified Archivists.

The salary for this position is "competitive and based on education and experience," as is the successful candidate's faculty rank; the person who takes this job will become either an assistant or an associate professor.

For more information and detailed application instructions, consult the job posting.  Please note that the deadline for applying is 28 May 2013.