Thursday, September 27, 2012

Alabama Dept. of Archives and History seeks an Electronic Records Archivist

If you have theoretical and real-world knowledge of electronic records and at least two years of professional work experience, would like to live in or near a good-sized Southern city, and relish the thought of interacting wth capable, dedicated, and gracious colleagues, the Alabama Department of Archives and History may have a job for you:
Job Description
The Alabama Department of Archives and History seeks a highly motivated, innovative and collaborative Electronic Records Archivist to lead preservation activities within the organization. Reporting to the head of the Government Services Division, the archivist will be responsible for the acquisition, appraisal, description, management, policy-formation, and preservation of born-digital and imaged records with legal, historical, evidential, research, or administrative value.

This position announcement is not for a technician whose job responsibilities would include scanning records, creating metadata for scanned images, and placing both into a digital assessment management system. Instead the ADAH is looking for a self-motivated, big-picture thinker who can take the current industry best practices regarding electronic records management and preservation and develop a clear, directed program for state and local agency officials to implement.

Requirements
Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in archives/library/information science or a related field with completion of graduate level course work in archives. (A degree specializing in archival science, digital curation, or digital preservation is preferred.) Plus two years of professional experience in archival work and records management in an archival repository.
  • A Driver’s License
Desired Experience
  • Application of archival theory and practice to the management and preservation of electronic records. 
  • Demonstrated experience with repository platforms Windows, Unix, Voyager, ContentDM, and/or LOCKSS.
  • Project management experience as it applies to management of electronic/digital content.
  • Experience generating checksums, creating preservation metadata, and working with tools that verify file authenticity and tools that identify potentially restricted content strongly preferred. 
Consult the position description for detailed salary information and application instructions.  Information about benefits available to Alabama government employees is available through the Alabama State Personnel Department.

If you're interested in applying for this position, be sure to check out the Web site of the Library of Congress-funded Persistent Digital Archives and Library System (PeDALS) project and PeDALS project information maintained by the Library of Congress.  The Alabama Department of Archives and History joined PeDALS well after the project started, but it (and another new partner, the New Mexico State Archives) jumped in, mastered a very steep learning curve, and got a fully functioning LOCKSS system up and running with remarkable speed.  Even though the project is no longer grant-funded, Alabama and several of the PeDALS partners are still expanding and refining the PeDALS system architecture, so take a little time to explore the project's technical components and goals.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Seventeenth Capital Region Archives Dinner

The Capital Region Archives Dinner Committee, in co-operation with the New York State Archives Partnership Trust and Capital Area Archivists of New York, is proud to present the Seventeenth Annual Capital Region Archives Dinner. It will be held at the historic Gideon Putnam Spa Resort in Saratoga Springs, New York on Thursday October 4, 2012.

The keynote speaker is Dr. Jennifer Dorsey, Director of Siena College’s Center for Revolutionary Era Studies, who will be speaking about draft dodging during the War of 1812. Her talk is based on a larger research project based on the life of tenant farmer George Holcomb and the diary that Holcomb maintained for fifty years in Rensselaer County, New York.

 Each year, the Archives Dinner Committee recognizes individuals who or organizations that have made significant contributions to the preservation and enhancement of local archives as part of our annual celebration. This year we will recognize the Conference on New York State History, the New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center, and Town of Queensbury Historian Marilyn Van Dyke.

Tickets for this year's Archives Dinner are $35.00 each, and you have a choice of three entrees:
  • Slow roasted, thyme-rubbed turkey breast with cranberry pan gravy
  • Chef's choice of seafood du jour
  • Vegetable Napoleon in a sauce of fire-roasted tomatoes
I've had the pleasure of dining at the Gideon Putnam -- checking out prospective venues is one of the perks of being an Archives Dinner Committee member -- and I can assure you that the food will be delicious, the ambiance will be pleasing, and the service will be first-rate. 

If you're interested in attending this year's Archives Dinner, the deadline for making reservations is 1 October 2012.  For more information, consult the Archives Dinner Web site.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Clayton State University is looking for a Temporary Assistant Professor

If you're a seasoned electronic records/digital archivist or records manager who has hands-on experience with tools such as Archivematica, BagIt, and Curator's Workbench and who relishes the thought of educating future archivists, Clayton State University may have a temporary faculty position for you.  Clayton State's Master of Archival Studies program is exclusively online, so you must be comfortable with teaching students you may never meet face-to-face.

Given that archival and library/information science programs are rapidly moving online, it behooves the budding archival educator to move into the online teaching environment as soon as possible.  And if you take this particular job, you'll get to spend time -- in "meatspace" and online -- with Archival Studies program director and Digital Preservation Pioneer Richard Pearce-Moses, whose quicksilver mind, sharp wit, kind heart, and boundless enthusiasm for archivy make him the very best sort of colleague.
Job Description
The Master of Archival Studies Program in the College of Information and Mathematical Sciences at Clayton State University invites applications for a temporary graduate faculty position at the rank of (temporary) Assistant Professor for Spring 2013. A search for a tenure track faculty position for Fall 2013 is anticipated to commence in Spring 2013. An individual hired for the temporary faculty position will be eligible to apply for the tenure-track position.

Application procedures
Each applicant should submit the following documents for the consideration: 1) a letter of application summarizing the applicant’s qualifications, 2) a current curriculum vita, 3) transcripts of all college coursework (sent directly to the Provost’s Office), 4) a statement of teaching philosophy, 5) a statement of research interests and 6) at least three letters of recommendation, one of which directly addresses the candidate’s teaching abilities. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Full consideration will be given to all applications submitted by 15 October 2012. Additional supporting materials may be requested at the discretion of the program director. For additional information, please contact Richard Pearce-Moses, Clayton State University, 2000 Clayton State Blvd., Morrow GA 30260, rpearcemoses[at]clayton.edu.

The Program
The Master of Archival Studies program began in 2010 and has strong support from a large community of professional archivists in the state who assist as adjunct faculty, provide internships, and are willing to work with students on specific projects in courses. The program began offering online courses in 2011, and as of Fall 2012 the program is completely online. Because the Master of Archival Studies is an online program, students may live outside the Atlanta area.

The University
Clayton State University is located in a beautiful lakeside setting fifteen minutes southeast of downtown Atlanta. The University currently offers nine master's degree programs and 39 baccalaureate degree programs, with an enrollment of more than 6500 students. The University is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as having the most diverse student population among comprehensive baccalaureate-level colleges and universities in the Southern United States. The University was named one of the "Top 100 Workplaces in Atlanta" by the Atlanta Journal Constitution. A national pioneer in "ubiquitous mobile computing," Clayton State was the third public university to require that each student have access to a notebook computer and has distinguished its learning environment as one of a small number of "Notebook Universities." Clayton State is adjacent to the Georgia Archives and the National Archives at Atlanta.  

Job Duties
The individual will teach three graduate courses per semester in a synchronous, online environment. Course topics will include archives, records management, and archival technology. Because the program emphasizes digital archives, applicants must have a strong background in information technology. Strengths in records management; reference, access, and outreach; and digital preservation and curation are desirable. The temporary position will support the development of the program, but does not require research or other service as expected of tenure-track faculty. The position is based in Morrow, Georgia, fifteen miles southeast of Atlanta.  

Qualifications
Required qualifications
  • An earned terminal degree in one of the following areas: archival studies, library and information science, information technology, public history, or another closely related field. 
  • Candidates having an advanced degree in one of the above fields and significant recognition for substantive and distinctive contributions to the field of archival studies or digital curation may also be considered. 
  • Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States by the time of appointment. 
Additional, desirable qualifications
  • Certification by the Academy of Certified Archivists or the Institute for Certified Records Managers strongly preferred. 
  • Doctorate in archival studies, library and information science, information technology, public history, or another closely related field.
  • A record of or potential for distinguished graduate teaching directly related to archival studies. -The ability to engage students in online courses. 
  • Three or more years’ experience as a professional archivist or records manager. 
  • Evidence of current involvement in scholarly research. 
Salary
Salary will be competitive with comparable programs.
There's just one more thing you need to know:  final candidates for this position will undergo a criminal background investigation.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Northeast Document Conservation Center seeks a Director of Preservation Services

If you're a verbally adept preservation expert who has worked with both paper and electronic materials, relishes the thought of developing innovative educational initiatives, excels at multitasking, and lives or would like to live in the Boston area, the Northeast Document Conservation Center wants to hear from you:
Position Summary
The Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) is seeking an experienced preservation professional to lead and manage its nationally-recognized education programs and consulting services. The Director of Preservation Services designs ground-breaking projects and programs; manages a staff of in-house educators and consultants; lectures on a variety of preservation topics; is active in professional associations; serves on advisory committees of peer institutions; and works closely with NEDCC’s marketing and public relations manager to reach a national audience. The Director of Preservation Services reports to the Executive Director and is a member of NEDCC’s senior leadership team.

Qualifications
Applicants must have:
  • A broad knowledge of and experience in traditional collections preservation and digital curation
  • Demonstrated experience in managing a variety of projects, employees, and consultants at one time
  • A high level of maturity and solid reputation in the field 
  • Clear, concise, and eloquent written and oral communication skills 
  • Excellent relationship-building skills, and 
  • A master’s degree in library and information science and/or preservation management
NEDCC’s Preservation Services department is currently staffed with three in-house educators/consultants and one technology/events coordinator. Services include general preservation needs assessments, digital collections needs assessments, webinars, workshops, conferences, 24-hour disaster assistance, and answering technical inquiries. Products include print and online publications, online self-help tutorials, and a variety of preservation- and disaster-planning tools. The Preservation Services staff also serves as an in-house reference resource for NEDCC’s conservation and digital imaging staffs.
The position description, which contains detailed application instructions, states that "salary and benefits are competitive" and that applications will be accepted until this position is filled.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Hillsborough: archive as memorial

We archivists devote a lot of thought to the informational value of archives, but archives can also have profound symbolic value. Recent developments in the United Kingdom highlight just how closely informational value and symbolic value can intertwine.

On 15 April 1989, two British football teams -- Liverpool and Nottingham Forest -- were scheduled to play a Football Association Cup semi-final match in Sheffield's Hillsborough Stadium, which featured a mix of seated areas and standing-only terraces.  Two of the terrace "pens" allotted to Liverpool fans became horrifically overcrowded.  Spectators at the front of the pens were pushed against the safety barriers and fences installed at the front of the terrace, and by the time the match was suspended -- six minutes into play -- dozens of people were dead or dying.  Some fell to the floor and were trampled underfoot, and others died of compressive asphyxia while still on their feet.  Ninety-four people died on 15 April, and two others later succumbed to injuries suffered in the crush.  Hundreds of other fans suffered serious injuries, and countless others were traumatized.

The Hillsborough Disaster, as it is commonly known, was the subject of several high-profile official investigations that identified the failure of the South Yorkshire Police to control the crowd as the chief cause of the disaster.  However, several of these investigations also concluded that spectators' drunkenness and last-minute rush to enter the stadium were also contributing factors, and none of them examined the police and medical response to the disaster as it unfolded.

Several organizations representing survivors and the families of those who perished as a result of the disaster continued to press the British government to conduct a more comprehensive investigation and to release public documents reviewed by previous investigative panels, and in 2010 the government established the Hillsborough Independent Panel and charged it not only with identifying the causes of the disaster but also with examining authorities' response to it and making investigative materials accessible to survivors, families, and the public at large.

The panel released its final report a few days ago, and its findings are damning:
  • In 1981, overcrowding on the terraces during a Sheffield Wednesday Football Club match at Hillsborough very nearly resulted in tragedy, but the club, which didn't want to spend large amounts of money to upgrade the facility, and the South Yorkshire Police, which was more concerned about crowd control than spectator safety, neglected to take steps to avert future incidents.
  • On 15 April 1989, South Yorkshire Police, which again was chiefly concerned about crowd control, failed to monitor conditions on the terraces and made a series of decisions that routed large numbers of Liverpool spectators to terrace pens that were already dangerously over capacity.
  • Police and stadium officials were slow to recognize that fans at the front of the pens were in desperate trouble, and even after the gravity of the situation became apparent they neglected to follow their own emergency response procedures.  The failure to bring in medical personnel and supplies in a timely manner and establish systematic triage was particularly devastating:  post-mortem reports suggest that as many as 41 of the 96 people who died might have survived had they received prompt, appropriate care.
  • South Yorkshire Police gathered detailed statements from all personnel who had been assigned to work at the stadium that day -- and senior officials altered 164 of these statements in an effort to save face and minimize financial liability.
  • Contrary to police and press allegations, Liverpool fans were not drunken hooligans, did not conspire to rush into the stadium immediately before kickoff, and did not attack or impede emergency personnel.  The people who died had consumed alcohol in quantities that might be expected of people enjoying an outing, and the overwhelming majority of those who survived followed police orders before and during the disaster and did whatever they could to save the dying, aid the injured, and assist police and ambulance crews.
The panel's charge also compelled it to "work with the Keeper of Public Records in preparing options for establishing an archive of Hillsborough documentation, including a catalogue of all central governmental and local public agency information and a commentary on any information withheld for the benefit of the families or on legal or other grounds," and one chapter of the report details its efforts to develop a Permanent Archive for the Hillsborough Disaster.  This archive, which currently consists of digitized images of 25,000 of the 450,000 pages of records that the panel examined, brings together materials created by approximately 80 organizations and a number of private individuals.  It will exist only in digital form; the paper originals will remain in repositories in Sheffield and  Liverpool and at the National Archives facility at Kew.

 The report explains that the Permanent Archive is designed to increase "public understanding of the context, circumstances and consequences of the disaster and why no satisfactory resolution of the issues raised by the families and survivors has been achieved."  Its contents "provide the most complete record of events available, disclosing the decisions taken and actions progressed by those involved throughout an extended period before and since the disaster." 

The Permanent Archive is also meant to serve as "a lasting national memorial to those who died, survived or were affected by the tragedy [emphasis added]."  That a collection of documents might serve as a memorial may seem a bit odd, but in this instance, it seems entirely fitting.  Erik Ketelaar has argued that archives should be seen as"repositories of meaning," and Hillsborough Independent Panel -- whose members include a former Keeper of Public Records -- clearly see themselves as revealing the existence of meanings and truths that had been suppressed or denied:  as the panel's chair, the Right Reverend John Jones, explains in the report's foreword, the documents that comprise the Permanent Archive provide conclusive proof "that the fans were not the cause of the disaster" and "that the bereaved families met a series of obstacles in their search for justice." The creation of the Permanent Archive is, in and of itself, an acknowledgement of "the legitimacy of the search for justice by the bereaved families and survivors of Hillsborough."

The report and the Permanent Archive have already spurred other efforts to right past wrongs.  Over the weekend, the editor in chief of the tabloid The Sun, which in 1989 published a front page story alleging that Liverpool fans picked the pockets of the dead and dying, urinated on a constable as he attempted to resuscitate a victim, and assaulted other first responders (is it any wonder many Liverpudlians still boycott this paper?), issued an abject apology.  Families of many of the victims, whose deaths were ruled accidental after abbreviated inquests, are pressing for new hearings.  Earlier today, the Home Secretary stated that officials who broke the law in the wake of the disaster may be subject to criminal prosecution. Twenty-three years after the Hillsborough Disaster, a national coming to grips is finally taking place.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Help save the Georgia Archives!

On 13 September, Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp announced that the Georgia Archives will be closed to the public as of 1 November 2012.  Georgia agencies have been instructed to reduce their budget expenditures by 3 percent, and Secretary Kemp has opted to take the required cut of $750,000 entirely and only from the State Archives.  Staff reductions will be announced soon.

The Georgia Archives was among the first state archives established (1918).  It has won many awards for its programs and state-of-the-art archival facility and has been a respected leader in archives, government records programs, and research use.  It's also done some important electronic records work.  However, in recent years, the Georgia Archives has repeatedly suffered budget cuts, staffing reductions, and reductions in public hours.  At present, the repository is open to the public only two days a week.  Secretary Kemp now wants to make it virtually impossible for Georgia's citizens to access their own history.

Georgians appalled by this proposal have started an online petition protesting against these cuts and are sharing information via a new Facebook group, Georgians Against Closing State Archives.  Please sign the petition and "like" the group, but keep in mind that online activism simply isn't enough.  Elected officials pay more attention to paper letters, faxes, telephone calls, and in-person visits than to e-mail messages or online petitions.  Given the seriousness of this situation, I urge you to write, call, or visit Georgia's Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Secretary of State and urge them to reverse this devastating decision.  If you're a resident of Georgia, you should also write, call, or visit your state Representative and your state Senator.\
When you call, write, or visit the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, or legislator, ask him or her to:
  • Restore a minimum of $1 million to the Georgia Archives budget.  Doing so will enable the repository to open its doors five days a week and avoid projected staff reductions.
  • Reverse the Secretary of State’s proposed budget cuts to the Archives to ensure uninterrupted service to the public after 1 November.
You should also focus on a few of the points below, putting them in your own words and using your own examples -- particularly if you are a Georgia citizen:
  • The Secretary of State was directed to reduce his budget expenditures by 3%.  The entire sum needed to accomplish that has been taken from the Archives budget alone and will result in the termination of all public hours.   The proposed "access by appointment…limited based on the schedule of the remaining employees" effectively denies access based on "reasonable time and place" required by Georgia law.
  • Access to government records promotes government accountability and safeguards the legal rights of citizens:
    • The proposed closure deprives citizens of regular and predictable access, as mandated in the Georgia Public Records and Open Records Act which states that all public records "shall be open for a personal inspection by any citizen of this state at a reasonable time and place, and those in charge of such records shall not refuse this privilege to any citizen."
    • It is contrary to the practice of government transparency by depriving citizens of predictable and ready access to the records that are essential to providing evidence of government accountability.
    • It deprives citizens, as well as Georgia’s own government, of access to records needed to support due process of law.   The Georgia Archives holdings have been used in a range of court cases, including land claims, boundary disputes, utility right-of-way, and claims against state agencies.
    • Access to records is essential to avoid costly litigation that will result if records cannot be located or accessed.
  • The proposed closure will also hamper efforts to research the history of the state and its citizens:
    • As the Civil War Sesquicentennial begins, researchers need access to the historical record in the Georgia Archives to provide accurate, factual evidence of that experience.  Many of Georgia’s governmental records were destroyed during Sherman’s March.  Closing the Archives similarly deprives Georgians of access to their heritage—but this time the fault does not lie with an invading army, but with Georgia officials themselves.
    • The Georgia Archives holds records actively sought by genealogists and family historians; in particular, they provide essential evidence for African-American history and genealogical research not available in many private historical collections.
    • The Georgia Archives has been an essential resource for environmental research and activities, including efforts to reintroduce the American chestnut tree in the state and issues relating to pollution.
    • The Georgia Archives has been the site of research for television and films, including episodes of the popular NBC series Who Do You Think You Are featuring Paula Deen and Spike Lee, as well as Emmy award-winner Ben Loeterman’s documentary The People v. Leo Frank.
Here's where to direct your letters, calls, and visits:

Governor Nathan Deal
203 State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334
Phone:  404-656-1776
Fax:  404-657-7332
E-mail ("Contact Us" form):   http://gov.georgia.gov/contact-us-0

Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle
240 State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334
Phone:  404-656-5030
Fax:  404-656-6739

Secretary of State Brian Kemp
214 State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334
Phone:  404-656-2881
Fax:  404-656-0513

The Web site of the Society of Georgia Archivists provides detailed contact information for individual Representatives and Senators and legislative committee heads as well as tips for communicating effectively with them.

Georgia archivists are trying to keep track of advocacy efforts relating to the Georgia Archives, so please be sure to send copies of any letters you send or summaries of any contacts you make to Kaye Lanning Minchew [kaye-at-troupcountyarchives-dot-org] of the Troup County Archives.

The text of this post is based upon a draft action alert developed by representatives of the Society of Georgia Archivists, the Council of State Archivists, the Society of American Archivists, the National Coalition for History, and other organizations.  The image was created by Georgians Against Closing State Archives.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Harvard Business School is looking for a Project Archivist

If you're comfortable arranging and describing paper and electronic records, have experience managing a variety of different types of projects, and live or would like to live in the Boston area for two years, Harvard Business School's Baker Library may have a job for you.  (And, at least in this instance, "may" truly is the appropriate word:  at the time of this writing, the university is still awaiting final approval of this particular project.)
Job Description
As a key member of the Special Collections team that oversees the extensive archival and manuscript collections of Baker Library, responsible for planning, prioritizing, identifying, transferring, preserving, and setting procedures for establishing and providing intellectual access to the full archival collection of a leading financial investment management firm, including paper and electronic records and digital content such as web files, video, audio etc.. Organizes and documents the archival materials to create a complete historical record. Coordinates the development of oral histories and interviews that supplement the artifacts and allow a deeper understanding of the creation and history of the firm. Coordinates the development an organizational structure for ongoing records and a taxonomy and standard metadata to provide innovative access to both archival and current materials. Makes recommendations to the Director, Special Collections, about content appraisal and privacy issues. Handles confidential information in accordance with University, state, and federal policies and regulations. Establishes and administers policy guidelines concerning internal and external research access and use of materials. Communicates regularly with the firm; works closely with its staff to identify and describe records of key significance. Acts as the lead researcher for the archives. Actively engages in corporate projects that utilize the Archives such as marketing and the production of publicity products, documentaries etc. Identifies innovative approaches to incorporate materials from the Archives into the HBS curriculum. Collaborates with the Special Collections Outreach Team and the KLS Information Products and Innovation group as appropriate in the development of digital collections, web products, and programs that encourage a greater understanding and knowledge of the story and use of the firm’s Archives. Under the general direction of the Collections Conservator, manages the re-housing and other recommended preservation actions for processed collections including preparation of materials for digital reformatting. Participates as appropriate in relevant professional organizations and monitors the print literature and online discussion groups of the profession. May supervise and train staff, temps, and/or interns.

Requirements
Team player; excellent communicator who embraces change, seeks out opportunities for innovation and improvement, and is committed to providing excellent customer service. Advanced degree with relevant professional concentration or experience, including formal training in the management of archives. Four+ years of progressively responsible professional and administrative experience in the archival field, including two years’ experience appraising, arranging and describing archival materials using DACS and MARC for original cataloging of manuscript materials and EAD for creating finding aids. Demonstrated organizational skills in planning, prioritizing, and achieving goals with evidence of successful project management experience. Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion. Strong knowledge of the principles and practices of archiving electronic records. Excellent research, writing, and analytical skills. Excellent communication, interpersonal, and critical thinking/ problem-solving skills. Must be able to regularly lift 40 lbs.

Desired
Degree or course work in History/American Studies or related field desired; strong interest in financial and/or business history. Experience with appraising, acquiring and processing electronic records preferred. Familiarity with EAD, MODS, METS, XML/XSL and other data structure standards relevant to the archival control of digital collection materials. Experience processing, cataloging, indexing and preserving media materials (digital files, audio, and film). Enthusiastic interest in identifying new trends in providing access to archival materials and creative approaches to demonstrating the value of archives. Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
The salary range for this position is $70,000-$74,000.  For more information and detailed application instructions, consult the job description.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Library of Virginia seeks a State Records Archivist

If have experience describing archival records, are comfortable working with both paper and electronic records, are knowledgeable about Virginia history and politics, and live or would like to live in a Southern city that has ample quantities of history and culture, the Library of Virginia may have a job for you:
Job Description
The Library of Virginia, the archival agency for the Commonwealth of Virginia, is seeking a State Records Archivist for the State Records Program in the Description Services Branch. The State Records Program is responsible for acquiring, accessioning, arranging, describing and preserving permanent state government records that are transferred to the Library of Virginia.

Major responsibilities of the state records archivist position include processing collections and preparing finding aids in EAD; the creation of MARC catalogue records; processing and preserving born digital records; providing access to electronic records and other digital collections; evaluating the physical condition of records; collaborating with records management staff and consulting with state agencies; and conducting research. 


Minimum Qualifications
  • Formal training and/or experience in archives required. 
  • Working knowledge of archival standards, theory, and practice. 
  • Working knowledge of archival automation, using EAD for finding aids and online cataloging using MARC format, and applying DACS to both. 
  • Working knowledge of state government records. 
  • Working knowledge of records management theory and practice. 
  • Working knowledge of Virginia legal processes and state and local history. 
  • Working knowledge of archival conservation and preservation guidelines. 
  • Working knowledge of electronic records preservation and processing. 
  • Demonstrated ability to examine, analyze, arrange, and describe collections accurately. 
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing. 
  • Demonstrated ability to work as an effective member of a team. 
  • Ability to work with accuracy and within expected time frames. 
  • Demonstrated ability to use appropriate online databases and tools, such as Aleph and Infolinx.
  • Demonstrated research skills.   
Preferred Qualifications
Master's degree from an accredited institution in U.S. History, Library Science, or a related field preferred, but not required.
For more information and detailed application instructions, consult the position descriptionN.B.:  The deadline for applying for this position is 19 September 2012.

The minimum salary for this position is $31,979 . . . which I initially found a bit shocking.  Even though this position is open to candidates who don't have master's degrees in Library/Information Science, Archival Studies, history, or a related discipline, I'm willing to bet that all of the strongest candidates will have at least one master's degree and at least a couple of years of work experience.  Even in this job market, $31,979 is a lowball figure.

However, I took a look at the Web site of the Commonwealth of Virginia's  Department of Human Resource Management and was pleased to discover that the minimum salary is just that.  The department assigns each job title a salary "band" that defines the minimum and maximum salary, and this position falls into salary band 4.  According to the slightly outdated salary schedule on the department's Web site, as of 2007 the minimum salary for band 4 jobs was $31, 352 and the maximum salary was $64,347.  (FYI, the Web site also contains information about fringe benefits.)

Bottom line:  if you're interested in this job, be prepared to negotiate for a salary that does justice to your education and work experience.  I'm sure that the hiring committee doesn't expect that the successful candidate will passively accept the $31,979 minimum.  

If the mere thought of negotiating makes you queasy, be sure to check out Lynne Thomas's excellent advice about how to broach the subject in a cheerfully assertive way.

(None of the above should be taken as a criticism of the Library of Virginia, which isn't responsible for setting the Commonwealth of Virginia's employee salary bands or the overall format of the Commonwealth's job postings, which don't include salary maximums.  Every Library of Virginia staffer I've ever encountered has been kind, dedicated, and incredibly talented, and I've consistently gotten the sense that the Library of Virginia is an energetic, supportive employer -- so don't let the prospect of salary negotiations scare you out of applying for this job.)