Texas A&M is looking for a Digital Archivist

I've you've got real-world electronic records experience, want to work for a large research university, and live or want to live in central Texas, you just might be Texas A&M's new Digital Archivist:

Texas A&M University Libraries seeks a creative and dynamic professional to join the Texas A&M University Libraries as a Digital Archivist. This is a non-tenure track “clinical” faculty position. Successful candidates will be expected to engage in professional service activities, consistent with the Libraries’ and University’s requirements for promotion.

Reporting to the Director of Cushing Memorial Library and Archives, the Digital Archivist will establish and maintain a digital archiving program in collaboration with the University Archivist, Digital Preservation Librarian, Cushing archivists and curators, and other Libraries units. Responsibilities include: processing, describing, and providing access to born-digital and digitized archival and special collections materials; demonstrate initiative and innovation in developing and implementing processes for archiving current and legacy electronic and digital materials including document, image, and audio/video files, email, web sites, social media; and digital primary materials acquired on formats such as tape, floppy disks, hard drives, Compact Discs, and mobile devices. Additional responsibilities include acquiring and maintaining legacy hardware and software that may be necessary for providing access to digital materials. Working with the University Libraries Preservation unit, the Digital Archivist will aid in the development, documentation, and implementation of a digital preservation plan as it pertains to Cushing Memorial Library and Archives collections. The Digital Archivist will educate and raise awareness of digital archives issues and concerns within the Libraries, as well as contribute to Cushing outreach activities to the campus and community. The individual also participates in committees and administrative groups, as appropriate.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited institution (or International equivalent)
• A minimum of two years of professional experience working in the area of digital archiving
• Knowledge of current trends, tools, and protocols in digital archiving and preservation
• Understanding of principles and techniques for archiving of web sites, email, social media, and other online primary sources
• Familiarity with metadata standards relevant to the archival control of digital collection materials such as EAD, Dublin Core, MODS, or PREMIS
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to plan, coordinate, and implement complex projects
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Commitment to diversity and to serving the needs of a diverse population

Desired Qualifications

• Knowledge of forensic technologies utilized by the archival or cultural heritage communities for harvesting, managing, and preserving born-digital and digitized archival and special collections material
• Knowledge of legal and ethical issues affecting digital archival and special collections objects
• Experience with Digital Asset Management Systems
• Familiarity with major archival software and tools (e.g., Archon, ArchivesSpace, Archive-It)
• Experience with the creation of online exhibits
• Relevant coursework or certification in the field of Digital Archives

Applications received by 30 March 2015 will receive first consideration. The successful candiadate's salary and faculty ranking will be "commensurate with qualifications and experience." Texas A&M offers a "health plan and paid life insurance; several retirement plans including TIAA-CREF; paid holidays and vacation;" and funding for professional development. For more information and detailed application instructions, consult the position description.

Cornell University seeks a Digital Archivist

If you have theoretical knowledge of and at least some real-world experience with digital preservation, want to work for a large institution that has long been committed to preserving digital materials, and relish the thought of living in an area that has more than its fair share of natural beauty, you need to know that Cornell University's Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections is hiring a Digital Archivist:

Under the supervision of the Assistant Director for Technical Services within the Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections (RMC), the Digital Archivist provides oversight and management of RMC’s digital collections, with a particular focus on born-digital materials. The Digital Archivist will take the lead on developing and documenting workflows for accessioning, stabilizing, arranging, and describing born-digital collections. The Digital Archivist will work closely with colleagues in RMC and other Cornell University Library (CUL) units, in particular Digital Scholarship and Preservation Services (DSPS) and CUL-IT, to ensure coordination and communication around issues of shared interest. Additionally, will participate in RMC’s public services program, facilitating access to digital collections and providing reference services as needed.

The Digital Archivist will work with the University Archivist and the Records Manager in developing policies for Cornell University electronic records, coordinating their acquisition, preservation, and access mechanisms. Will also work with subject curators and donors to assess and appraise digital materials.

In collaboration with technical services staff in RMC, the Digital Archivist will establish policies and workflows for accessioning, describing, preserving, and accessing born-digital materials. Will perform as well as train others to perform preservation tasks related to incoming digital materials, such as creating disk images, performing digital forensics tasks, and collaborating with digital preservation staff in Cornell University Library. Will arrange and describe born-digital archival materials, following archival standards. Will work with CULcolleagues to coordinate the ingest of materials into the digital preservation repository.

In coordination with CUL-IT and DSPS, the Digital Archivist will participate in the ongoing development of access systems for digital collections and born-digital materials. As needed to facilitate management and use, will upload digital collection materials to digital collections platforms for access and/or make access copies for in-house use. Will aid in the development of the Cornell University Library Archival Repository (CULAR) by articulating the workflows and standards employed to the CULAR Manager and development team to assure that appropriate development can be managed within the repository.

The Digital Archivist will also provide reference assistance to researchers, including those requiring access files on obsolete media. Will participate on library-wide committees and will be expected to participate in professional activities related to archives and digital preservation.

Qualifications

• Master's degree from an ALA-accredited program with a concentration in archives management, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of archives and records management theory and practice, including experience processing archival records.
• Knowledge of digital preservation theory and practice, as well as strategies and technologies utilized by the archival community for managing born-digital archival and manuscript material.
• Knowledge of relevant standards for archival description, including DACS, EAD, and EAC-CPF, and familiarity with other metadata standards such as METS and PREMIS.
• Familiarity with web archiving.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to plan, coordinate, and implement complex projects.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with a variety of staff in a rapidly changing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two to three years of relevant professional experience, preferably in academic archives. Experience implementing policies, standards, and procedures for stewardship of digital material in an archival or special collections setting.
• Experience with digital archives tools such as BitCurator, FTK, floppy drive controllers (e.g. Catweasel, Kryoflux), writeblockers, Sleuth Kit, fiwalk, and emulators.
• Experience with XSLT and programming languages (PHP, Perl, Python).

To the best of my knowledge, there is no closing date for applications. The position description, which includes a link to Cornell's online application process, says nothing about salary, so I assume that it's negotiable. Cornell provides a comprehensive array of benefits.

Florida State Archives is hiring an Electronic Records Archivist

If you live or want to live in the Sunshine State, have substantial electronic records and information systems experience, and relish the thought of working with smart, dedicated people, you need to know that the Florida State Archives is hiring an Electronic Records Archivist (Archivist III):  

Description of Duties

• Formulates strategies for developing and maintaining a technical architecture for the Division's electronic records and documents programs, including hardware, software, appropriate backup procedures and automated methods for integrity checking. 
• Identifies electronic records held by Florida government agencies, applies archival appraisal criteria to those records to identify electronic records of archival value, and reviews options and makes recommendations for accessing, data conversion, storage, preservation and access for electronic records appraised as archival. 
• Conducts electronic records data conversion, migration, transfer, and/or other tasks and procedures necessary to ensure preservation and access to archival records and documents transferred to the Division. 
• Develops filing arrangements and specialized finding aids, guides, indexes and descriptive materials for electronic public records and manuscript collections. 
• Recommends to and informs Supervisor of processing needs and priorities for electronic manuscript and public records collections. 
• Monitors electronic records management and archival electronic records standards, guidelines and best practices, and makes recommendations for incorporating those standards and practices into the Division's electronic records and documents programs. 
• Monitors state-of-the-art techniques and practices for archival management. 
• Maintains a high level of expertise through training courses, conferences, professional engagement and information exchange, reading, research and/or other appropriate means. 
• Provides technical assistance to Florida government agencies regarding electronic records creation, maintenance, preservation, access and archival transfer, and regarding electronic archival resources and the preservation, management and use of records with extended or permanent retention. 
• Assists in the utilization and maintenance of the Archives' automated archival information systems. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

Education and Experience Requirements

• A master's degree in information technology systems, computer science, or library science with an information systems emphasis, archives management with an information systems emphasis, or a closely related field and two years of professional full time experience in information technology systems/computer science -- OR -- A bachelor's degree and four years of professional full time experience in information technology systems/computer science. 

Additional Requirements

• One year of full time professional experience in a formally established archival program (municipal, county, state, or national historical society, university). 
•  Coursework or workshops in archives or records management outside of a completed degree or certification. 
• One year of full time professional experience providing technical assistance to archives, libraries, or government agencies in long-term preservation of electronic records and/or documents.  
• One year of full time professional experience coordinating programs for the transfer of electronic records and/or documents to a formally established archival or library program. 
• One year of full time professional experience coordinating programs for electronic records data conversion, migration, transfer, and/or other tasks and procedures necessary to ensure preservation and access to electronic records and/or documents. 

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of general archival and records management concepts. 
• Effective oral and written communication skills. 
• Extensive knowledge of hardware and software used for electronic document management systems, electronic imaging systems, and desktop applications (personal computers). 
• Extensive knowledge of database management, systems analysis and system development concepts.

The starting salary for this position is $34,501.44, and the State of Florida provides an array of benefits. The application deadline is 26 March 2015. For more information about this job and the application process, consult the position description and the State of Florida's Applicant Guide.

New York in Bloom 2015

Yes, New York in Bloom (NYIB) 2015 ended on February 22, and yes, I really should be crafting a post entitled "Hilary Clinton's e-mail," but at the moment I'm recuperating from the flu, dealing with  a ton  of time-consuming legal and financial stuff, and feeling the need for a night off. "Hilary Clinton's e-mail" will go up as soon as I feel capable of formulating some coherent thoughts about the former Secretary of State's e-mail issues. Moreover, NYIB posts are something an annual ritual for me, and family obligations compelled me to miss NYIB 2014 altogether and to delay posting about NYIB 2015. At this point in my life, minor rituals mean a lot.

New York in Bloom is the New York State Museum's annual fundraiser for its after-school programs, which serve children and teenagers who live in some of Albany's roughest neighborhoods. It's also a much-needed respite from the upstate New York winter: professional and amateur floral arrangers create displays that complement the Museum's exhibits, and their work brings a touch of tropical fragrance and warmth into the Museum.