Processing Archivist

The Archival Collections Management Department at New York University seeks a skilled and knowledgeable professional for a Processing Archivist position. The position is based in the Archival Collections Management Department (ACM) of Knowledge Access and Resource Management Services (KARMS), a unified archival technical services department supporting NYU’s archival repositories. The Processing Archivist will accession, process, and describe new and existing collections in NYU Special Collections. 

Under the general supervision of the Accessioning Archivist, the successful candidate will:   

• Arrange or oversee the arrangement of archival records in accordance with accepted archival standards. Describe or oversee the description of archival collections according to archival standards in the repository’s collections management database and publish EAD-encoded finding aids on the web. Prepare records for export in MARC format to the library’s online public access catalog.
• Accession new collection materials. Faithfully and independently represent administrative, legal, and descriptive information about new materials in collection management systems according to documented standard practices. Provide professional judgment for appraising the ongoing research value of new collections. Assign routine accessioning tasks to graduate students and supervise their work. Stabilize materials and provide description in a timely manner.
• Ensure completion of collections management and control activities, including collections assessment, stacks maintenance, coordinating preservation and reformatting activities with appropriate library departments, and collecting workflow, use, and other statistics about the collections.
• Participate in unit-wide meetings and planning; other duties as assigned. "Provide expert research assistance to faculty, students, external visitors, and library staff (e.g. present archival materials to scholars; provide information on holdings) in-person and via email, telephone, and mail." 

Required Education:
Master's Degree Master’s degree in Library & Information Science or Archival Studies

Required Experience:
2+ years Minimum 2 years of experience in arranging and describing archival collections, preferably in an archive of special collections in an academic or research library setting. Minimum two years of experience in the expert use, maintenance, and support of automated archival collections management systems (ArchivesSpace or other systems).

Required Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:
Demonstrated expertise in archival theory and practice; minimum of two years of experience applying this expertise in description and processing work, including applying minimal and basic processing strategies; two years of experience showing mastery in the use and application of DACS, ISAD (G), EAD, ISAAR-CPF, EAC-CPF, MODS, METS, MARC, LCSH, LCNA, AACR2, RDA, and other library and archival descriptive and content standards. Knowledge of basic preservation and conservation issues as they relate to archival collections. Knowledge of rights administration and management issues for archival collections. Superior written and verbal communication skills; excellent interpersonal skills, demonstrated ability to work collegially within and across organizations; great attention to detail; demonstrated ability to manage time and tasks and complete projects in a timely manner.

Preferred Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:
Strong working knowledge of EAD and XML, including experience with XML schemas and the use of XML editors, and the manipulation of metadata across systems and platforms, is highly preferred. Familiarity with current approaches to accessioning and processing and description of born-digital holdings preferred. Subject expertise in one of the collecting foci of NYU’s Special Collections is highly preferred. 1-2 years of experience in providing excellent reference services for archival collections and knowledge of current reference practice in the field.

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