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Head of Archival Processing

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Position description

Head of Archival Processing
The Bancroft Library
Hiring range: Librarian
$81,474-$90,636 per annum, based upon qualifications
This is a full-time appointment available starting January 2017

The University of California, Berkeley, is seeking a senior processing archivist whose primary responsibility will be to oversee the team of processing archivists in Bancroft Technical Services (BTS) who are engaged in work related to family papers, the papers of individuals, the records of organizations, UCB faculty papers, and the administrative records of the University of California, Berkeley and the UC Office of the President. The successful candidate will have substantive knowledge and experience with the processing, arrangement and description of personal papers, the records of organizations, and university administrative archives. Additionally, he/she will have experience in the use and application of archival management systems, experience with project management, in-depth knowledge and experience with archival standards (DACS, EAD, MARC), and strong communication skills.

The Environment

The UC Berkeley Library is an internationally renowned research and teaching facility at one of the nation's premier public universities. A highly diverse and intellectually rich environment, Berkeley serves a campus community of 27,400 undergraduate students, 10,700 graduate students, and 1,600 faculty. The Library comprises 20 campus libraries - including the Doe/Moffitt Libraries, the Bancroft Library, the C. V. Starr East Asian Library and subject specialty libraries. With a collection of more than 11 million volumes and a collections budget of over $15 million, the Library offers extensive collections in all formats and robust services to connect users with those collections and build their related research skills.

The Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley, is one of the largest and most heavily used libraries of manuscripts, rare books, and special collections in the United States. As the primary center of special collections within the library system at Berkeley, Bancroft supports major research and reference activities and plays a leading role in the development of research collections. Bancroft holdings include over 500,000 volumes, 55,000 linear
feet of manuscripts, 8 million photographs and other pictorial materials, 72,000 microforms, 23,000 maps, and over 12.5 terabytes of digital collections. Additional information regarding The Library and The Bancroft Library is available on the web at: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/BANC/.

Bancroft Technical Services (BTS) is the department responsible for the technical operations of the Bancroft Library. BTS employs approximately 30 career and non-career staff and is structured in five units: acquisitions, cataloging (original and copy), archival processing, pictorial processing, and digital collections and metadata services. BTS is responsible for acquiring, preserving, and providing access to the library's collections of printed materials, manuscripts, photographs, magnetic and digital media, and other materials in a variety of formats. BTS takes a leadership role in setting national standards for technical processing, digital access, and digital archiving of rare books, archives, and special collections materials. A significant percentage of BTS processing and digital archiving projects is funded by external gifts and grants, leading BTS actively to partner with other campus and library units and with a variety of institutions throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, the state, and the nation.

Responsibilities

The Bancroft Library’s Head of Archival Processing reports to the Associate Director for Bancroft Technical Services and has full responsibility for overseeing the unit’s projects and staff, which includes processing archivists, support staff, student assistants and volunteers. In collaboration with the Associate Director and BTS unit heads, he/she establishes policy standards for arrangement and description of the collections, including the unit’s processing

manual and other written guidelines required for processing. The Head of Archival Processing manages the unit’s workflows and work schedules, and establishes mechanisms and timelines for reduction of collection backlogs. He/she trains unit staff and oversees/reviews unit staff finding aids and other descriptions. He/she plans the goals for collection processing and assists the unit staff and curators in determining order, specificity, and appropriate level of description and analysis. He/she serves as the unit’s expert on DACS and EAD, and other relevant schema and software tools, like ArchivesSpace, that assist in appraisal, organization/arrangement, and description of collections. He/she works with the Bancroft curators on appraisal of collections and assists with the administration of new acquisitions. He/she assists in the development of grant proposals and works with administration and curators, and other library units, to complete grant-funded projects. Work on the Bancroft reference desk is also expected.

UC Berkeley librarians are expected to participate in library-wide planning and governance, and work effectively in a shared decision-making environment. Librarian advancement is partially based upon professional contributions beyond the primary assignment; the successful candidate will show evidence or promise of such contributions to the Library, campus, UC System, and profession.

Qualifications

Minimum Basic Qualification at time of application:

• MLIS from an ALA-accredited institution, or equivalent degree in which coursework has focused on the intellectual control and organization of archival collections and professional experience in management of archival processing.

Additional Required Qualifications:

• Minimum 6 years work experience with demonstrated increased responsibility for the management of archival processing, arrangement and description of personal papers, organizational records, and institutional archives in both analog and born digital formats.
• Demonstrated knowledge of processing, arrangement and description of personal papers and/or organizations' records through completed finding aids of complex and large (200+ cartons) collections.
• Demonstrated knowledge of DACS, MARC, and EAD encoding through completed coursework, catalog records, and published finding aids.
• Experience using an archival collection or content management system, such as Archivists' Toolkit or ArchivesSpace.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with born digital archives.
• Evidence of effective project planning, management, and completion.
• Evidence of strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work in a team environment.
• Ability to safely move carts and book/flatbed trucks loaded up to 100 pounds; lift and bend with boxes or volumes weighing up to 40 pounds; carry large/awkward map carriers; climb and reach on step stools and rolling ladders; handle dollies and book/flatbed trucks.

Additional Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of appraisal of manuscripts and archives.
• Experience in digital collections processing, data migration, and/or digital curation.
• Experience with XML editing tools.
• Knowledge of software applications (Access, Excel, etc.) that assist in developing descriptive metadata for the purpose of finding aid creation.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and ensure regular workflows.

• Demonstrated ability to effectively engage and network with archival colleagues through professional associations and conferences.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate, schedule, and handle heavy and complex workloads.

The UC Berkeley Library is committed to supporting and encouraging a multicultural environment and seeks candidates who can make positive and imaginative contributions in a context of ethnic and cultural diversity.

UC professional librarians are academic appointees and are represented by an exclusive bargaining agent, University Council - American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT). This position is in the bargaining unit.

Librarians are entitled to appropriate professional development leave, two days per month vacation leave, one day per month of sick leave, and all other benefits granted non-faculty academic personnel. The University has an excellent retirement system and sponsors a variety of group health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans in addition to other benefits.

This recruitment will remain open until filled.

Submit applications online at https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/apply/JPF01090. Applications must include a cover letter detailing a statement of qualifications, curriculum vitae noting degrees and relevant work experience, and the names and contact information of three references who are knowledgeable about the applicant's qualifications for this position. References will only be contacted for individuals under serious consideration.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct.

Send inquiries to: Susan E. Wong
Director, Library Human Resources
Phone: (510) 642-3778
Email: librec@library.berkeley.edu

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V. noting degrees and relevant work experience.

  • Cover Letter - Cover letter detailing a statement of qualifications.

Reference requirements
  • 3 required (contact information only)

Job location

Berkeley, CA