Coordinating Library Technician (Project Archivist)

Invitation to Compete #33-23: Coordinating Library Technician (Project Archivist)

Special Collections, Central Library

Temporary, two-year, FLSA non-exempt, full-time (40 hours per week)

$28.84 - $34.93 per hour

Hours for this appointment will include weekdays, weekends and evenings. This classification is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME. This appointment may end before the two year term concludes.

This recruitment is open to the public and to The Seattle Public Library's employees. Please submit your NEOGOV application, cover letter and resume by 5:00 p.m. on May 14, 2023 to be considered. Please read the How to Apply section of this bulletin for important information.

Overview

The Seattle Public Library's mission is to bring people, information and ideas together to enrich lives and build community. We view Seattle as a city where imagination and opportunity continue to thrive. Since 1891, we have grown from a single reading room in Pioneer Square to a world-class library system with 27 locations.

The Library works every day to foster and support a healthy city and a healthy democracy. We do this work guided by the principles of intellectual freedom, literacy and the love of learning, racial equity, privacy and confidentiality, respect for the community, strong partnerships and innovation. We are an active and committed partner in the City of Seattle's Race and Social Justice Initiative.

Library employees are highly regarded by the public for their knowledge, quality of service and caring. As a workplace, we value respectful and transparent communication, partnership and engagement. We are enriched individually and organizationally because of our diversity and growth mindset. We take time to recognize and celebrate the achievements of others.

If you share these values and meet the qualifications, the Library invites you to apply for the Coordinating Library Technician position.

The Project Processing Archivist works in concert with the Special Collections team to arrange, process, research, describe, and prepare archival materials within the donated Paul Lewis Charles Dorpat Collection for access by patrons. This position works with the archiving and cataloging librarian to create descriptions of collections and materials (finding aids and bibliographic data) within the Special Collections unit, and works with both the Special Collections unit and the Cataloging and Processing units of the Technical and Collection Services department to ensure archival and other Special Collections materials are catalogued, processed, and findable by patrons. The Project Processing Archivist reports to the Manager of Special Collections, and works very closely with the Seattle Collection Curator and Digital Collections Librarian to research and describe collection materials and prepare selected items for digitization. The position may also coordinate the routine technical work related to archival processing for Library Technicians working in a Special Collections capacity and students engaged in directed fieldwork.

This position will perform archival processing and bibliographic record creation for Special Collections, including, but not limited to:

• Analysis of materials in terms of order, arrangement, format, material condition, container, conservation, and preservation needs, and digitization viability;
• Creation and documentation of efficient and effective workflows and treatments into a material processing plan.
• Assessment, arrangement, and description of materials to create a system of organization within the collection according to professional standards
• Assessment of assorted media found within the collection to determine content and preservation needs
• Rehousing materials in archival boxes and folders, and format appropriate enclosures to ensure their long-term preservation
• Digitization of select items, segments, sections or groups of material, according to priorities that emerge in the archiving process.
• Coordinate with Special Collections staff and Cataloging and Processing units in Technical Services to prepare catalog records for the archival collection
• Collaborate with Special Collections specialists to accurately represent the historical context surrounding resource subject matter, and pertaining to the creation and use of materials, physical characteristics, and production techniques of special collections materials.
• Manage archival collection information in ArchivesSpace, ensure Encoded Archival Description (EAD) finding aids conform to best practices, and facilitate the upload of finding aids to ArchivesWest.
• Uphold and update professional standards through maintenance of current best practices, ongoing knowledge of innovative practices, and through connection to professional associations and communities, ranging from the local level to the international level.
• Ongoing identification of any restrictions based on legal agreements, copyright law, privacy law, preservation assessments, or related concerns with supervisor guidance
• Oversite of assigned staff for processing assistance

• Minimum of three years of professional experience working in an archives or manuscripts repository. A combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class will be considered.
• Ability to learn and apply a wide variety of complex technical and clerical procedures, and to perform large volumes of work with a high level of accuracy.
• Ability to plan and organize own work and that of others.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, and to follow complex written or verbal instructions accurately.
• Ability to learn specific procedures on the Library's archives information management applications integrated library system, and content management system.
• Ability to operate and maintain Library equipment.
• Ability to type proficiently, file alpha/numerically, and to perform computations.
• Full comprehension of procedures relevant to the purpose of the work unit, and familiarity with related Library policies and procedures.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience, education, and/or knowledge of Pacific Northwest history highly desired.

• Archival certificate (e.g. SA Arrangement & Description) or accreditations from a comparable professional organization.

• Understanding of library and archival principles of arrangement and description. Experience or coursework in describing archival collections (for example, cataloging, creating metadata records for digital collections, or creating collection finding aids for archival collections). Demonstrated ability to perform technical work with a very high level of accuracy and in accordance with established professional and local standards, and to complete assigned work within established timelines. Experience developing procedures, guidelines, or best practices for technical services workflows.

• Knowledge of archival collection processing and library cataloging standards. Familiarity with archival collections management systems or databases, such as ArchivesSpace open source archives information management application for managing and providing web access to archives, manuscripts and digital objects. Knowledge of basic preservation, conservation, and descriptive standards for archival collections. Preservation and conservation standards would include those maintained at Society of American Archivist, Library of Congress, and Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC).
• Project Management and Team Work Skills: Experience designing, implementing, and evaluating a project or service, preferably using outcome-based evaluation methods. Experience serving as a member on a working committee or project team in lieu of the above experience may be considered. Candidates must possess demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and independently using in person and virtual tools.
• Excellent Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Experience in public speaking and formal writing skill is highly desired. Must be able to communicate clearly, diplomatically, and in a friendly and positive manner with staff and library users from diverse language, ethnic, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, as well as with neighborhood-based or special interest groups.
• Intellectual Freedom: Applicants must have a strong commitment to intellectual freedom as defined by the American Library Association's Bill of Rights.
• Race and Social Justice Initiative: Applicants must be able to support the City of Seattle's Race and Social Justice Initiative and have a strong commitment to providing equitable services to marginalized or underserved populations throughout Seattle, and an understanding of how collection description and cataloging can contribute to equitable access to and representation within library collections for historically marginalized communities.
• Technology and Informational Resources: Must have current working knowledge of PCs in a Windows environment and library applications, and be able to use online Internet searching methods and information resources. Working knowledge and ability with office productivity applications (e.g. MS Office and Excel). Experience with Horizon library automation or a similar system is preferred.
• Other Required Skills and Abilities: Candidates must be flexible, able to handle multiple competing priorities and tasks, adaptable to change, and able to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. An ability to incorporate and apply newer/emerging technologies in support of creative, effective library services is desirable. Must be able to lift and carry up to 40 lbs.

How to Apply

Candidates who meet the qualifications are asked to submit the following items in NEOGOV by 5:00 p.m. on May 14, 2023 to be considered for this position:

1. Completed online application
2. A cover letter that describes how your experience and skills align with the stated job responsibilities and qualifications. Please let us know why you are interested in this position.
3. Current resume that summarizes relevant education, professional experience, training and skills.

Applications that do not include a cover letter, resume, and complete online application will not be considered.

Applicants will be screened for competitiveness, completeness, and written communication skills. Initial screening will be based on a review of application materials. The employment history detailed in your application materials MUST validate/support your responses to the supplemental questions. If your responses cannot be validated, you will not proceed to the next steps of the review/selection process. The most competitive candidates will be invited to participate in a series of one or more interviews.

The full salary range for this position is $28.84 - $34.93 per hour.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and covered family-members/most employees-plans

If you have questions regarding this bulletin or employment at The Seattle Public Library, please send an email to job.applications@spl.org. The Library promotes diversity and inclusion in employment. If accommodations are needed during the selection process, please contact us.

Please keep in mind that job offers are contingent on a review of criminal history as well as verification of information provided by the applicant as part of the application process.

Employment Type: Civil Service Exempt, Term Limited, Full-Time