Part-time Archival Processing Intern
Heritage Room
Athens-Clarke County Library
Athens Regional Library System
The Athens-Clarke County Library is hiring individuals committed to offering the best library service to our community, individuals who don’t settle for the ways it’s been done, but instead look for ways to excel and improve. We seek enthusiastic, innovative and flexible individuals who proactively search for opportunities to make public library services relevant to all members of the community.
Salary: $7.50/hour
Part-time Position, Without Benefits
Bilingual skills (English and Spanish) preferred but not required.
Start Date: January 11, 2016
End Date: May 2016
Deadline for Applications: January 3, 2016
The Schedule for this position is flexible, but interns must commit to schedule at least four hours on one day.
** This position may not be combined with any other ARLS position. **
Purpose and Scope
The Athens-Clarke County Library has an immediate opening for a part-time, temporary Heritage Room Archival Processing Intern for the Spring 2016 semester. This is a part-time, paid position of up to 17 hours per week. Preference will be given to candidates completing the internship for course credit, and accommodations can be made per the requirements of the course. Graduate-level students with a focus in archival studies, history, historic preservation or library and information science are strongly encouraged to apply.
The successful candidate will gain experience in handling fragile objects, collection arrangement and description, and evaluating materials for preservation and/or conservation treatment. All equipment and training will be provided by the Heritage Room, where all work will be performed.
Minimum Training & Experience
Completion of at least the introductory courses in archives principles and practices via an accredited library science program is preferred, or any combination of education, training and experience that provides requisite knowledge, skills and abilities for the position.
Essential Functions
The following are normal, but not exclusive or all-inclusive, expectations for this job. Other duties of a similar nature or level may be required as assigned, and job assignments and work schedule are subject to change in the future.
1. Accessions collections of 19th and 20th century personal papers, administrative records and maps;
2. Processes collections, including physical arrangement (sorting, cleaning, boxing labeling) according to archival principals, with re-housing in archival enclosures;
3. Inventories and describes materials, creating collection guides and other basic finding aids with appropriate index terms;
4. Enters appropriate metadata records into ArchivesSpace, our collection management database;
5. Researches people or events covered by a collection;
6. Communicates and works cooperatively with other Heritage Room interns and staff;
7. Writes blog posts for publication on the Library’s website and social media outlets;
8. Attends processing meetings to participate in collective assessment of finding aids and project discussions;
9. Performs other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
1. Knowledge of basic archival principles and philosophy, including provenance/respect du fonds, arrangement and description;
2. Familiarity with the Dublin Core metadata schema;
3. Personal computer proficiency with Office computer software and databases;
4. Ability to work with people with tact, patience and courtesy and exercise excellent communication skills;
5. Ability to exercise good judgment and make independent and critical decisions using established practices and procedures;
6. Ability to follow detailed instructions;
7. Ability to maintain regular, predictable and punctual attendance;
8. Ability to learn digitization and scanning technologies and best practices for digital preservation including image capture and metadata creation;
9. Knowledge of 19th and 20th century American History;
10. Knowledge of historical sources, including books, indexes, microforms, databases, original records, websites and serials.
11. Physical ability to move or carry objects or materials. Must be able move or carry objects or materials. Must be able to exert up to 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, &/or up to 10 to 25 pounds force frequently. Physical demand requirements are at levels of those of Medium work.
Submit online job application for this position. Please include a resume, cover letter describing qualifications, and letter of recommendation from an academic advisor or supervisor.
If completing the internship for course credit, the letter should clearly state the program’s internship requirements, including the number of hours required to successfully complete the internship.