ARCHIVIST

Job Summary

This position is located in the District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL) in Public Services, The People’s Archive. The People’s Archive’s mission is to connect you to unique resources that illustrate the District of Columbia’s local history and culture. We are a home of discovery, where diverse stories - past and present - are preserved and amplified. The People's Archive includes Washingtoniana, Black Studies, and the Peabody Room collections. Work will be assigned at both the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library and Georgetown Neighborhood Library.

The Archivist serves as a reference and processing archivist, performing professional duties in the areas of arrangement and description of material, preparation of inventories, adding data into a computerized database, preservation, and virtual and / or in person reference service.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide reference service to onsite and/or virtual researchers. Answer requests for information from internal and external sources, including institutions and donors.
• Lead public events related to archives, history, and related subjects.
• Proactively communicate with DCPL staff and external stakeholders, including donors, researchers, and other research institutions on library resources and potential use in research, instruction, etc.
• Assists in the department’s reference reading room, either on the desk; or by paging requested material
• Working with The People’s Archive Manager and Assistant Manager, establish priorities for archival processing projects.
• Accession and process archival materials in accordance with archival standards and best practices; create processing plans and timelines for activities
• Recruit, train, and coordinate volunteers, interns and Library staff working on large archival projects; maintain necessary statistics relating to time and activities.
• Create DACS compliant finding aids to facilitate access to archives collections. Includes establishing name and subject entries and ensure the implementation of current, consistent metadata standards.
• Perform archival management activities using a collections management database, such as ArchivesSpace.
• Maintain the DCPL institutional archives, including preparing retention schedules
• Identifies out-of-scope archival materials and makes recommendations for deaccessioning.
• Performs basic preservation maintenance activities and identifies materials in need of conservation treatment and recommends appropriate treatment.
• Research and develop grant proposals relating to archival collection processing, access and outreach.
• Research potential additions to the archive and make recommendations accordingly to The People’s Archive Manager and Assistant Manager
• Provides direct customer service to library customers; utilizing a trauma informed framework when relevant. May include service points outside of the archive; as assigned. Assists and instructs library customers with routine technology use, as well as advanced computer tasks.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
  
  

Education And Experience

Please note: Education cannot be substituted for experience.

Description

The incumbent must possess a Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited college or university in Library Information Science (MILS) with a focus in archival studies or an advanced degree in a related field such as history, museum studies, or conservation. A minimum of three (3) years of library experience with demonstrated increased responsibility for the management of archival processing, arrangement and description of personal papers, organizational record, and institutional archives in both analog and born-digital formats or at least 1 year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (CS 9; CS 8 and below will not be considered). In addition, the following is required:

• Demonstrated knowledge and skills with providing excellent reference, research assistance, and instruction.
• Ability to use archival collections management software such as ArchivesSpace, Archon, or Archivist Toolkit.
• Knowledge of trends in information processing relevant to libraries, archives and records management repositories.
• Demonstrated knowledge of DACS, EAD, and MARC.
• Demonstrated knowledge of subject heading and metadata best practices, including Library of Congress subject headings; Library of Congress Name and Authority Headings; and the Thesaurus of Graphic Materials.
• Demonstrated knowledge of copyright, privacy laws, and rights management issues relating to archival materials
• Demonstrated project management skills and ability as it relates to collection management and arrangement and description workflows. Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously; this may include planning, coordinating, and implementing effective programs or complex projects.
• Uses knowledge of prescriptive standards and guides to share straight-forward, easily identifiable technical information to individuals or groups. Recommends changes in procedures, workflows, and tools as they relate to archival collections.
• Knowledge of the principles, concepts, and techniques of archival work, including analysis, organization, and description of archival material.
• Ability to interpret and apply a variety of guidelines and/or regulations.
• Ability to build and maintain professional relationships and provide liaison services. Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Knowledge of digital curation and descriptive tools, information technologies and integrated library systems to support archival functions.
• Ability to perform preservation duties.
  
  

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

A person applying for a position in the Career Service, Educational Service, Management Supervisory Service, an attorney position in the Legal Service (series 905) other than the Senior Executive Attorney Service (SEAS), or an attorney position in the Excepted Service (series 950) who is a bona fide District resident AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION for the position, may be awarded a 10-point residency preference over non-District applicants, unless the person declines the preference points. If selected the person shall be required to present no less than 8 proofs of bona fide District residency and maintain such residency for 7 consecutive years from the effective date of the appointment. Failure to maintain bona fide District residency for the 7-year period will result in forfeiture of employment.

GENERAL SUITABILITY SCREENING

This position is subject to general suitability screening; verification of employment history, reference checks and degree/license, as applicable. The appointee to the position may be offered employment contingent upon receipt of a satisfactory general suitability screening.

ENHANCED SUITABILITY SCREENING

The position for which the individual is applying has been identified and designated as requiring enhanced suitability screening; If tentatively selected for the position, a criminal background check, traffic record check, consumer credit check, and mandatory drug and alcohol test will be conducted (as appropriate); and the appointee to the position may be offered employment contingent upon receipt of a satisfactory enhanced suitability screening.

Employment Benefits

Selectee will be eligible for health and life insurance, annual (vacation) and sick leave and will be covered under the District of Columbia government's retirement plan. However, if selectee was previously employed in the District of Columbia government under an appointment for which he/she was eligible for Civil Service Retirement (CSR), contributions to CSR will resume upon re-employment.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

None

WORKING CONDITIONS / ENVIRONMENT

The work is performed in an office setting.

Other Significant Factors

Duration of Appointment: Career Service Regular Full-Time

Collective Bargaining Unit: This position is covered by a collective bargaining unit.

Promotion Potential - None

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The District of Columbia Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer: all qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination, which is also prohibited. In addition, harassment based on any of the above-protected categories is prohibited.

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