Digital Processing Librarian

Harvard University Library

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Typical Duties and Responsibilities: Under the general direction and supervision of the OCP Manager, contributes to and implements policies and procedures to prepare materials for digitization, to track workflows, to interpret and apply standards for digital object production, to liaise with curators, conservators, and digitization service providers, to perform quality control, and to assist in monitoring project budgets.Responsible for coordinating, tracking, and successfully executing all materials preparation activities related to the digitization of historic material for OCP projects. Interprets and applies standards and best practices for assembling and structuring complex digital objects. Performs timely and regular updates to the OCP Workflow Database to ensure that item- and batch-level information needed by collection development specialists, catalogers, conservators, imaging specialists and others involved in processing materials is accurate and complete.Produces and disseminates timely and regular production reports to the OCP Co-Directors, OCP Manager, and OCP oversight committees.

Researches and keep current with new and emerging trends related to digitizing cultural heritage materials. Makes recommendations regarding the design of workflows. Manages and recommends improvements to the OCP Workflow Database and the systems used for quality control. Works with the OCP Manager in managing relationships with contributing libraries and museums, as well as providers of conservation and digitization services, to ensure adherence to specifications for materials transport, handling, and digitization. Works closely with catalogers and providers of digitization services to troubleshoot and remedy problems that arise during production. Manages the transfer of materials to and from multiple contributing libraries, archives, and museums. Assists in monitoring project budgets by gathering, analyzing, and interpreting data for all batches of materials to be digitized. Trains the OCP Staff Assistant, students, or interns, as needed, to transport materials, perform quality control, input data or generate reports in the workflow database, and otherwise assist in processing workflows.

Required Education, Experience and Skills:MLS or equivalent and a minimum of 2 years of experience working with digital library collections. Knowledge of best practices in digitization, format and metadata standards for object structuring and delivery, acquired through graduate level library sciences studies and hands-on experience. Ability to apply best practices and sound judgment in ones daily work, to establish goals, set priorities and implement project policies and procedures with limited direction.

Experience in management or oversight of digitization workflows preferred. Knowledge of digitization technologies and systems to edit XML, HTML, and digital images preferred. Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to work independently, with minimal supervision; able to perform quality control over ones work results. Demonstrated sound judgment as evidenced by excellent organizational and analytical skills, including an acute attention to detail; adaptive to frequently changing priorities and workflows due the dynamic nature of OCP projects. Ability to collaborate with co-workers and supervisor in a team environment.

Additional Information:Through Harvard's Open Collections Program (OCP)) the University advances teaching and learning on historical topics of great relevance by providing on-line access to historical resources from Harvard's renowned libraries, archives, and museums. OCP's highly specialized "open collections" are developed through careful collaborations among Harvard's distinguished faculty, librarians, and curators.The goal of the Open Collections Program is to offer a new model for digital collections that will benefit students and teachers around the world. Please visit the following website for more information:http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu.
Havard offers a comprehensive benefits and salary package. For more information please go to http://www.employment.harvard.edu/benefits/.

Please apply via the Harvard Employment website and include a cover letter and resume: http://jobs.harvard.edu/jobs/summ_req?in_post_id=38134.

Harvard University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.