Esther ZenZele

I’m a solo corporate librarian and archival specialist who loves bringing order, clarity, and meaning to complex collections. Over the past eight years, I’ve built and managed archives from the ground up, developed metadata and digital preservation workflows, and supported researchers, designers, and project teams with the information they need to do their best work.

I’m passionate about ethical, future‑proof information practices and creating systems that help organizations understand their own history. I thrive in roles where independence, problem‑solving, and thoughtful collaboration come together.

Outside of work, I’m always learning something new, from embroidery to visual design, and I love connecting with people who care about knowledge, creativity, and community.

I am an experienced librarian and archival specialist with a strong record of building, managing, and sustaining information programs from the ground up. Over the past eight years, I have led the development of comprehensive archival workflows, created metadata and description standards, and implemented digital preservation practices that ensure long‑term access to organizational knowledge.

My work spans the full lifecycle of collections: acquisition, appraisal, arrangement, description, digitization, preservation, and access. I have processed complex historical and born‑digital materials, designed intuitive finding aids, and developed systems that support researchers, designers, and cross‑departmental teams. As a solo practitioner, I have managed entire archival programs independently, from policy creation to hands‑on processing, while collaborating effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

I bring a strong service orientation shaped by nineteen years of customer support experience, along with a commitment to ethical stewardship, clarity, and sustainable information practices. My strengths include workflow design, metadata remediation, digital asset management, instructional support, and training staff, volunteers, and student workers. I thrive in environments that value autonomy, problem‑solving, and thoughtful communication.

I am now seeking a permanent role where I can contribute my expertise, support a mission‑driven organization, and help build a stable future for my family.

I hold a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science with a concentration in archival management from an ALA‑accredited program. My graduate work focused on archival theory, metadata standards, digital preservation, and the ethical stewardship of cultural heritage materials. During my studies, I developed strong competencies in arrangement and description, records management, and the design of sustainable workflows for both physical and born‑digital collections. This foundation continues to shape my professional practice and informs my commitment to accessible, future‑proof information systems.