Slide Relocation Processing and Cataloging Assistant - Cambridge, United States - Harvard University

Harvard University

Verified Company

Cambridge, United States

3 weeks ago

Posted by:

Mark Lane

beBee recruiter

Description

Job Summary

This is a term-limited position for 2 years.
The Fine Arts Library's Digital Images and Slides Collection (DISC) provides image resources for teaching and research.

The collection documents the entire range of works of art and architecture from prehistoric to the present in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Islamic world and includes images of painting, drawings, sculpture, photography, decorative arts, and architecture.

The slide collection, which comprises approximately 700,000 35 mm slides, is an historic teaching collection used primarily by the Department of the History of Art and Architecture, but open to the full Harvard community.

Recently, DISC completed the digitization of 200,000 rare and unique slides as part of multi-year project to preserve and expand access to the collection.

The next phase of the project is to rehouse and transfer the slide collection to off-site storage at the Harvard Depository (HD) for long-term preservation.

The Fine Arts Library seeks an enthusiastic, detail
- and production-oriented associate who can assist library staff with this multi-phase project. Reporting to the Visual Resources Librarian, and working closely with the Access Services Supervisor, this position will provide support in two aspects of this large-scale relocation project. First, the position will assist with processing tasks, such as arranging slides, maintaining inventories, packing boxes, labeling boxes, coordinating shipments, and assisting with record keeping. Secondly, in order establish intellectual control of materials and enable their physical relocation to remote storage, the incumbent will also perform cataloging tasks under the supervision of the Visual Resources Librarian, including developing inventories for sub-sections of the slide collection and cataloging individual digital images, both digitized project slides and new digital images added to the collection based on patron requests, as needed. This position will also interact as needed with other DISC staff, including the Visual Resources Librarian for Islamic Art and Architecture and the Digital Imaging Coordinator.

This position will predominantly work with the Digital Images and Slides Collection, which is currently located in Lamont Library.

Position Description

Refile slides returned from image capture vendor to slide cabinet drawers, in collaboration with additional student/project staff.
Assist in preparing slides for offsite storage and retrieval, including boxing, labeling, barcoding slides or boxes, maintaining inventories, and managing supplies.
Prepare inventories for sections of the slide collection to be sent to remote storage to enable future retrieval.
Coordinate shipments of rehoused slides to offsite storage, including tracking, recording, and shipping boxes.
Catalog digital images in JSTOR Forum, the image cataloging database, working from digital slide images or book sources.
Provide assistance with recording keeping and any related projectrelated tasks, as they arise.
Communicate effectively with project staff about problems, issues, or discrepancies, as they are identified.
Performs other duties, as assigned, consistent with the functions of the work unit and level of responsibilities.

Basic Qualifications

High school diploma.
Minimum of 1 year of academic library, museum, and/or archival experience or equivalent work experience.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity inclusion, belonging, and antiracism.
College degree preferred.
Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
Demonstrated computer skills, including databases, digital image file management, and the Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and Outlook.
Familiarity with visual resources, photographic, archival, or special collections projects in an academic setting preferred.
Degree in art or architectural history, or related humanities field, and/or coursework towards a library science degree preferred.
Library work experience preferred.
Reading knowledge in nonEnglish language preferred.
Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.
Excellent attention to detail and ability to sustain productionoriented efforts over the project period.
Ability to adapt to shifting conditions and timelines, and to remain flexible in a productionoriented environment.

Physical Requirements

Ability to lift, carry, and position collection materials weighing up to 40 lbs.
Ability to use desktop (i.e., keyboard, monitor, and mouse) and mobile computing (e.g., laptops, tablets, etc.) tools.

Working Conditions

All duties are accomplished in a library/office/classroom environment.
Interacts with collections that may contain dust, mold, or other contaminants.
This position is performed fully onsite at the Digital Images and Slides Collections (part of the Fine Arts Library) at Lamo