The UCLA Library seeks a highly collaborative and knowledgeable professional archivist to engage in processing and description of archival collections in Library Special Collections.
Position Duties
Reporting to the Team Leader for Processing and the Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT), the Processing Archivist has primary responsibility for processing activities, through thoughtful description and arrangement, and contributes to the department’s efforts to provide holistic stewardship for all collections throughout their life cycle.
Specific duties and responsibilities include:
- Processes new and existing archival collection materials in all formats using ArchivesSpace.
- Creates finding aids and archival description using ArchivesSpace.
- Collaborates with curators, public services staff, acquisitions team members, graduate students in the Center for Primary Research and Training and other archivists, as well as donors and researchers.
- Collaborates with the Digital Archivist to develop and implement policies and workflows for the description of born-digital materials.
- Applies and contributes to the ongoing development of efficient archival processing guidelines and procedures, including extensible processing principles.
- Utilizes DACS, EAD, EAC-CPF, RDA, LCSH, and MARC21 standards in archival description.
- Contributes to department and library-wide outreach and community engagement activities, such as instruction and presentations, reference services, and social media.
- Supports the CFRPT program and graduate students carrying out archival discovery and access projects.
- Collaborates with colleagues in Preservation and Conservation for long-term stewardship of archival materials.
- Makes professional contributions to activities related to archives and special collections at UCLA and at regional or national levels.
- Works independently and collaboratively to achieve goals set forth by the position.
- Other responsibilities as assigned.
Additionally, the successful candidate will be committed to engagement with and promotion of the UCLA Principles of Community and the True Bruin Values.
General Information
Professional librarians at UCLA are academic appointees. Librarians at UCLA are represented by an exclusive bargaining agent, University Council – American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT). This is a represented position. Represented librarians are entitled to appropriate professional leave, two days per month of vacation leave, one day per month of sick leave, and all other benefits bargained in the collective bargaining agreement. The University has an excellent retirement system and sponsors a variety of group health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans in addition to other benefits. Relocation assistance may be provided.
Appointees to the librarian series at UC shall have professional backgrounds that demonstrate a high degree of creativity, teamwork, and flexibility. Such background will normally include a professional degree from an ALA-accredited library and information science graduate program. In addition to professional competence and quality of service within the library in the primary job, advancement in the librarian series requires professional involvement and contributions outside of the library, and/or university and community service, and/or scholarly activities. Candidates must show evidence or promise of such contributions.
Description of Unit
Library Special Collections (LSC) builds and stewards special collections resources, services, and operations. The department consists of four teams: Curatorial; Processing/Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT); Collection Management (CM); and Public Services, Outreach, and Community Engagement (PSOCE).
The Curatorial Team is responsible for collection development and acquisition of materials in support of research and teaching.
The Processing/CFPRT makes collection material discoverable and accessible through ethical and iterative processing in a pedagogical model.
The CM Team ensures responsible stewardship of collections through ethical accessioning, cataloging, and management of collections storage.
The PSOCE Team integrates public-facing operations for LSC including reader services, reference services, instruction, programmatic events, and activities.
The entire LSC staff of approximately 30 FTE work together holistically to build, preserve, and provide access to the outstanding rare and unique holdings of the UCLA Library. LSC works closely with our colleagues within the Distinctive Collections portfolio to steward a range of international resources in support of UCLA’s mission for the betterment of our global society.
Under federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally authorized to work in the United States as established by providing documents specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Employment is contingent upon completion of satisfactory background investigation.
ALA-accredited Master’s Degree in Library or Information Science required at the time of hire; OR Master’s degree (or other advanced degree) in Information Sciences or related field at the time of hire and work experience in a library setting.
Experience in archival processing, arrangement, and description.
Experience applying efficient processing techniques, in arranging, describing, and preserving archival collections and preparing finding aids for collections of varying size, condition, content, and complexity.
Knowledge of archival principles, responsible collection stewardship, as well as best practices for efficient processing and archival description.
Experience managing metadata for archival collections, including data standardization, remediation, and repurposing metadata for reuse, as well as an understanding of metadata mapping.
Experience with or interest in expanding knowledge of ArchivesSpace, Airtable, or other archival information management systems.