Audiovisual Preservation Technician, University of Calgary

International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives; Calgary; On-site; CAD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Calgary is seeking an Audiovisual Preservation Technician to join a Mellon Foundation-funded media reformatting project. The role focuses on selecting, transferring, and preserving digitized media while ensuring accessibility of archival audiovisual collections.

Responsibilities include managing reformatting workflows, evaluating equipment, and maintaining metadata quality. The position is a full-time fixed term for approximately 12 months with potential extension.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary training in audio or audio-visual engineering, production, preservation or archival studies with a specialization in media preservation.
• Knowledge of obsolete sound and video carriers, playback equipment, transfer technologies and digital formats.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Hands-on experience in an audio studio or archive preserving audiovisual collections.
• Knowledge of preservation reformatting standards.
• Experience applying standards in a deadline-driven environment.
• Familiarity with archival collections or repositories.
• Ability to research playback equipment and software for purchase.
• Knowledge of metadata standards.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Advanced playback equipment troubleshooting with legacy formats and equipment.

Responsibilities

• Provide proficient technical support and highly skilled work of considerable complexity.
• Participate in workflow design, development and quality control.
• Provide preservation and reformatting services for sound and video recordings.
• Transfer analogue to digital, including reel-to-reel, U-matic, Betamax, VHS, and cassette formats.
• Research reformatting options for various audio/video formats.
• Select and purchase equipment and software for the project in collaboration with staff.
• Develop workflows for a new reformatting initiative.
• Prioritize reformatting with archivists and project staff.
• Assess and prepare materials for reformatting.
• Ensure quality of digital transfers and create technical metadata for digital files.
• Direct day-to-day operations of reformatting workflows.
• Collaborate to develop workflows, access methods, and tools for digitized materials.

Job description

Audiovisual Preservation Technician, University of Calgary

Submitted by Richard Ranft on Thu, 01/09/2016 - 13:45

The University of Calgary is seeking an Audiovisual Preservation Technician to be part of a media reformatting project supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The application deadline is September 9, 2016.

Audiovisual Preservation Technician, Archives & Special Collections, Libraries & Cultural Resources
Job ID: 11112
Location: Main Campus, Calgary

Position Overview

The Department of Archives & Special Collections within Libraries & Cultural Resources invites applications for an Audiovisual Preservation Technician. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 12 months (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.

This position reports to the Associate University Librarian, and will help select, transfer, manage, preserve, and make accessible digitized media collections.

Position Description

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

• * Provide fully proficient technical support and highly skilled technical work of considerable complexity
• * Participate in workflow design and development and quality control
• * Provide a range of preservation and reformatting services for sound and video recordings held in Archives and Special Collections
• * Responsible for the digital preservation transfer of analogue audio and video recordings including reel to reel, U-matic, Betamax, VHS, and cassette formats
• * Research reformatting options for a variety of audio and video recording formats
• * Select and purchase appropriate equipment and software for the project, in close collaboration with staff in Archives and Special Collections and Technology, Digitization and Digital Services
• * Develop project workflows for a new reformatting initiative
• * Work alongside archivists and other project personnel to establish priorities for reformatting
• * Assess, stabilize, and prepare materials for reformatting
• * Undertake conversion of audiovisual recordings consistent with best practice and preservation standards in the archival community
• * Assesse the quality of digital transfers and create technical metadata relating to digital audiovisual files
• * Direct the day-to-day operations of the reformatting workflows
• * Collaborate with other Project Team members to develop appropriate workflows, access methods, and tools for digitized materials

Qualifications / Requirements:

• * Post-secondary training in audio or audio-visual engineering, production, preservation or in archival studies with a demonstrated specialty in the preservation of media collections
• * Knowledge of obsolete sound and video carriers, playback equipment, transfer technologies and contemporary digital formats
• * Strong oral and written communication skills
• * Hands-on experience in an audio studio or audio archive digitally preserving audiovisual collections
• * Knowledge of preservation reformatting standards
• * Experience applying standards in a deadline-driven environment
• * Familiarity, training or experience with archival collections or repositories
• * Demonstrated ability to research playback equipment and software available for purchase
• * Knowledge of metadata standards
• * Well-developed organizational and project management skills
• * Must have advanced playback equipment trouble shooting experience with a service background in obsolete audiovisual formats and legacy playback equipment

Application Deadline: September 9, 2016

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

Additional Information

This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Technical Job Family, Phase II.