Vacancy for Assistant Archivist / Assistant Librarian - University Heritage Collections Develop[...]

Digital Preservation Coalition; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university is seeking an Assistant Archivist / Assistant Librarian to enhance the discoverability of its heritage collections. The role involves professional collection development, preservation activities, and the creation of descriptive metadata to support research and education objectives.

Qualifications

• Experience in archival management and collections development.
• Knowledge of descriptive metadata standards.
• Ability to engage constructively with diverse communities.

Responsibilities

• Deliver professional collection development activities.
• Create descriptive metadata for archive collections.
• Liaise with the Collections Management Team on preservation activities.

Skills

Collection Development

Metadata Creation

Preservation Assessment

Education

Professional Knowledge in Archival Science

Tools

EMu

Sierra

Job description

• Vacancy for Assistant Archivist / Assistant Librarian - University Heritage Collections Development at University of Glasgow

Vacancy for Assistant Archivist / Assistant Librarian - University Heritage Collections Development at University of Glasgow

31 July 2023

Glasgow, Scotland

Full-Time

Job Purpose

To deliver collection development activities enhancing the discoverability of library, manuscript, and archival holdings within Library Collections’ University heritage workstream. This will include high-level survey and interrogation of Library systems to identify collections and items for appraisal and gap analysis; and collection and item-level cataloguing, arrangement and description within robust, professional, standards-compliant frameworks.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Use professional knowledge and expertise to deliver a range of professional collection development activities to effectively process the documentary heritage of the University in all formats including analogue and digital; published, manuscript, and archival records.

2. Actively engage with the University’s and Information Services’ initiatives to promote equality, diversity, and inclusion within the University’s community. Work constructively with Library Collections colleagues to develop inclusive, critical, and reflective professional practice.

3. Within the framework of the Library’s collections development policies and procedures, apply professional expertise and knowledge of the University’s heritage collections to develop appraisal recommendations for collections. Action these recommendations with input from colleagues.

4. Using professional expertise and following relevant descriptive standards, create descriptive metadata for archive, manuscript, and library collections to enhance their discoverability.

5. Advance the long-term preservation of collections. Liaise with the Collections Management Team to support preservation assessment of collections and undertake preservation activities (such as repackaging) as directed. Identify high-use collections and advise on appropriate digitisation, use of handling collections or alternative sources of information.

6. Ensure that accurate records of collections management information (e.g. acquisition, intellectual property rights, processing activities, and storage) are maintained within collection management systems (eg EMu and Sierra).

7. Develop and maintain effective working relationships with Library colleagues, and with academic, professional and research colleagues to build efficient, high quality collections development workflows responsive to the University’s corporate, research, and learning objectives.

8. Support Library Collections’ wide-ranging activities, contributing to the delivery of services, responding constructively to ad hoc requests, and engaging with longer-term service development and enhancement programmes.

9. Contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University’s Strategic Plan, World Changers Together.

10. Maintain professional knowledge and understanding of current approaches to the management of documentary heritage collections, particularly in relation to descriptive metadata.