Digital Preservation Archivist - Libraries

West Virginia University; Evansdale (WV); On-site; USD 55,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

West Virginia University is seeking a Digital Preservation Archivist to lead the program for born-digital materials, ensuring long-term preservation and broad access for researchers and students.

The role oversees workflows, metadata, and policies, coordinates with multiple library departments, and directs staff and interns in born-digital processing and archiving.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited program in library and information sciences.
• At least one year of experience with digital materials in archives or libraries.
• Experience in digital archives management and preservation practices, technologies, and tools.
• Experience with digital projects management.
• Knowledge of standards for digital records and metadata (DACS, EAD) and related formats.
• Strong initiative, communication, and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead digital preservation strategy and lifecycle management for born-digital materials.
• Develop workflows, policies, and procedures for appraisal, accessioning, processing, and preservation.
• Create and maintain preservation metadata and apply appropriate schemas.
• Coordinate with donors on restrictions and access levels.
• Develop and manage the Libraries’ web archiving program.
• Collaborate with Systems, KARM, and other stakeholders to support born-digital materials.
• Ensure ArchivesSpace representation of digital content.
• Train staff and interns and monitor quality.

Skills

Digital archives

Preservation

Metadata standards

Project management

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Master’s degree in library and information sciences

Tools

ArchivesSpace

Job description

Job Description - Digital Preservation Archivist - Libraries (30502)

Digital Preservation Archivist - Libraries - 30502

Description

The Digital Preservation Archivist leads the West Virginia and Regional History Center’s program for managing, preserving, and providing access to born-digital material to meet the needs of researchers and students through responsible collection stewardship and increased access to digital special collections. The Digital Preservation Archivist plans for and manages born-digital objects throughout their lifecycle to facilitate long-term preservation and use; is responsible for and consults on acquisitions, accessions, and processing activities for born-digital materials; and leads a web archiving program.

This position reports to and is supervised by the Head of Collections Management and Processing of the West Virginia and Regional History Center. This position may supervise staff, graduate assistants, student workers or interns.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

• Leads digital preservation strategy for the WVRHC and manages the acquisition, accessioning, processing, preservation, and lifecycle management of born-digital archival materials in consultation with WVRHC archivists, the WVRHC Director, and other stakeholders.
• Conducts and consults on acquiring, accessioning, and processing of born-digital materials.
• Develops, implements, documents, and maintains workflows, policies, and procedures for the appraisal, accessioning, processing, reformatting, preservation, repository ingest, discovery, access, security, and long-term stewardship of born-digital collections.
• Creates and maintains preservation metadata and applies appropriate metadata schemas and standards in coordination with the Digitization Archivist and other library stakeholders.
• Reviews born-digital collections for donor and legal restrictions, sensitive information such as PII, and sets appropriate access levels.
• Develops and manages the Libraries’ web archiving program in consultation with WVRHC archivists, identifying and capturing web content that complements and enhances the WVRHC’s collecting areas.
• Collaborates with the WVRHC, Libraries’ Systems Department, Knowledge Access and Resource Management (KARM), and other stakeholders to develop, configure, implement and update systems, applications, and workflows that support born-digital special collections materials.
• Coordinates repository ingest and preservation activities for born-digital collection materials and troubleshoots technical issues in collaboration with appropriate Library departments and Systems staff.
• Coordinates with Head of Processing to ensure digital content is represented in ArchivesSpace, as needed.
• Recommends and implements metadata schemas, descriptive standards, and approaches to reparative description for born-digital materials in coordination with the Digitization Archivist and the Digital Collections and Systems Librarian.
• Participates in the development and continuous improvement of born-digital acquisition strategies, policies, and procedures, including consultation with donors and other stakeholders.
• Trains and directs staff, students, and interns working with born-digital archives; reviews work products for quality, accuracy, consistency, and adherence to established standards and procedures.
• Provides specialized information services related to digital archives, including limited instruction, reference, and research consultation for students, faculty, and community researchers in coordination with the Instruction Archivist and public services staff.
• Maintains and reports accurate statistics, documentation, and project records related to born-digital collections and processing.

Service

• Serves and actively contributes to relevant committees, task forces, and working groups at the Library, University, regional, and/ or national level.

Research and/ or Professional Development

• Engages in professional development / research related to the individual’s assignment and/or the needs of the Libraries and the University.

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS:

• Evaluation is based on West Virginia University Libraries: Criteria for Library Faculty Appointment, Retention, Promotion, and Merit, the current Position Description, and the Assignment Document for the year under review.

Salary

Salary range commensurate with experience and faculty rank, salary for Assistant appointment starts at $61,000. Rank is determined by years served in a professional librarian capacity.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited program for library and information sciences (or equivalent).
• At least one (1) year of experience working with digital materials in archives or libraries.
• Experience in digital archives management and preservation practices, technologies, and tools.
• Experience with digital projects management.
• Working knowledge of standards related to digital records, digital objects, and metadata and knowledge of various digital content formats and standards.
• Knowledge of national standards and best practices for the description of archival materials (DACS, EAD), authority control, and other data content and structure standards relevant to archival control.
• A high degree of technical facility, openness to investigating emerging technologies, and the demonstrated ability to learn new technical skills through research and self-study.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and meet goals.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Cultural competency and interest in participating in discussions and initiatives that reflect the WVRHC’s commitment to expanding and supporting a diverse historical record.

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values — service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation — unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu .

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.