Digital Preservation Librarian

Digital Library Federation; Louisiana; On-site; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Digital Preservation Librarian to lead the development of a cohesive digital preservation program. This role involves ensuring long-term access to digital assets, collaborating with various library units, and maintaining best practices for digital preservation. The ideal candidate will possess a strong commitment to excellent library service and a proactive awareness of social responsibility in digital preservation. Join a vibrant team dedicated to fostering equity and inclusion while managing a diverse array of digital collections in a dynamic academic environment.

Benefits

Relocation assistance

Tuition assistance

Support for professional development

Competitive health insurance

Retirement contributions

Qualifications

• 3+ years in libraries/archives with experience in digital preservation workflows.
• Strong knowledge of digital preservation principles and metadata standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of digital preservation program ensuring long-term access.
• Manage digital preservation repository and workflows for various content types.

Skills

Digital preservation principles

Preservation metadata

File format standards

Project management

Communication skills

Data analysis

Organizational skills

Education

ALA-accredited master’s degree in library or information science

Archival certification

Master’s or doctoral degree in relevant field

Tools

Digital preservation repository tools

OAIS Reference Model

PREMIS

JHOVE

DROID

Job description

Tulane University Libraries at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA invites applications for the position of Digital Preservation Librarian. The Libraries consist of four physical locations across two campuses in one of the most vibrant and diverse cities in North America. The Libraries serve Tulane’s nine schools and one undergraduate college with over 4.6 million books and physical items; 1.2 million eBooks; nearly 200,000 online journals; 900 databases; and distinctive collections that focus on the many facets of New Orleans’s music, history, and culture, including early jazz; regional history; literary culture; carnival; food and drink; and the architecture of the city and Gulf South region. The Libraries host Tulane University Digital Collections, which include a digital library, electronic theses and dissertations, an exhibits platform, open access journals, and more. Tulane’s Latin American Library (LAL) holds one of the most impressive collections in the world of materials on the history and culture of Central and South America and the Caribbean. Matas Library of the Health Sciences in downtown New Orleans serves students and faculty in the Schools of Medicine and of Public Health and Tropical Medicine as well as the Tulane National Primate Center in Covington, LA. For more information about the Libraries visit https://library.tulane.edu/about.

Tulane University is an AAU/Carnegie Research Institution located in beautiful uptown New Orleans where it borders the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line and Audubon Park. For more information about Tulane University visit https://library.tulane.edu/about-tulane-university.

Position Summary:

The Digital Preservation Librarian leads the development of the cohesive digital preservation program ensuring the long-term access and preservation of digital assets under Tulane University Libraries’ (TUL) stewardship. In collaboration with other library units, the Digital Preservation Librarian maintains and updates TUL Digital Preservation Framework, policies and practices appropriate for the long-term management and preservation of TUL’s digital assets both digitized and born-digital. The position also works closely with campus Information Technology to ensure long-term storage availability and with students and faculty with respect to data stewardship and digital preservation issues. The Digital Preservation Librarian will bring a proactive awareness of social responsibility, historical institutional biases, and ethics of digital preservation. The Digital Preservation Librarian will have a strong commitment to providing excellent library service. The position reports to the Head of Digital Scholarship.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

ALA-accredited master’s degree in library or information science, archival certification, or a master’s or doctoral degree in another relevant field combined with at least three years in libraries and/or archives, with experience in digital preservation workflows, technologies, and policy appropriate experience in an academic library.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES/COMPETENCIES TYPICALLY NEEDED TO PERFORM THIS JOB SUCCESSFULLY:

• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of digital preservation principles, issues, strategies, standards, and best practices.
• Applied knowledge of preservation metadata and file format standards.
• Familiarity with Trusted Digital Repositories, OAIS Reference Model, PREMIS, JHOVE and DROID.
• Ability to normalize obsolete file formats.
• Ability to gather, interpret, and analyze highly complex data to discern patterns, trends, and relationships to draw conclusions about digital collections.
• Interest in developing digital preservation procedures and policy.
• Excellent organizational, project management, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and in a group environment as part of a diverse team.
• Commitment to fostering an equitable and inclusive workplace.
• Ability to function fully and competently at technology competency Levels I and II outlined in the HTML Core Technology Competencies for Employees (See https://library.tulane.edu/about/job-opportunities).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Participation in/contributions to digital preservation community (such as Digital Preservation Coalition, iPres, National Digital Stewardship Alliance, Open Preservation Foundation)

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Process, arrange, and describe digital archival material in accordance with professional best practices, including all levels and forms of description. Maintain documentation of said practices for adoption and use. Developing and maintaining workflows grounded in current preservation practice. Conducting research or testing required to support and expand the library's digital preservation capabilities and strategies. Participates in and manages short- and long-term projects and initiatives related to the management and ongoing preservation of digital holdings.
• Leads the ongoing management of the library's digital preservation repository, which includes designing and implementing ingest, fixity and validation workflows for different content types and file formats. Provides expertise and guidance to managers in other library units on implementation and use of digital preservation methodologies, tools, workflow accessibility and sustainability best practices.
• Participate as a member of the Digital Scholarship & Distinctive Collections division. Advise on the preservation and sustainability of data sets, and data management. Attend professional development opportunities for digital preservation procedures, or applications to keep current with the needs of TUL and emerging trends. Communicate and collaborate with staff across TUL, including subject liaison librarians, data management, and information technology services staff, as well as with TUL faculty/researchers and publishers. Participate in group processes to standardize, document, and maximize efficiencies in team workflows, establish team goals, collectively problem-solve, and coordinate activities and projects.
• Performs other duties as requested or required, whether specifically mentioned in this job description.

Salary Range:

$65,000 - $70,000. Benefits include relocation assistance, tuition assistance, support for professional development and travel, and competitive health insurance and retirement contributions. For more details visit https://hr.tulane.edu/benefits/benefits.

Flexible Work Arrangements:

https://hr.tulane.edu/FWA

To Apply:

To apply for this position please visit https://apply.interfolio.com/161582. To ensure full consideration, applicants must submit a letter of application, resume, and the names with full contact information of at least three professional references. Two of the three references must have supervised your work. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a suitable candidate is selected. Tulane University is committed to creating a community and culture that foster a sense of belonging for all. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply. We are intentionally seeking candidates who are committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion in support of Tulane’s Strategy for Tomorrow.