Manuscript Cataloger (Urdu, Persian, Arabic)

Vettedlance; United States; Remote; USD 34,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

Vettedlance is seeking a meticulous cataloger to describe manuscripts and rare books from scans. You will identify title, author, scribe, date and place from colophons and title pages, and you will record script, hand, condition and page count in a consistent template.

This is a remote, part-time contract paid hourly or per task in USD. You will flag uncertain attributions rather than guessing and work within a library/archive research context.

Qualifications

• Reading knowledge of Urdu, Persian, or Arabic
• Experience cataloging in a library, archive or research project
• Familiarity with Hijri or other calendars used in colophons
• Careful, consistent record-keeping is required

Responsibilities

• Write catalog records for manuscripts and early printed books from scans
• Identify title, author, scribe, date and place from colophons and title pages
• Record script, hand, condition and page count in a set template
• Flag uncertain attributions rather than guessing

Skills

Urdu reading

Persian reading

Arabic reading

Cataloging experience

Hijri calendar knowledge

Job description

Describe manuscripts and rare books item by item, so every page we transcribe carries accurate title, author, date, script and provenance.

What you will do

• Write catalog records for manuscripts and early printed books from scans
• Identify title, author, scribe, date and place from colophons and title pages
• Record script, hand, condition and page count in a set template
• Flag uncertain attributions rather than guessing

What you need

• Strong reading of at least two of Urdu, Persian and Arabic
• Cataloging experience in a library, archive or research project
• Familiarity with Hijri and other calendar systems used in colophons
• Careful, consistent record keeping

Contract

• Remote, hourly or per-task contract (independent contractor)
• Part-time, flexible: 10-40 hrs/week
• Remote

Hourly or per task, in USD. Your rate is agreed per project.