Processing Archivist

1000scholars; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

UCLA Library seeks a highly collaborative Processing Archivist to lead processing and description of archival collections in Library Special Collections.

The role reports to the Team Leader for Processing and CFPRT, contributing to holistic stewardship across the life cycle of collections, including born-digital materials and outreach activities. The position supports graduate students and works with multiple teams within UCLA Library.

Qualifications

• Experience with archival processing and description workflows.
• Familiarity with standards such as DACS, EAD, EAC-CPF, RDA, LCSH, and MARC21.

Responsibilities

• Processes new and existing archival collection materials in all formats using ArchivesSpace.
• Creates finding aids and archival description using ArchivesSpace.
• Collaborates with curators, public services staff, acquisitions team members, CFPRT graduate students, donors and researchers.
• Collaborates with the Digital Archivist to develop policies/workflows for born-digital materials.
• Develops and refines processing guidelines and procedures, including extensible processing principles.
• Utilizes DACS, EAD, EAC-CPF, RDA, LCSH, and MARC21 standards in archival description.
• Contributes to outreach and community engagement through instruction, presentations, reference services, and social media.
• Supports CFPRT program and graduate students with discovery and access projects.
• Collaborates with Preservation and Conservation for long-term stewardship of materials.
• Makes professional contributions to archives and special collections at UCLA and regionally/nationally.
• Works independently and collaboratively to achieve position goals.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Job description

The UCLA Library seeks a highly collaborative and knowledgeable professional archivist to engage in processing and description of archival collections in Library Special Collections.

Position Duties

Reporting to the Team Leader for Processing and the Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT), the Processing Archivist has primary responsibility for processing activities, through thoughtful description and arrangement, and contributes to the department’s efforts to provide holistic stewardship for all collections throughout their life cycle.

• Processes new and existing archival collection materials in all formats using ArchivesSpace.
• Creates finding aids and archival description using ArchivesSpace.
• Collaborates with curators, public services staff, acquisitions team members, graduate students in the Center for Primary Research and Training and other archivists, as well as donors and researchers.
• Collaborates with the Digital Archivist to develop and implement policies and workflows for the description of born-digital materials.
• Applies and contributes to the ongoing development of efficient archival processing guidelines and procedures, including extensible processing principles.
• Utilizes DACS, EAD, EAC-CPF, RDA, LCSH, and MARC21 standards in archival description.
• Contributes to department and library-wide outreach and community engagement activities, such as instruction and presentations, reference services, and social media.
• Supports the CFRPT program and graduate students carrying out archival discovery and access projects.
• Collaborates with colleagues in Preservation and Conservation for long-term stewardship of archival materials.
• Makes professional contributions to activities related to archives and special collections at UCLA and at regional or national levels.
• Works independently and collaboratively to achieve goals set forth by the position.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

General Information

• Professional librarians at UCLA are academic appointees. Librarians at UCLA are represented by an exclusive bargaining agent, University Council - American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT). This is a represented position. Represented librarians are entitled to appropriate professional leave, two days per month of vacation leave, one day per month of sick leave, and all other benefits bargained in the collective bargaining agreement.
• The University has an excellent retirement system and sponsors a variety of group health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans in addition to other benefits.
• Relocation assistance may be provided.

Description of Unit

Library Special Collections (LSC) builds and stewards special collections resources, services, and operations. The department consists of four teams: Curatorial; Processing/Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT); Collection Management (CM); and Public Services, Outreach, and Community Engagement (PSOCE).

The Curatorial Team is responsible for collection development and acquisition of materials in support of research and teaching.

The Processing/CFPRT makes collection material discoverable and accessible through ethical and iterative processing in a pedagogical model.

The CM Team ensures responsible stewardship of collections through ethical accessioning, cataloging, and management of collections storage.

The PSOCE Team integrates public-facing operations for LSC including reader services, reference services, instruction, programmatic events, and activities.

The entire LSC staff of approximately 30 FTE work together holistically to build, preserve, and provide access to the outstanding rare and unique holdings of the UCLA Library. LSC works closely with our colleagues within the Distinctive Collections portfolio to steward a range of international resources in support of UCLA’s mission for the betterment of our global society.

Description of Institution and Library

As one of the world's great public research universities, UCLA integrates education, research, and public service so that each enriches and extends the others. From its beautiful neighborhood campus in a uniquely diverse and vibrant city on the Pacific Rim, teaching and research extend beyond the classroom, office, and lab through active engagement with communities, organizations, projects, and partnerships throughout the region and around the world.

UCLA’s diverse community of scholars encompasses nearly 30,000 undergraduates pursuing 125 majors, 13,000 graduate students in fifty-nine research programs, and 4,000 faculty members including Nobel Laureates; Rhodes Scholars; MacArthur Fellows; winners of the Fields Medal, National Medal of Science, Pritzker Prize, and Pulitzer Prize; and recipients of Oscars, Emmys, Tonys, and Golden Globes. UCLA ranks tenth in the Times of London Higher Education World Reputation Rankings, twelfth in the Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and fifth in the U.S. by Washington Monthly. The National Research Council ranks forty of its graduate and doctoral research programs among its top ten.

To enable our accomplished students, faculty, and staff to create, disseminate, and apply knowledge for the benefit of global society, the UCLA Library is re-envisioning how it acquires, synthesizes, and shares knowledge and information across academic audiences and with the public. The services and expertise we provide via our collections connect users to their learning needs, their research, or their creative efforts. We do this by ensuring discoverability; engaging in curricular support and advancing information literacy for our students; by offering scaled support asynchronously, through online training modules, and research support. We offer targeted services for our graduate and undergraduate students trying to solve a problem, understand a system, or learning how to use a new tool to responsibly manage and explore data. We develop public programming, exhibitions, curated experiences, and other engagement opportunities to connect our unique collections, cultural materials, research resources, and services with the campus and greater LA communities fostering discovery, dialogue, and access to collections for visitors, researchers and lifelong learners alike.

The Library serves UCLA students, faculty, and staff whenever and wherever they need its resources and expertise. Reconfigured, high-tech spaces and services in its ten campus libraries enable users and librarians to explore and work with print and digital materials collaboratively or individually, pursue new lines of inquiry, and develop new pedagogical approaches as well as novel forms of scholarship. More than 3.5 million people visit annually, while an additional 3.4 million visitors enter online through its virtual front doors.

Whether on campus or online, the Library forms the intellectual heart of UCLA, a hub for cutting-edge discovery, scholarship, and instruction.

Under federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally authorized to work in the United States as established by providing documents specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Employment is contingent upon completion of satisfactory background investigation.