Manager of Archival Services
Manager of Archival Services
Position Overview
The Avery Research Center invites applications for the position of manager of archival services. The position reports to the executive director of the Avery Research Center and is responsible for providing leadership, vision, planning and management for the Avery archives.
Responsibilities include the development, organization, and preservation of collections and a commitment to their access for research and teaching and the pursuit of grants to support program initiatives. The manager collaborates on the cross-training of archival staff and graduate students and implements quality assurance procedures to ensure proper care of archival material and delivery of excellent service to all patrons. The manager, in consultation with Avery’s executive director and the head of special collections at Addlestone Library, establishes department policies and procedures regarding retention, de-accession, preservation and use of Avery’s collections. The successful candidate will be a creative, experienced and forward-looking librarian/archivist dedicated to higher education and the active support of faculty and student research.
The manager of archival services is a tenure-track faculty appointment and a member of the College of Charleston library faculty. The manager supervises a small talented team of staff, students, interns and volunteers working in the archives.
The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent communication skills, as a critical component of the job is collegial work with library staff, faculty, students, alumni, donors and members of the community.
Required qualifications:
• ALA-accredited master’s degree in library or information science
• Minimum of two years successful and increasingly responsible experience in archives
• Knowledge of current practices related to the identification, access, control, organization and digitization of primary source materials, including metadata schemas, digital processes, institutional repositories and open access initiatives
• Ability to lead staff in using digital technologies to create and deliver collections electronically
• Understanding of scholarly communication patterns and needs of a scholarly clientele.
• Evidence of effective oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Flexibility in adapting to changing departmental and organizational priorities and to ever-changing technological environments
• Demonstrated ability to foster teamwork and collaborate with staff at all levels of the College
• Evidence of administrative effectiveness and the ability to contribute successfully as part of a management team
• Evidence of strong leadership, planning and organizational skills
• Supervisory experience
• Ability to develop and maintain positive relations with donors and support groups
• Experience in soliciting, acquiring, organizing, cataloging and maintaining manuscript collections
• Demonstrated flexibility and resourcefulness in analyzing and solving problems
Preferred qualifications:
• Advanced degree in a relevant academic field; subject depth in African American history desirable
• Proficiency in archival processing and the creation of EAD finding aids.
• Experience in seeking and administering grant funding
• Experience with records management in print and electronic formats
• Knowledge of preservation issues and techniques
• Work experience in an academic library
• Interest and participation in relevant professional organizations
Responsibilities include:
Processing 55%
• Leads a state-of-the-art program for processing, managing and preserving Avery archival collections. Directs and leads the processing of manuscripts, artifact, photo, and material culture collections with adherence to the Society of American Archivists standards and technical best practices. Determines workflows, develops metadata schema, and delineates copyright and access policies. Creates collection-level MARC records for all Avery collections and works with catalogers to submit to the college’s library catalog and the national bibliographic utility. Directs and leads the creation of EAD finding aids for new and existing collections
• Directs and leads the digitization selection process and metadata cataloging of Avery’s collections in collaboration with the Digital Library staff.
• Adapts and develops standardized accessioning, de-accessioning, processing, cataloging, and encoding procedures for collections acquired by the Avery Research Center
• Develops and implements plans for maintaining and preserving Avery’s collections, and improving public access to archival materials by setting clear goals for processing materials in a timely fashion.
• Provides technical expertise and contributes to the creation of content and development of tools to improve the usability of Avery’s collections.
• Directs and supervises the digitization of oral histories, uploading the materials to the College’s digital library site, and creating and maintaining oral history abstracts, catalog records, and logs
• Evaluates, edits, and suggests revisions to the College’s existing finding aids
Management, Training and Teamwork 20%
• Supervises and trains staff in archival policies and procedures to ensure high levels of productivity and quality.
• Works with the Reference Librarian to determine procedures and guidelines for reading room best practices and optimal customer service to all patrons.
• Working with other members of Avery staff, develops a coordinated program of outreach and instruction to the College and wider community to enhance awareness and use of the archival records for both research and teaching.
• Works closely with the Executive Director to develop narrative for grant funded opportunities.
• Provides leadership for the development and integration of technologies to enhance Avery’s collections.
• Participate in development of technology projects with other departments.
Acquisitions 15%
• Works closely with the executive director to acquire new materials, including archival records and rare books and manuscripts that adhere to the Center’s core mission
• Serves as an integral part of the Avery Collections committee and works collaboratively with the curator, librarian, and archivists to determine the direction of the collections and in-house library holdings
Library and College Affairs 10%
• Serves as liaison between Avery Research Center and Addlestone Library archival staff
• Serves on Library, College and Professional committees, elected or assigned.
• Participates in research and professional development to advance scholarly, archival, historical and related fields.
Salary and Benefits
Compensation commensurate with experience. The salary range begins at $45,000 and includes a competitive benefits package. The position is full time, tenure track appointment.
About the Avery Research Center and College of Charleston
The Avery Research Center was established to collect, preserve, and make public the unique historical and cultural heritage of African Americans in Charleston and the South Carolina Lowcountry. The Avery Research Center archives include historical manuscripts, institutional records, photographs and documents, personal papers, oral histories, and rare books. The collections support coursework across the curriculum and original research by students, faculty, and the scholarly community, as well as continuing exhibitions and programs on campus and online. The Center is a unit of the College of Charleston Libraries.
The College of Charleston is a nationally recognized, public liberal arts and sciences university located in the city’s historic downtown district. With nearly 10,000 undergraduates and more than 1,700 graduate students it offers a variety of majors, minors and programs that directly relate to the Avery mission. Some examples are: African Studies and African American Studies, Latin American / Caribbean Studies, Arts Management and the Carolina Lowcountry and Atlantic World Program.
The College of Charleston is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, underrepresented minorities and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Deadlines and Application
Review of applications will commence on March 12, 2012, and continue until the position is filled. To apply, send the following to Claire Fund, Search Coordinator, at fundc@cofc.edu
• Cover letter
• CV
• Names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of three references.
Transcripts and background checks will be required of finalists
