Manager of Archival Services
Avery Research Center
College of Charleston Libraries
The Avery Research Center invites applications for the position of Manager of Archival Services. The Manager of Archival Services, a senior member of the Avery Research Center reporting to the Executive Director of the Center, is responsible for providing leadership, vision, planning and management of Avery’s archives and reference services.
Position Overview
The Manager is responsible for supervising the acquisition, preservation, processing, cataloging, and digitization of Avery Research Center’s manuscript and book collections. The manager also supervises Avery’s reference services and works closely with the Executive Director in grant and fundraising efforts. The manager trains the archival staff and graduate students and implements quality assurance procedures to ensure proper care of archival materials and the 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 policies and procedures regarding retention, de-accession, preservation and use of Avery’s collections. Supervises one processing archivist, the Reference and Outreach Archivist, and student workers.
The Manager of Archival Services is a tenure-track faculty appointment and a member of the College of Charleston library faculty.
Required qualifications:
ALA-accredited master’s degree in library or information science
Minimum of three years successful and increasingly responsible experience in archives.
Understanding and experience with current archival records management technology and tools.
Demonstrated knowledge of current and emerging trends, issues, workflows and best practices in archive and museum management.
Familiar with all phases of archives management.
Knowledge of archival principals and standards, including DACS and EAD, and the implementation of metadata schema
Knowledge of the digitization process and metadata cataloging
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 strong planning and organizational skills
Ability to multi-task and work with diverse populations such as students, scholars, genealogists, the general public, etc.
Demonstrated flexibility and resourcefulness in analyzing and solving problems
Preferred qualifications:
Several years experience in managing an archive and professional staff.
Advanced degree in a relevant academic field; subject depth in African American history desirable
Experience in planning and conducting instruction services to groups
Accreditation by the Academy of Certified Archivists
Knowledge of preservation issues and techniques
Experience creating research guides
Work experience in an academic library
Interest and participation in relevant professional organizations
Responsibilities include
Processing 40%
Leads a state-of- the- art program for processing, managing and preserving Avery’s collections. Directs and leads the processing of manuscripts, artifacts, photo and material culture collections in adherence with Society of American Archivists standards and best practices. Determines workflows, develops metadata schema, and delineates copyright and access policies. Creates collection-level MARC records for all Avery collections in coordination with the catalogers at Addlestone Library. Responsible for 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 Scholarship and Services faculty.
Adapts and develops standardized accessioning, de-accessioning, processing, cataloging and encoding procedures for collections acquired by the 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 tool to improve the usability of Avery’s collections.
Directs and supervises the digitization of oral histories, creating and maintaining oral history abstracts, catalog records and logs.
Evaluates and edits revisions to the College’s existing finding aids and works with the Digital Scholarship and Services librarians to ensure uploading to the College’s digital library site.
Assures appropriate physical housing and storage of collections
Identifies and refers items as necessary for preservation treatment
Participates in projecting and developing plans for physical space and facilities for the archives and manuscripts collections
Evaluates research value of collections with special focus on identifying sensitive and restricted materials
Identifies duplicate and extraneous material in unprocessed collections and refers for disposition decisions
Creates reviews and maintains policies and procedures regarding use and reproduction of archival materials.
Management and Training 35%
Supervises one processing archivist, the Avery Reference and Outreach Archivist, librarian and student workers.
Trains archival staff in proper archival policies and procedures to ensure high levels of productivity and quality.
Keeps current on trends related to current services and processes and recommends new practices and services including innovative uses of technology
Manages the Reference and Outreach Archivist and the Reading Room to determine procedures, guidelines and best practices to provide optimal service to patrons.
Creates research guides, writes content for the department’s website and other publications, and creates print and electronic research guides to facilitate access to and use of the collections.
Working with other members of the Avery staff, develops a coordinated program of outreach and instructing to the College and the wider community to enhance awareness and use of the archival records for both research and teaching.
Works closely with the Executive Director and the Public Historian to develop narrative for grant-funded opportunities.
Provides leadership for the development and integration of technologies to enhance Avery’s collections.
Participates in the planning, set-up and supervision of events and conferences including evening and weekend activities.
Collects and prepares monthly reports (research statistics, usage) for the Executive Director.
Works with other librarians and faculty to promote the integration of archival materials in teaching, research and educational programs at the College.
Acquisitions 15%
Works closely with the Executive Director to acquire new materials, including archival records, rare books and manuscripts that adhere to the Center’s core mission.
Serves as a member of the Avery Collections committee and works collaboratively with the curator and archivists to determine the direction of the collections and in-house library holdings.
Library and College Affairs 10%
Serves as liaison between the 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, historical and related fields.
Salary and Benefits
Compensation commensurate with experience. The salary range begins at $55,000 and includes a competitive benefits package. The position is full time, tenure-track appointment, and includes some evening and weekends.
About the Avery Research Center, the Libraries and the College of Charleston
It is the mission of the College of Charleston Library, of which Avery Research Center for African American History is part, to support the undergraduate and graduate programs and to make available informational materials consistent with the present and anticipated teaching, research and service programs of the College community. The specific mission of Avery Research Center (ARC), within these larger goals, is to collect, preserve, and promote the unique history and culture of the African diaspora, with emphasis on Charleston and the South Carolina Lowcountry, and beyond. It is anticipated that, due to the nature of these collections, Avery and its resources will be used by scholars, citizens and others researching local and South Carolina African American History. The Center is a unit of the College of Charleston Libraries.
The College of Charleston Libraries are comprised of the Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library, the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, the John Rivers Communications Museum, the Marine Resources Library, and the North Campus Library. The combined annual budgets exceed $5.6 million with a staff of 20 librarians and archivists, 30 full time employees, and 35 student and temporary employees.
Founded in 1770, the College of Charleston is a public liberal arts and sciences university located in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina. The College of Charleston serves approximately 10,000 undergraduates and 1,500 graduate/certificate seeking students with more than 100 majors and minors.
The College of Charleston is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, race, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, or disability.
To Apply:
Applications must include cover letter, vita, unofficial graduate transcripts, and contact information for three professional references. Please apply online at http://jobs.cofc.edu/postings/4819 . Review of applications will commence on June 1, 2016.