The University of Southern California (USC) Libraries (Los Angeles, CA) seek an innovative, service-oriented librarian to join the Technical Services & Collection Development (TS&CD) department as a Processing Archivist. Reporting to the Associate Dean, Technical Services & Collection Development, the Processing Archivist will arrange and describe archival collections of varying formats to improve access to and visibility of USC’s archival holdings.

The Processing Archivist will employ archival standards and best practices to survey, arrange, describe, and preserve a wide variety of archival collections, including born-digital, audiovisual, photographic, and paper materials. The Processing Archivist will publish DACS-compliant finding aids for these collections in ArchivesSpace and export different versions of that description to WorldCat, Alma/Primo, and the Online Archive of California. In collaboration with colleagues across the TS&CD and Specialized Collections departments, the Archivist will use project management skills to prioritize further processing of collections that already have minimal collection-level descriptions published in ArchivesSpace.

We value qualified candidates who can bring to our community a diversity of backgrounds and experiences, who are motivated by a passion to develop transformative library services and an investment in the future of librarianship and archives, and who are creative in identifying and solving problems within a collegial and collaborative environment. The successful candidate must be knowledgeable of current relevant library and scholarly information trends and practices and be able to apply this understanding to make a significant, positive impact on the USC community. Duties may include weekend and evening hours.

USC Libraries

USC Libraries faculty and staff work to advance consequential engagement with our academic and arts communities. We are committed to USC’s unifying values of accountability, integrity, excellence, open communication, well-being, and diversity, equity, and inclusion as we support the university’s students, faculty, and staff. USC Libraries take pride in our Digital Library, the Sidney Harman Academy for Polymathic Study with its Ahmanson Lab, our data and visualization services, and the library’s strong primary source collections including the history of Los Angeles and Southern California; LGBTQ history and culture, particularly relating to West Coast activities and activism; Cinematic Arts; and the Holocaust and genocide and exile studies. For more information on how our libraries support critical, creative, and ethical habits of mind at USC, visit https://libraries.usc.edu/facts-and-figures and https://libraries.usc.edu.

Visit USC’s website for information about our students, academic programs, campuses, and research.

Position Responsibilities and Duties

Reporting to the Associate Dean, Technical Services & Collection Development, the Processing Archivist will:

• Process new and existing archival collection materials in all formats using ArchivesSpace
• Process collections identified as high priority by curators and librarians across the Specialized Collections departments and TS&CD
• Develop, implement and reinforce policies, procedures and best practices for metadata creation, and processing levels and for collections maintenance across the Libraries’ primary source repositories

• Apply effective project management strategies and communicates clearly with project stakeholders
• Apply tools used in the special collections and archival communities (e.g., ArchivesSpace, Alma/Primo, digital asset management systems, BitCurator, OpenRefine, MarcEdit)
• Collaborate with curators, public services staff, acquisitions staff, other archivists, and Library IT staff, as well as donors and researchers
• Create collection-level MARC records for WorldCat and the Libraries’ online catalog
• Publish EAD finding aids in the Online Archive of California
• Collaborate with Digital Library metadata librarians in metadata creation for digital materials
• Participate in library and other committees as assigned
• Engage in professional and/or subject discipline organizations, research, or publishing that will have a significant, positive impact on the Technical Services & Collection Development unit, and advance the strategic plans of USC Libraries and the university
• Participate in a hybrid work environment

Experience and Qualifications

Minimum qualifications: MLS from an ALA-accredited program or non-U.S. equivalent is typically required for a librarian appointment at USC. In addition, candidates must provide evidence of:

• Two years of experience processing archival materials
• Knowledge of efficient archival processing guidelines and procedures, including extensible processing principles
• Knowledge of ArchivesSpace and experience with creating finding aids using ArchivesSpace
• Knowledge of bibliographic catalogs, and other collection information management systems
• Considerable specialized knowledge of contemporary archival and records management principles and practices
• Experience using DACS, EAD, EAC-CPF, RDA, LCSH, and MARC21 standards
• Demonstrated interpersonal, project management, analytical and research skills
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively to achieve goals set forth by the position
• Knowledge or background in preservation management

Desirable qualifications:

• Experience with project management strategies and tools
• Familiarity with approaches to processing and describing born-digital archival holdings
• Familiarity with anti-racist and inclusive archival description initiatives

Faculty Appointment Rank and Salary

Rank: Assistant University Librarian (commensurate with experience and qualifications)

Librarians at USC have faculty status. This is a full-time, continuing appointment track position. Appointment to the continuing appointment track requires the potential to meet the University’s criteria for granting continuing appointment—excellence in librarianship—which librarians achieve by having a significant impact on the development and/or implementation of high-quality collections and/or services. Additionally, librarians must demonstrate the expectation of continued excellence and growth in professional expertise.

This is a 12-month full-time position. The annual base salary ranges are listed below and in accordance to rank.

• Assistant University Librarian: $72,000-$90,000

When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

For more on criteria and qualifications for the appointment, promotion and continuing appointment of librarians at USC, visit: https://libraries.usc.edu/sites/default/files/2021-09/USC_Libraries_Criteria_Document_Approved_1-31-20.pdf

Benefits

Benefits include a choice of retirement programs, 22 paid vacation days per year, university holidays, a choice of medical and dental plans, and tuition assistance (for employees and eligible dependents). For more information about benefits see: https://employees.usc.edu/benefits-perks/

Application Procedure

As part of the application, candidates must upload the following documents into a single PDF file:

1) a cover letter,

2) a curriculum vitae (including telephone and e-mail address),

3) a list of at least three references that includes the name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address for each referee, and

4) a statement on fostering an environment of diversity and inclusion (no longer than one page in length).

Closing date for applications: June 23, 2023, or until filled.

For more information about this position, contact Bo Doub, Chair of the Search Committee, at bdoub@usc.edu.

USC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy.

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at uschr@usc.edu. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring ordinance.

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