Archivist (Specialist III)

(June 24, 2023)

Position Title - Archivist (Specialist III)

Supervisor Title (All entry and mid-level position supervisors should be qualified, professional archivists.) - Curator of Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books

Position Type - Full-time, term

Benefits - Yes

Salary Range - $66,000 - $75,000

Come work with me at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture! We're looking for a processing archivist to work on a 3-year Mellon grant funded position. This archivist will be processing some pretty incredible collections that we hope will form the foundation of the next century of Black Studies. Bilingual Spanish-English language skills are preferred. For more information on this job, please click the link below:

The New York Public Library seeks a dynamic individual to enhance the use of its world class archival holdings at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and to serve as a resource and facilitator for public service access.

Founded in 1925 and named a National Historic Landmark in 2017, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions devoted to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of materials focused on African American, African, and African Diaspora experiences, featuring diverse programming and a collection of over 11 million items that illuminates the richness of global Black history and culture. A research library of The New York Public Library and seeded by the collection of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg nearly a century ago, the Schomburg Center provides free access to materials documenting Black life locally, nationally, and internationally.

The Archivist’s primary responsibility is to arrange and describe archival collections held in the Schomburg Center’s Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books (MARB) Division, including the Institute of the Black World records and the Miriam Jimenez Roman papers among others. For more on the MARB Division, see https://www.nypl.org/locations/schomburg/manuscripts-archives-and-rare-books-division.

The arrangement and description of the collections will be supervised by Schomburg's Curator of the Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books Division. The New York Public Library’s Archival Processing Unit will oversee the training and implementation of the Library’s centralized processing protocols and systems.

This is a 3-year position funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for a grant titled “The Next Century of Black Studies''. The work of this grant will contribute immensely to the Schomburg Center’s centennial celebration in 2025 - 2026.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Curator of Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books, the Archivist will:

Arrange and describe archival collections of personal papers and organizational records, perform rehousing and other basic preservation needs, and create finding aids in accordance with local and national standards.

Perform original cataloging for special collections in accordance with local and national standards.

Participate in associated grant-related activities, including participation in The Future of Black Studies conference.

Provide reference and public services support for collections processed through the grant.

Perform related duties as required.

Required Education, Experience & Skills

Required Education and Certifications

ALA-accredited Master’s degree in library, archival or information studies or Master’s degree in liberal arts or humanities and successful completion of archival training.

Subject area expertise or educational background in any of the following: African American History/Studies/Literature, Africana Studies, or cultural studies.

Required Experience

Minimum two years experience in an archives or manuscripts repository creating descriptive records for archival collections.

Successfully demonstrated professional experience required for the Specialist III level.

Required Skills

A strong background in archival theory and practice, especially regarding arrangement and description, as well as a familiarity with current approaches to born-digital materials.

Demonstrated knowledge of current standards for archival description (APPM, DACS, LC subject headings, authority control, and MARC 21).

Demonstrated experience in original cataloging.

Experience in EAD markup.

Experience using ArchivesSpace or Archivists' Toolkit.

Working knowledge of historical research methodology and experience with standard bibliographic tools.

Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.

Successfully demonstrated initiative, accuracy, attention to detail, judgment, analytic and organizations.

Ability to work well independently and collaboratively in a production-oriented, team environment.

To Apply please go to https://nypl.pinpointhq.com/en/postings/725198fd-cef3-489d-994a-7c69d709c3d8