What are the responsibilities and job description for the Manuscripts Processor position at University of Kansas?
Position Overview
The Cataloging & Archival Processing Department of the University of Kansas Libraries is responsible for the cataloging and processing of all resources for the Libraries, including print and electronic monographs, print and electronic serials, maps, multimedia, government documents and archival/manuscript materials. In addition, the Department is heavily involved in the inventory of materials and the updating of associated records being moved to the Library Annex. The Department consists of 31 FTE staff members in a variety of classifications, along with a large number of student assistants, and has offices in both Watson and Kenneth Spencer Research Libraries.
Reporting to the Archives & Manuscripts Coordinator, this full-time position will be located in the Processing Department at the Kenneth Spencer Research Library (KSRL). Following national standards and local policies, this position inventories and physically processes manuscript collections, prepares collection/series/box and folder descriptions in ArchivesSpace, KU Libraries’ manuscript and digital object collection management system, generates other descriptive metadata as needed, and assists with cleanup of legacy metadata/EADs.
The University of Kansas Libraries support a safe and inclusive environment for all members of our diverse communities at KU. We are committed to building a diverse and pluralistic workforce and strongly encourage applications from diverse candidates. This position will demonstrate a commitment to advancing diversity efforts in the Libraries and contributes to an inclusive environment.
Reporting to the Archives & Manuscripts Coordinator, this full-time position will be located in the Processing Department at the Kenneth Spencer Research Library (KSRL). Following national standards and local policies, this position inventories and physically processes manuscript collections, prepares collection/series/box and folder descriptions in ArchivesSpace, KU Libraries’ manuscript and digital object collection management system, generates other descriptive metadata as needed, and assists with cleanup of legacy metadata/EADs.
The University of Kansas Libraries support a safe and inclusive environment for all members of our diverse communities at KU. We are committed to building a diverse and pluralistic workforce and strongly encourage applications from diverse candidates. This position will demonstrate a commitment to advancing diversity efforts in the Libraries and contributes to an inclusive environment.
Job Description
85% Manuscripts Processing:
Surveys, arranges, and describes original primary source materials as assigned by supervisor. This work ranges from minimally processing collections through detailed and complex processing of archival and manuscript collections, following national best practices and locally developed procedures specific to KSRL’s levels of processing.
Assists with one or more special projects within the Department. Special projects may be long-term or short-term depending on departmental and library priorities at any given time. Also included here are activities that occur on an infrequent basis. This position currently works on the following projects:
Surveys, arranges, and describes original primary source materials as assigned by supervisor. This work ranges from minimally processing collections through detailed and complex processing of archival and manuscript collections, following national best practices and locally developed procedures specific to KSRL’s levels of processing.
- Rehouses collection materials as appropriate into standard archival containers.
- Describes collections using national and local best practices, including Describing Archives: A Contents Standard (DACS) and relevant metadata standards, in the collections management tool ArchivesSpace in order to generate online, publicly available finding aids.
- Consults with conservation and curatorial staff as appropriate.
- Conducts basic research online and using other readily available resources to write biographical and historical notes and other contextual information for finding aids.
- Suggests subject headings and identifies relevant agents to be associated with finding aids and catalog records.
Assists with one or more special projects within the Department. Special projects may be long-term or short-term depending on departmental and library priorities at any given time. Also included here are activities that occur on an infrequent basis. This position currently works on the following projects:
- Cleans up legacy metadata/EAD finding aids in order to facilitate better access to manuscript collections housed at KSRL.
- Creates finding aids for legacy collections that have never been described in an online environment or that have been under-described in an online environment
- Attends and participates in Department meetings and other team-building activities. Shares responsibility for the effective functioning of Department meetings and other team activities.
- Commits to positive, solution-oriented problem solving.
Position Requirements
- This position requires working on-site.
Required Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED.
- Minimum of one year experience working in a library, archives, museum, or related area (this may include paid and unpaid internships equivalent to a full year of experience).
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in history, literature, or other humanities field.
- Reading knowledge of a Western European language.
- Excellent written and verbal communications skills, including an ability to organize and summarize pertinent information, as demonstrated by application materials.
- Familiarity with DACS, EAD, and other descriptive and metadata standards.
- Familiarity with ArchivesSpace and/or other collections management or database systems.
- Demonstrated initiative, ability to organize work effectively, and to be successful in a production-oriented work environment.
- Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to work successfully with detailed and complex procedures.
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills.
Additional Candidate Instructions
A complete online application includes:
- Cover letter addressing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications.
- Resume.
- Contact information for three professional references (including at least one previous or current supervisor).
- Completion of the online application.
- Application review begins Tuesday, April 26, 2022 and continues until a pool of qualified applicants is identified.
Contact Information to Applicants
Mike Broadwell
mikebr@ku.edu
mikebr@ku.edu
Advertised Salary Range
Minimum salary $30,000, final determination commensurate with experience.
Work Schedule
Monday-Friday, 8 am - 5 pm
Application Review Begins
25-Apr-2022
Anticipated Start Date
06-Jun-2022
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