Digitization Specialist

American University•Spring Valley, DC

1d•$23 - $29•Hybrid

About The Position

Under the supervision of the Digitization Coordinator, the Digitization Specialist is a full-time production assistant and scanner operator working on the digitization of paper-based documents and ephemeral items, rare books, audio-visual, and photographic holdings from Archives and Special Collections based on unit priorities and digitization-on-demand requests. The incumbent also performs basic preservation measures, assessment of analog materials, maintain statistics, enhances metadata, participates in planning activities, supports digital projects, performs post-processing and quality control tasks, and handles the proper storage and naming of digitized files. The incumbent helps prepare materials for vendor outsourcing. Additionally, the incumbent assists in the supervision of hourly student assistants to perform digitization work and quality control files.

Requirements

Associate's degree or equivalent.
Less than 1 year of relevant experience.
Advanced computer skills and experience troubleshooting technology issues.
Experience working with the Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop.
Experience working with Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft apps.
Able to learn and adapt to new technologies.
Experience handling paper-based, photographic, rare, and audio-visual items.
Familiarity with archives and/or special collections repositories.
Ability to follow detailed instructions and maintain documentation.
Experience with data entry tasks.
Experience working with a team to complete common objectives and ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to create results-driven and positive environment.
Strong customer service skills including the ability to be responsive to service needs of constituents in a courteous and consistent manner.
Strong ability to prioritize and multi-task, including the ability to reprioritize tasks to resolve issues that arise.
Strong attention to detail, takes the time and effort to ensure that work is accurate and high quality, and ability to work independently under minimal supervision.
Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues, staff at all levels of the campus hierarchy, a diverse community, and vendors and other external partners.
Excellent organization, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to present information clearly and concisely.
Demonstrated ability to be flexible, navigate ambiguity, and adapt to change in a dynamic environment.
Evidence of a strong commitment to diversity and a mentality that is ethical, transparent, and inclusive.
Reliable and responsive to communications in a timely manner.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
1 - 3 years of relevant experience.
Experience digitizing paper-based, photographic, books, and audio-visual materials.
Knowledge of photography.
Familiarity with born digital materials.
Demonstrated knowledge of current practices, trends, standards, and research in archival, special collections, and imaging.
Experience with the use of digital technologies, metadata schemas, and technology applications relevant to digital imaging and reformatting.

Responsibilities

Digitize paper-based documents and ephemeral items, rare books, audio-visual, and photographic holdings from Archives and Special Collections based on unit priorities and digitization-on-demand requests.
Operate several styles of scanners.
Work with student employees to assist with digitization on 2-person scanners.
Ensure proper handling of archival materials.
Perform basic preservation triage and adjust scanning requirements and conditions based on needs.
Capture and enhance metadata during the digitization process.
Accurately name files, manage large volumes of digital files, and store digital files based on set policies and procedures.
Maintain accurate statistics related to digital output.
Complete digitization project documentation.
Complete digitization and digital projects according to deadlines, priorities, policies, and procedures.
Perform post-processing and quality control tasks on in-house and outsourced digitized and born-digital material, which may include renaming, rotating, straightening, cropping, stitching, redacting, color-correcting, and generating derivative files.
Utilize scanner software and Adobe suite.
Identify candidates for rescans.
Flag problems for Digitization Coordinator.
Assist Digitization Coordinator in digitization project planning.
Identify preservation or content risks.
Assist with inventory projects.
Assist in preparing materials to be outsourced for vendor digitization.
Support digital projects within Archives and Special Collections including but not limited to digital exhibitions, transcription projects, and social media.
Assist the Digitization Coordinator with supervising part-time employees.
Other duties as assigned.