Leon Levy Processing Archivist

Brooklyn Public Library•New York, NY

About The Position

The Center for Brooklyn History (CBH), part of Brooklyn Public Library, is undertaking a two-year project to continue processing and making accessible the institutional records of the Brooklyn Historical Society. The records document the founding and operation of a major Brooklyn cultural heritage institution and provide extensive material for research into Brooklyn and New York City history, urban history, museum studies, social history, and related fields. The Processing Archivist will survey, arrange, rehouse, and describe archival materials, including born-digital records, and identify items for potential digitization. The role also involves managing the project budget, preparing reports and feedback, and participating in programming and outreach. The position reports to the Archives Manager. It is grant funded; the grant ends in April 2028, and employment is not guaranteed beyond that date.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Library and Information Science with a concentration in archives, or equivalent qualifications.
Two to three years of archival arrangement and description experience.
Consistent accuracy and attention to detail.
Knowledge of current principles of archival arrangement and description for personal papers and organizational records.
Processing experience with handwritten materials.
Familiarity with current standards for manuscript and archival description, such as DACS.
Familiarity with EAD, XML, and other machine-actionable metadata schemas.
Ability to organize and prioritize work, with strong project management skills.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team setting.
Ability to work reflectively, conscientiously, and inclusively with a team.
Archival processing experience with collections of varying sizes and formats, including manuscripts, records series, photographs, born-digital material, audiovisual materials, and other materials.
Experience using collection management tools such as ArchivesSpace.
Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate with a diverse community.
Strong organization and time-management skills.

Responsibilities

Develop a detailed processing plan and timeline, including milestones and expected outcomes.
Manage project budgets, including budgets for archival supplies and other expenses.
Collaborate with Center for Brooklyn History staff to research the institutional archive.
Survey, process, rehouse, arrange, and describe institutional archival collections in ArchivesSpace according to current archival standards and practices.
Conduct item-level cataloging as needed.
Develop processing plans and workflows for materials, including digitized and born-digital assets.
Identify collection items that may be suitable for digitization or conservation.
Edit the existing finding aid with appropriate levels of description.
Lead and participate in project-related programming and outreach initiatives.
Create social media and blog content about the institutional archives and project.
Represent the Center for Brooklyn History and the project at regional and national professional events.