Research Assistant, Digital Curation - Schomburg Center
About The Position
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 study of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences. The Schomburg Center, featuring diverse programming and collections spanning over 10 million items, has for over nine decades illuminated the richness of black history, arts, and experience worldwide. As a key part of one of the largest public library systems in the world, the Schomburg Center is committed to maximizing free and public access to its collections, exhibitions, educational activities, and much of its programming. Reporting to the Digital Curator, the Research Assistant is responsible for supporting the digital curation efforts as outlined by the Frankenthaler Foundation Digital Curation Initiative Grant: identifying, researching, and preparing summaries for the completion of digital projects. Working independently and in collaboration with the Digital Curator, the Research Assistant will request appointments in the research divisions to conduct research; in addition to checking out print materials from our General Research & Reference division as needed. The candidate will also have the opportunity to work in a creative capacity, supporting the Digital Curator in creating engaging digital content to share on the library’s digital platforms (digital exhibitions, wikidata activations, blog posts, social media, etc.). The candidate must possess strong written and verbal communication skills and be able to interpret historical materials that center Black and African diasporic cultures. This grant-funded position is temporary for 12 months from the start date.
Requirements
- Undergraduate degree in History/Humanities or related field
- Specific study area of focus in Black or African Diasporic studies preferred
- 1-3 years experience researching special collections and archival materials in a library or academic environment
- Experience publishing blog posts on digital platforms (wordpress, medium, tumblr, etc.)
- Experience with any of the following software or digital platforms: Canva, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, etc.), iMovie, Audacity, or other video / audio editing tools Instagram and creative content apps
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- Ability to work independently and in collaboration with others to complete goals
- High proficiency in fact-based, in-depth research practices
- Ability to interpret historical materials
Responsibilities
- Independently conduct research in the center’s five research divisions to support digital projects
- Regularly request and manage research appointments in Aeon and other library systems
- Provide written summaries / outlines based on research findings to Digital Curator
- Complete administrative tasks related to digital projects
- Assist with graphic design and support web maintenance as needed
- As instructed by Digital Curator, format and prepare content for blogs, digital exhibitions, and other digital platforms (social media, 3rd party platforms, etc.)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Number of Employees
501-1,000 employees
