Leon Levy Processing Archivist

Drawing on its unique collection of physical and digital primary source materials and artifacts, the Center for Brooklyn History inspires discovery, advances research, and preserves the history and cultural heritage of Brooklyn’s diverse communities. The Center for Brooklyn History (CBH) is embarking on a two-year project to continue processing and making accessible all institutional records of the Brooklyn Historical Society (BHS), which was founded in 1863 and merged with Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) in October 2020. These records document the founding and functioning of a significant and longstanding Brooklyn cultural heritage institution. The records, which comprise over ten percent of CBH’s archival collections, provide unprecedented detail on a growing city and borough, and more broadly, on the way that history and knowledge were preserved and interpreted over a century and a half. The completed processing of these institutional archives will transform CBH’s understanding of its own genesis and development, and will inform wide-ranging fields of scholarship on urban history, the history of Brooklyn and New York City, museum studies, social history, class formation, and much more.

The Processing Archivist will be responsible for surveying, arranging, rehousing, and describing archival materials, including supporting born-digital records.

The Processing Archivist will also identify items in the collection of high value for digitization. This position will manage budget, create reports and provide feedback about the project, as well as participate in programming and outreach activities to promote it. This position reports to the Archives Manager.

This is a grant funded position. The grant ends April, 2028 and employment is not guaranteed beyond that date. The budgeted salary is $72,510.year.

Essential Responsibilities The statements below are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

Project Management

• Using the initial grant project and subsequent work as a guide, create a detailed processing plan and expected timeline, including milestones and expected outcomes
• Manage related budgets, including for archival supplies and other expenses
• Collaborate with Center for Brooklyn History staff on researching the institutional archive

Arrangement and Description

• Survey, process, rehouse, arrange, and describe the institutional archival collections using ArchivesSpace, in line with current archival standards and practices
• Conduct item-level cataloging as needed
• Create processing plans and workflows for the material, including digitized and born-digital assets.
• Identify items in the collection that are candidates for digitization and/or conservation
• Edit the existing finding aid with appropriate levels of description.

Outreach

• Lead and participate in programming and outreach initiatives about the project.
• Create content for social media and blog posts about the institutional archives and the project.
• Represent the Center for Brooklyn History and the project at regional and national professional events

Required Qualifications Education and/or Certification Master’s degree in Library and Information Science with a concentration in archives or equivalent qualifications

Skills & Abilities

• 2-3 years archival arrangement and description experience
• Demonstrated consistent accuracy and attention to detail
• Demonstrated knowledge of current developments in the principles of archival arrangement and description for personal papers and organizational records
• Processing experience with handwritten materials
• Familiarity with the application of current standards for manuscript and archival description such as DACS
• Familiarity with EAD, XML and other machine actionable metadata schema
• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize work, with strong project management skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Ability to work reflectively, conscientiously, and inclusively with a team
• Archival processing experience with collections varying in size and formats including manuscripts, records series, photographs, born digital material, audiovisual, and other materials.
• Experience using collection management tools such as ArchivesSpace.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, including demonstrated ability to communicate with a diverse community
• Ability to work as both independently and collaboratively
• Strong organization and time-management skills; attention to accuracy and detail is essential

We seek professionals dedicated to providing excellent customer service, developing fruitful partnerships in the community, and implementing programs aligned with our mission and vision. You will be immersed in a motivating and challenging environment where innovation is key to the organization. If you are looking to be a part of a stimulating workplace that is highly regarded by its culturally diverse community, BPL is the place to be.

Brooklyn Public Library is an equal opportunity employer. Brooklyn Public Library is one of the nation’s largest library systems and among New York City’s most democratic institutions.