"Project Archivist for Architectural Records Digitization (One-Year Term)"

Job Description

The Project Archivist for Architectural Records Digitization is a term-appointed, 1-year project position at the University of Oklahoma Libraries that will focus on preparing architectural records of significant cultural, historical, and research value to be digitized and made openly accessible online via OU Libraries' digital collections repository. The Project Archivist's work will focus specifically on archival collections in the American School Archive at OU Libraries, an archival collecting area that documents the imaginative school of architectural design and practice that developed under the guidance of pioneering architects Bruce Goff, Herb Greene, and others at the University of Oklahoma in the 1950s and 1960s.

Based on established criteria and priorities, the Project Archivist will make informed selections of archival collection items from fully processed collections to be digitized and published online, documenting these decisions in project spreadsheets. Following established metadata content standards and structural standards, the Project Archivist will expand upon existing metadata to create item-level description for the selected materials. The Project Archivist will then collaborate with the Libraries' Digitization Lab to arrange for the digital imaging of collection items and will participate in physical scanning of documents as necessary.

The Project Archivist will work with archival materials including physical architectural drawings, print publications, paper records, and photographic prints, negatives, and slides. The position will serve as a member of the Special Research Collections team in OU Libraries and will work in close collaboration with colleagues and subject experts to inform their work.

Target Start Date: October 1, 2025

Target End Date: October 1, 2026

Job Responsibilities:

• Identifies, documents, and prepares architectural archival materials for digitization based on established criteria for assessing cultural, historical, and research value, producing spreadsheets detailing selection decisions.
• Creates descriptive, administrative, and structural metadata at the item level for archival materials to be digitized in accordance with established library standards and controlled vocabulary specific to architecture and design.
• Coordinates the logistics of transferring archival collection materials from storage and work areas to on site Digitization Lab, ensuring safe handling of collection assets.
• Collaborates with Digitization Lab to ensure clarity of digitization selection decisions and workflows and performs digital imaging processes as needed.
• Develops knowledge related to architecture and design terminology, the history of 20th century American architecture, and the history of the American School movement to inform the production of accurate, detailed item-level metadata.
• Collects, compiles, and delivers information and data for statistical and narrative reports as necessary to document progress on digitization preparation.
• Performs various duties as needed to successfully fulfill the function of the position.

Job Requirements

Required Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree, AND: 24 months of related experience in archival arrangement and/or records management

Equivalency/Substitution: Will accept 48 months of related experience in lieu of the Bachelor's degree for a total of 72 months of related experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to communicate well and build rapport quickly with students, faculty, and staff.
• Current museum, archive or library experience.
• Must have strong ability to lead project teams.
• Knowledge of automated storage and retrieval systems, and electronic records.

Certifications: None.

Advertised Physical Requirements:

• Ability to engage in repetitive motion.
• Ability to lift and carry 30 pounds.
• Ability to work in a standard office environment.
• Ability to work independently and in teams.

Department Preferences:

• Subject knowledge in architecture or design fields.
• Knowledge of library and archives content standards and structural standards for metadata.

Supervision: None.

Special Instructions: If you are selected as a final candidate for this position, you will be subject to The University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Tuberculosis Testing policy. To view the policy, visit <a href="https://hr.ou.edu/Policies-Handbooks/TB-Testing">https://hr.ou.edu/Policies-Handbooks/TB-Testing</a>.