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Assistant Archivist - Oral History

Assistant Archivist - Oral History

Texas Tech University Libraries Job Location: Texas Apply By: Open until filled Date Created: 10-22-2021

TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Position Title: Oral History Assistant Archivist

Department: Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library (SWC/SCL)

Position Description:

Serves the research needs of the archives' patrons in assigned area. Duties may include arranging and describing archives, manuscript, and image collections according standards; accessioning, processing, and preserving materials in various formats; conducting oral histories; exhibit curation and creating finding aids. Assistance with reference services. The position is expected to cooperate and function as part of a team to meet the needs of patrons. Represents the SWC/SCL and interacts with donors. This is an entry level faculty position.

Responsibilities:

The Oral History (OH) Archivist’s primary duty and responsibility is to supervise and manage the oral history archive that includes securing interview contacts, conducting, duplicating, abstracting, transcribing and preserving interviews, or overseeing such work in alignment with SWCSCL rules, procedures, and collecting scopes, and in accordance with Oral History Association Best Practices. The archivist collaborates with SWC/SCL archival units in sharing information on possible collection acquisitions and cooperates closely with the SWC/SCL Manuscripts Field Representative in the acquisition of oral history interviews. The archivist also works with and coordinates with the Audio-Visual Unit/Department (A-V) which conducts preservation and access work for oral history interviews and other archival media. Such activity includes media duplication for reference services and internal projects, transferring audio-video data to stable platform, and addressing long-term HVAC storage issues for sensitive materials. As a key component of SWC/SCL outreach, the archivist also assists in planning and arranging for collaborative multi-interview oral history related projects that include presentations, oral history workshops, and tours. Such projects can involve campus, city and regional partners. The archivist remains knowledgeable with A-V technology used for conducting oral histories, and stays current with new developments in the field. The archivist makes relevant research information available to colleagues and patrons/researchers through regularly scheduled duty in the SWC/SCL reading room, via phone calls, email interaction, web social media postings, presentations, workshops, and exhibit curation. The archivist also stays current with archival and oral history methods via professional publications, training sessions, and participation in national, regional, and statewide organizations of oral historians, archivists, and other cultural resource management professionals. The archivist supervises one staff member and assists in the supervision of student assistants, and fulfills other duties assigned by the supervisor and SWC/SCL administration. The archivist contributes substantially to the planning, development and assessment of departmental policies. The archivist participates on library committees and cross-functional teams as assigned. The archivist is expected to engage in scholarly pursuit and other professional activities in accordance with Texas Tech Library’s standards for promotion and tenure. The archivist is expected to participate in library, college, and university governance. Candidates who have very strong records of scholarship supported by extramural funding and who have the proven capacity or clear potential to bring externally sponsored research to Texas Tech University are encouraged to apply. Service duties include program-building, as well as a commitment to extra-curricular activities. Service to the department, college, university, and community is expected.

Qualifications:

Required:

Master's in History or related field with graduate-level archival course work or certification or M.L.S. from an ALA accredited library institution. One to two years of professional archival experience.

Preferred:

A working knowledge of EAD (Encoded Archival Description) and emerging metadata standards is desirable, supervisory experience in reference service preferably in an archives or manuscript repository. Five (5) years of professional archival experience and one (1) year of oral history and supervisory experience.

Ranked among the top third of academic research libraries nationally, Texas Tech University Libraries serve as a vital partner with students and faculty in their learning endeavors. The University Libraries' system is comprised of: (1) University Library, (2) Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library, and the (3) Architecture Library. The University Library is a patent and trademark depository and is one of two regional depositories for U.S. government documents in Texas. The central focus of the Texas Tech University Libraries is to make available 3.72 million physical volumes, electronic resources, special collections, and archives, and to offer services to students and faculty that enable academic and research success.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, Texas Tech University is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse faculty committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment. We actively encourage applications from all those who can contribute, through their research, teaching, and/or service, to the diversity and excellence of the academic community at Texas Tech University. The university welcomes applications from minoritized candidates, women, protected veterans, persons with disabilities, and dual-career couples.

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