Digital archivist needed
The mission of the Jewish Women's Archive (www.jwa.org) is to uncover, chronicle, and transmit the rich history of American Jewish women. JWA is seeking a full-time Digital Archivist, who will be responsible for shaping and cataloguing JWA’s digital collections.
Founded in 1995, JWA is one of the first organizations in the Jewish community to recognize and invest in the potential of the internet for archival purposes. JWA is now entering its second decade of changing the way history is researched, recorded and taught, and is seeking to expand and enhance its online collection of artifacts documenting the contributions of hundreds of Jewish women to the American Jewish and secular communities. JWA’s most recent project, “Katrina’s Jewish Voices”, marks the organization’s entry into public online collecting, a direction in which the organization expects to continue to move in the future.
Over the past decade, several different databases have been established for the various archiving projects that JWA has undertaken. The organization now seeks to upgrade its digital archiving capabilities, to become a Trusted Digital Repository.
Responsibilities:
• Work with the repository team to update the current databases, as well as to consider metadata and usability changes;
• Work with the Katrina project team to ensure relevant categorization of objects and to maintain authority files; identify connections and areas for further research; help refine and test auto-ingest procedures;
• Help migrate existing digital artifacts into a repository, ensuring proper metadata;
• Assist external users with obtaining permissions to use online artifacts;
• Establish relationships with archivists at other archives, to increase awareness of JWA’s efforts
• Oversee periodic collection and preservation of JWA’s internal documents;
• Address digital preservation issues and ensure that digital materials have appropriate metadata attached to facilitate long-term availability of the archives.
Qualifications
• Bachelors degree
• MLS degree or equivalent combination of education and experience in information/records management
• Strong knowledge of and experience with digital archive initiatives, including required policies and procedures
• Familiarity with digitization projects and standards for media such as photographs, audio, video, as well as newer digital formats
• Strong project management skills
• Excellent written/oral communication skills
• Passion for ensuring that important pieces of Jewish women’s history are organized and properly preserved
• Previous experience in Jewish women’s history a plus, but not required.
Please send resume and cover letter to:
jobs@jwa.org
Jewish Women's Archive
138 Harvard Street
Brookline, MA 02446