Re: [ARSCLIST] Audio Digitization Archivist Job Posting

["Watsky, Lance" <lwatsky@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

AUDIO DIGITIZATION ARCHIVIST
92nd Street Y, New York City -- Milstein/Rosenthal Center for Media & Technology / Unterberg Poetry Center

Full Time, 2-year commitment, Professional

The 92nd Street Y has received funding for a two-year project to digitize archival audio recordings of events sponsored by the Unterberg Poetry Center. The project will focus on the analog recordings of the Poetry Center, which feature 1,076 events (approximately 1,614 performance hours), recorded from 1949 to 2004 on open reel tape, audiocassette, and VHS cassette. These recordings represent only a portion of the Y's vast audiovisual archives, which encompasses spoken word, music, dance, and theatre, and this project is an important step in the Y's efforts to make these holdings more accessible and to ensure their long-term preservation.

The Audio Digitization Archivist will be employed full-time for two years to manage the day-to-day operations of the digitization and preservation project, including the following responsibilities:
- Consult with other project staff to determine appropriate equipment, technical standards, and workflow for digitization process.
- Identify appropriate metadata standards and make recommendations for application to this project. Adapt existing databases or create new ones as needed. - Consult with project staff and advisory board to prioritize recordings for digitization.
- Prepare recordings for digitization, including light conservation work as needed.
- Digitize recordings according to project standards. Supervise digitization work of part-time assistants as needed.
- With other staff, be responsible for the creation and input of appropriate metadata for digitized recordings.
- Create backups onto appropriate physical media.
- Coordinate the transfer of original and digitized recordings between work site and offsite storage.
- Work with project and IT staff to determine and design appropriate delivery platforms.
- Prepare frequent progress reports.
- Perform other tasks related to the maintenance of the audiovisual archives as needed.

Position Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree required. Graduate degree in audio engineering, archives, library science or another related field desirable.
- At least 3 years experience digitizing audio recordings within an archives setting required.
- Strong knowledge of audio digitization and preservation standards and equipment required.
- Knowledge of and interest in contemporary poetry and literature highly desirable.
- Experience with spoken word recordings strongly preferred.
- Project management and supervisory skills strongly preferred.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks required.

Hours of Work: 40 hours per week, Mon-Fri. 9am to 6pm, with a 1-hour meal break.

Please send resume with cover letter to:
E-mail: humanresources@xxxxxxx
Fax: 212-410-1254
Mail: Human Resources-KK, 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10128

The 92nd Street Y is an equal opportunity employer.

http://www.92y.org/content/pdf/audio_archivist.pdf


Posted by:
Steven Siegel
Library Director & Archivist
92nd Street Y
1395 Lexington Avenue
New York NY 10128
ssiegel@xxxxxxx