Positions at National Museum of African American History and Culture

Conservation Technician/Digital Imaging Specialist
National Museum of African American History and Culture

The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and
Culture may be hiring a full-time contractor for one year, possibly
renewable, to provide object handling and rehousing and digital
imaging services.  This is an ideal opportunity for a pre-Program
conservation technician. A description of the position is below.  I
am collecting resumes to review, and I will select three qualified
candidates from the resumes to submit a formal quote.  If you are
interested, please send a detailed resume (more than 2 pages is
fine) to me at coylel<-a t->si< . >edu.  Please put Conservation
Technician/Digital Imaging Specialist in the Subject Line of your
message.

Project Title: Object Handling and Rehousing and Digital Imaging
Services for the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American
History and Culture

Scope of Work: The Smithsonian's National Museum of African American
History and Culture (NMAAHC) needs professional, non-personal,
work-for-hire services to provide object handling and rehousing and
digital imaging services.  The contractor shall digitize and assist
with digitization of collections for control, documentation,
reference, publication, preservation, and/or access.

These services shall include using flatbed and overhead scanners and
digital cameras to create digital images of collections and other
materials; assisting other digital imaging specialists with scanning
and photography of collections; processing and editing digital
images; embedding metadata into digital images and other digital
assets; uploading digital images and other assets into the DAMS; and
providing object handling and rehousing services related to the
Museum's digitization initiatives.  Object handling and rehousing
experience is more important than high-level digital imaging
experience.

The project will take place over the period of performance mainly at
the NMAAHC Collection Management Facility at 3400 Pennsy Drive
(Pennsy), Landover, Maryland.  Work will be scheduled at mutually
convenient times for the contractor and the Contracting Officer's
Technical Representative (COTR) between the hours of about 8:30am
and 5:30pm.  The contractor may park free of charge at the Pennsy
facility, which is also accessible by public transportation and by
Smithsonian shuttle service.  The contractor may be asked to attend
occasional meetings at the NMAAHC offices at Capital Gallery, 600
Maryland Avenue SW, Washington DC.  The Capital Gallery offices are
accessible by public transportation.

Specific Tasks: The contractor shall have experience with:

     Digital scanning and photography

     Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, a museum collection
     information system, preferably The Museum System (TMS), Adobe
     Photoshop and Bridge, and other image processing and editing
     software

     Handling a wide variety of museum collection objects in
     compliance with best museum practices, including moving
     collection objects, unframing, unmatting, reframing, rematting,
     rehousing, and creating custom housing for museum collection
     objects

     Working with a museum collections management team

The contractor shall do the following:

    Use flatbed and overhead scanners and digital cameras to create
    digital images of collections and other materials

    Assist other digital imaging specialists with scanning and
    photography of collection objects, set ups for scanning and
    photography, and object handling

    Process and edit digital images

    Embed metadata into digital images and other digital assets for
    the SI Digital Asset Management System (DAMS), The Museum System
    (TMS), and Enterprise Digital Asset Network (EDAN)

    Upload digital images and other assets into the DAMS and TMS

    Provide object handling and rehousing services mainly related to
    the Museum's digitization initiatives, including unmatting,
    unframing, rematting, reframing, rehousing, and creating custom
    housing, particularly for works on paper and photographic print
    collections

    Create, modify, or update records in DAMS and TMS.

    Assist with management of digital assets

    Work closely with the Museum's collection management,
    curatorial, and digitization staff, contractors, volunteers, and
    interns on the Museum's digitization initiatives

    Notify COTR of any problem or situation that impedes completion
    of any assignment

    Notify COTR when not available for work or with changes in
    schedule.

    Maintain professional attitude when communicating and working
    with Smithsonian staff

    Be diligent, thorough, meticulous, and consistent in following
    NMAAHC guidelines

Laura Coyle
Head of Cataloging and Digitization
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of African American History and Culture
600 Maryland Avenue SW
Washington DC 20024
202-633-0249
Mobile: 202-604-8973
Postal address:
MRC 509
PO Box 37012
Washington DC 20013-37012

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 28:7
                  Distributed: Saturday, July 19, 2014
                        Message Id: cdl-28-7-021
                                  ***