Processing Archivist – Two Positions Cornell University Library

Overview

Cornell University Library invites two curious and collaborative professionals to join us as Processing Archivists
! One position is located within the Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives, and the other within Archival Technical Services (ATS), serving the Rare & Manuscript Collections (RMC). We are looking for colleagues who understand the key role technical services play in the discoverability and use of archives by diverse research communities. While we want you to have some processing knowledge and skills, it is also important that you bring a curiosity about technical standards and tools and a commitment to evolving practice.

The Processing Archivists work collegially and collaboratively within the Library to ensure excellence and integrity in its collections, services, and programs, and across the Library and the University to promote its mission and values. Processing Archivists contribute to the Library’s work to accession, arrange, describe, preserve, and provide access to archival material in all formats. In collaboration with their colleagues, the Processing Archivists will plan and manage projects, supervise student workers, coordinate with donors and ensure timely access to archival materials accessioned by Cornell’s special collections repositories.

If you’re excited about processing archival materials, improving metadata, and making collections discoverable for all users—we’d love to hear from you!

Librarians at Cornell University hold academic appointments as Research, Teaching, and Extension faculty and must meet Cornell University Library requirements for promotion and reappointment.

Collection Processing

• Arrange, describe, and preserve in all formats, sizes, and levels of complexity.
• Apply archival judgment and standards such as DACS, EAD, and Dublin Core.
• Collaborate on accession workflows and conservation needs.
• Enhance discoverability through surveys, clean-up projects, and workflow innovation.

Archival Support

• Support documentation, decision-making, and space planning efforts.
• Manage archival supplies and work spaces.

Service & Scholarship

• Conduct scholarship and contribute to publications, standards, policies and professional forums.
• Engage in service to the profession nationally, regionally, and locally.

Candidate profile

• Master’s degree in library and/or information science from an ALA-accredited institution, or an advanced degree in a relevant discipline with a concentration in archives management, or equivalent combination of advanced degree and related experience.
• Up to 3 years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience in the appraisal, arrangement, description, and preservation principles and standards, such as DACS, EAD and Dublin Core, as applied in established archives and for archival collections in a variety of formats including physical, born-digital and hybrid.
• Awareness of inclusive archival description and representation.
• A commitment to diversity, growth, and dynamic environments.
• Ability to lift 40 lbs., climb ladders, and work with dusty materials.

Additionally, we’d prefer

• Experience with Archives Space
• Knowledge of data manipulation programs, such as Open Refine and Excel; comfort with working with large amounts of human generated metadata for ingest into content management systems
• Experience planning and managing projects, from conceptualization to completion
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and communicate in a team environment.

Work location
:
This position is located in Ithaca, New York, with the potential to enter into a flexible work arrangement consistent with university policies. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke, or terminate a work arrangement at any time.

All candidates must apply online via the Cornell Careers site: search WDR-. Candidates are encouraged to express preference for a specific role, but will be considered for both. For full consideration, please include the following with your application:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until a viable pool of applicants is identified; early submission is strongly…