Photograph Collections Assistant

Photograph Collections Assistant - Oregon Historical Society

Job Title: Photograph Collections Assistant

Organization Name: Oregon Historical Society

Location: Portland and Gresham, Oregon

Level of FTE: 30 hours per week

Position Type: Temporary, approximately 10 months

Compensation and Benefits: $21.19 - $23.78, benefit eligible

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Health insurance (medical, vision, alternative care, prescription)
• Generous paid time off
• 4% matching
  401(k) retirement plan
• Flexible spending accounts
• Long-term disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Museum admission and lectures, programs and gift shop discounts

Job Description:

The Photograph Collections Assistant works closely with the Photographs Librarian to assist with processing, cataloging, surveying, and maintenance of the Oregon Historical Society (OHS) research library’s photographic collections.

This temporary (estimated 10-month-long), part-time (30 hours/week) position is a part of the OHS collective bargaining unit, ILWU Local 5.

• Arranges, describes, catalogs, and preserves the Research Library's photograph collections in all formats in accordance with established archival and library procedures and best practices.
• Assists with physical shifting and space management of the photograph collections and relevant storage areas.
• Assists with ongoing surveying of the Research Library’s photograph collections.

Required Skills:

• Knowledge of archival description and metadata standards.
• Proficiency with managing data in spreadsheets.
• Experience with data entry.
• Tolerance for repetitive tasks.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with processing, describing, digitizing, and preserving photographs in archival collections.
• Familiarity with professional archival and special collections library procedures, including collections handling, preservation, and security.
• Familiarity with using Archives Space for archival collection management.
• Knowledge of archival standards and systems including DACS, RDA and Dublin Core.
• Knowledge of historical research methods, especially the use of archives.
• Knowledge of photographic format types.
• Knowledge of Oregon, Pacific Northwest or U.S. history.

Bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.) or equivalent in history or related subject from a four-year college or university; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Progress toward a master’s degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS) or related field strongly preferred.

At least 1 year of experience working in a research library or archival setting.

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