Film Archiving Technician

Description

LAC Federal is seeking Part-time and Full-time Film Archiving Technicians to support a large-scale motion picture archival processing and preservation initiative.

The Film Archiving Technician will work collaboratively with the Film Archivist and project team to physically process, identify, document, rehouse, and inventory historic motion picture materials while following established archival handling, preservation, metadata, and descriptive standards.

• Physically inspect individual film cans and film elements.
• Identify titles, reel numbers, episodes, fieldwork names, and other available identifying information.
• Identify different film elements, including negatives, answer prints, release prints, work prints, soundtracks, outtakes, trims, and related materials.
• Use a film bench to inspect materials when identifying information is missing or illegible.
• Capture available metadata for each film can using Library-provided inventory spreadsheets and systems.
• Assess and document physical condition.
• Identify potential vinegar syndrome, shrinkage, deterioration, and other preservation concerns.
• Perform basic preservation stabilization and triage.
• Remove materials from inappropriate or deteriorated housing and rehouse them in archival-quality film cans.
• Apply Library-provided barcodes and record barcode numbers accurately in the corresponding inventory.
• Label and organize processed materials.
• Maintain accurate inventories and intellectual control over materials being processed.
• Place completed and inventoried film on designated shelving for subsequent transfer by Library personnel to permanent film-vault storage.
• Follow Library of Congress handling, preservation, metadata, and descriptive standards.
• Maintain accurate production statistics and provide information needed for project reporting and quality control.
• Participate in weekly project meetings and required training.
• Report unusual, unstable, unidentified, or problematic materials to the Film Archivist and appropriate Library personnel.
• Technicians may require use of film benches, video playback equipment, label printers, staging space and shelving.

• Certification from the Academy of Certified Archivists, an ALA-accredited MLIS, or an archival certification program following Society of American Archivists guidelines is preferred
• Familiarity with preservation standards for different material types.
• Two years of experience in archives or in the particular subject matter of the archive.
• Demonstrated experience or expertise handling, inspecting, and identifying motion picture film.
• Knowledge of 16mm and/or 35mm film and common motion picture film elements.
• Ability to distinguish among negatives, prints, work prints, optical/magnetic soundtracks, and other production elements.
• Understanding of basic archival principles and practices.
• Ability to perform detailed inspection and metadata/data-entry work accurately.
• Ability to recognize potential preservation issues and perform basic rehousing and preservation activities.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work effectively with archivists, preservation specialists, catalogers, technicians, and Library personnel.
• At least six months of experience working in a library or archives environment performing similar duties.
• Ability to lift up to 35 pounds.

• Preference given to candidates possessing a certificate or degree in Film Preservation, Moving Image Preservation, archival studies, or a closely related specialized program, or candidates with substantial experience working with motion picture collections in a film archive, library, museum, or archival institution.
• Experience working with ethnographic, educational, sponsored-film, and…