Archivist (Specialist III) - Temporary

The New York Public Library seeks a dynamic individual to enhance the use of its world class archival holdings at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and to serve as a resource and facilitator for public service access.

Founded in 1925 and named a National Historic Landmark in 2017, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions devoted to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of materials focused on African American, African, and African Diaspora experiences, featuring diverse programming and a collection of over 11 million items that illuminates the richness of global Black history and culture. A research library of The New York Public Library and seeded by the collection of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg nearly a century ago, the Schomburg Center provides free access to materials documenting Black life locally, nationally, and internationally.

The Archivist’s primary responsibility is to arrange and describe archival collections held in the Schomburg Center’s Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books (MARB) Division, including the Institute of the Black World records and the Miriam Jimenez Roman papers among others. For more on the MARB Division, see https://www.nypl.org/locations/schomburg/manuscripts-archives-and-rare-books-division.

The arrangement and description of the collections will be supervised by Schomburg's Curator of the Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books Division. The New York Public Library’s Archival Processing Unit will oversee the training and implementation of the Library’s centralized processing protocols and systems.

This is a 20-month temporary position funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for a grant titled “The Next Century of Black Studies''. The work of this grant will contribute immensely to the Schomburg Center’s centennial celebration in 2025 - 2026.

Responsibilities Reporting to the Curator, Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books, the Archivist will:

• Arrange and describe archival collections of personal papers and organizational records, perform rehousing and other basic preservation needs, and prepare finding aids in accordance with local and national standards.
• Perform original cataloging for special collections in a variety of formats in accordance with local and national standards.
• Participate in associated grant-related activities, including participation in The Future of Black Studies conference.
• Provide reference and public services support for collections processed through the grant.
• Perform related duties as required.

Required Education, Experience & Skills

Required Education & Certifications

• ALA-accredited Master’s degree in library, archival or information studies or Master’s degree in liberal arts or humanities and successful completion of archival training. 
• Subject area expertise or educational background in any of the following: African American History/Studies/Literature, Africana Studies, or cultural studies.

Required Experience 2+ years of experience in an archives or manuscripts repository creating descriptive records for archival collections (finding aids and catalog records) Required Skills

• A strong background in archival theory and practice, especially regarding arrangement and description, as well as a familiarity with current approaches to born-digital materials.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current standards for archival description (APPM, DACS, LC subject headings, authority control, and MARC 21).
• Demonstrated experience in original and copy cataloging.
• Experience in EAD markup.
• Experience using ArchivesSpace or Archivists' Toolkit.
• Working knowledge of historical research methodology and experience with standard bibliographic tools.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Successfully demonstrated initiative, accuracy, attention to detail, judgment, analytic and organizations.
• Ability to work well independently and collaboratively in a production-oriented, team environment.

Managerial/Supervisory Responsibilities

N/A

More...

Core Values All team members are expected and encouraged to embody the NYPL Core Values:

• Be Helpful to patrons and colleagues
• Be Resourceful in solving problems 
• Be Curious in all aspects of your work
• Be Welcoming and Inclusive

Work Environment

• Core work will take place in the Schomburg Center but occasional travel within NYC may be necessary
• Office setting
• Public service library

Physical Duties

• Daily use of a computer

Pre-Placement Physical Required? No

Union/Non Union Local 1930

FLSA Status Non-Exempt

Schedule

35 hours to be scheduled Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm.

This job description represents the types and levels of responsibilities that will be required of the position and shall not be construed as a declaration of all of the specific duties and responsibilities for the role. Job duties may change if Library priorities change. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description as needed.

The New York Public Library Salary Statement At the Library, we believe that pay transparency and pay equity are important to ensuring we source the best candidates and keep the best employees. When making a determination as to the appropriate salary for a candidate, we consider a variety of factors such, including, but not limited to, the position requirements, the skills, prior experience, and educational background required or preferred for the job, the scope and impact of the role within the organization, internal peer equity, and the candidate's specific training, experience, education level, and skills. No single factor is conclusive; the Library reserves the right to consider any and all relevant factors and make a decision consistent with its policies.

Union Salaries are determined by collective bargaining agreement(s).

About The New York Public Library

The New York Public Library is a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With 92 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars, and has seen record numbers of attendance and circulation in recent years. The New York Public Library serves more than 18 million patrons who come through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org. 

LocationSchomburg Center - 515 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10037

Compensation

$77,622 yearly

Application URL or Email

Apply online here