Media Preservation Residency Librarian, Librarian I Fixed Term

Description

The Michigan State University Libraries invites early career professionals to apply for our Residency in Media Preservation.  This is a two-year project funded by the National Historical Preservation and Records Commission, and supports the work of the Media Preservation Unit in its effort to preserve the WKAR early television films within the University Archives and Historical Collections. The Film Preservation and Digitization Specialist reports to the Media Preservation Librarian. This is a unique experience for a new professional to develop film preservation skills and work directly with film collections. Work will be performed onsite at the Michigan State University Main Library within the Media Preservation Unit.

The Media Preservation Unit (MPU) sustains the life and usefulness of legacy audiovisual content and born digital content collected by the Libraries and supports continued access to these unique and valuable works of intellectual and historical significance. The Media Preservation Unit provides consultation and, where appropriate, conservation treatment and reformatting/digitization services to the Libraries’ collecting units.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Conduct inspections and condition assessments of film.
• Perform item-level inventories of audiovisual collections.
• Describe films according to established workflows, with particular attention to authority control when applicable. 
• Repair and rehouse film.
• Digitize film according to the standards of the MPU
• Refine quality control workflows and procedures on in-house digitized files.

We welcome candidates who meet the minimum requirements to apply and will support their professional development to grow in this position.

The librarian will work to advance the initiatives in the MSU Strategic Plan and in the MSU Libraries Strategic Plan. In support of these initiatives, the Libraries serve as a center of activity and engagement on campus, with librarians empowered to support both student development and transformative research activities.

 The MSU Libraries Strategic Plan guides our current and future work. The candidate will partner with our diverse campus to grow our welcoming multicultural environment. More information on MSU and the MSU Libraries’ dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion is available at: http://www.inclusion.msu.edu/about/index.html.

 Michigan State University Libraries serve more than 4,900 faculty, 40,000 undergraduates, and 11,000 graduate and professional students on a park-like campus of over 5,000 acres. 

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in information or library science from a program accredited by the American Library Association or an equivalent accreditation from an international institution.
• Strong attention to detail for sustained periods of time.
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and an intention to work in and foster a collaborative, respectful culture.
• Capacity and commitment to engage independently in continuing professional development.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to learn software and technology efficiently and adeptly.

Desired Qualifications

• Interest in audiovisual preservation.
• Competency in a scripting language such as Python.
• Knowledge of film preservation best practices and current trends.
• Knowledge of preservation theory and practice.
• Experience working in an academic library and/or archive. Internship or other hands-on experience with archival collections strongly preferred.