Following announcement is posted at request of the New York State Archives.

Moderator, NYHIST-L


New York State Archives
Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY 12230
518-474-6926   Fax 518-473-9987  www.archives.nysed.gov

Description Specialist (Two-year, grant funded position)

The New York State Archives, located in Albany, New York, is seeking applications for a two-year, grant funded position of Description Specialist. This is a full-time position and the rate of pay is $16.70 per hour.  The Description Specialist will perform tasks related to preparing and/or refining descriptive tools for the Virtual Research Collection on New York's Environmental History and will assist with the review and monitoring of Documentary Heritage Program grant applications and projects.
Specific tasks:

1. Visit each partner institution (Ulster and Warren counties, the Adirondack Museum, Cornell University, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (Syracuse), and the New York State Library) to review arrangement and description of selected collections, quality of existing finding aids, and selection of material for digitizing;

2. Create or update MARC records;

3. Develop or refine existing finding aids and prepare them for EAD-encoding;

4. Work with partner institutions to develop and populate a database for digitized images;

5. Participate in the development of guidelines, criteria, and best practice models related to the virtual research collection;

6. Supervise the grant-funded assistant; and

7. Assist with the review and monitoring of Documentary Heritage Program grants applications and projects.

Qualifications:

1.Masters degree (or degree expected by June 2004) in history, government, business or public administration, political science, American studies, library science, information science or archival administration;

2. Two years of archival experience required in which the preponderance of duties involve acquiring, controlling, preserving, making available, or promoting the use of archival records;

3.Demonstrated writing, organizational, and public speaking skills;

4.Familiarity with MARC and EAD encoding; and

5.Ability to travel throughout the State.

Qualified applicants should send a resume and letter of interest by April 15, 2004 to:

Prudence Backman or Maria Holden
New York State Archives
Room 9D46, Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230
Phone- (518) 474-6926           Fax- (518) 473-9987
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