Review of Applications: April 29, 2024
Description
Position Summary
Appointment Term: 3 years, temporary position.
Reporting to the Oral History Coordinator, the Visiting Librarian for Oral History will contribute to the Emory University Libraries’ efforts to expand an oral history program that: complements the institutional history and the libraries’ collections; supports the teaching, learning, and research mission of the University; and serves as a resource for students and faculty in planning and conducting oral history, ethnography, or other long-form qualitative interview projects. The Visiting Librarian for Oral History, in consultation with the Oral History Coordinator, will plan, assess, and garner support for the future of the Emory Oral History Program, emphasizing broad public access, when possible, to all oral histories held at Emory.
The Visiting Librarian for Oral History will oversee and manage the production of new oral histories that will be accessioned into Rose Library collections and assist in assessing and acquiring new collections. The Visiting Librarian for Oral History will contribute to conducting oral histories as part of the Emory Oral History Program, including identifying participants, scheduling, conducting, and/or supervising interviews, and managing digital output. The Visiting Librarian will assess, redesign, and oversee the archival processing workflows for oral history collections and affiliated material, from digital asset creation through access management.
Emory Libraries requires that our employees recognize diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential core values to achieving our mission to enrich the quality of life in an inclusive work environment through competency training, reassurance of personal growth, restorative communication practices, and embrace our diverse identities of patrons within the Emory community.
Essential Responsibilities & Duties
A. Collection Development
1. Oversees the creation of new oral histories within the scope of the Emory Oral History Program’s (EOHP) projects.
2. Schedules, supervises, and/or conducts oral history interviews.
3. Contributes to the development of new thematic/topical oral history projects.
B. Collaboration and Relationship Building
1. Manages and trains student employees in communication, outreach, transcription, interview techniques, and additional oral history skills/practices.
2. Engages the campus community to identify relevant oral history collections for preservation and access.
3. Collaborates with student, faculty, and community researchers on oral history projects through consultations and partnerships.
C. Collection Acquisition and Access Responsibilities
1. Oversees the acquisition and access of oral history interviews created by the EOHP through accessioning and processing workflows as well as acquiring affiliated material.
2. Manages oral histories within the digital archive and maintains administrative and descriptive metadata.
3. Revises and manages oral history collection stewardship processes and workflows.
D. Professional Responsibilities
1. Participates in appropriate professional and scholarly associations and organizations including maintaining membership and/or accreditation; attending meetings, conferences, workshops; and serving in appointed or elected positions.
2. Maintains up-to-date professional knowledge and skills in areas related to primary job assignment as well as maintains general knowledge of current trends in higher education, academic libraries, and information and educational technology.
3. Adheres to guidelines outlined in the Handbook Governing the Librarian series for Faculty-Equivalent Librarians.
4. Participates in library and campus committees as appropriate for service purposes.
See full description on Emory Libraries website…
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- ALA-accredited master’s degree in library and information science or Archival Studies OR equivalent education and experience.
- Knowledge of oral history practice and theory broadly conceived.
- Subject expertise in oral history practice and theory, broadly conceived, and evidence of skills and knowledge of librarianship.
- Ability to build and sustain effective interpersonal relationships with library staff, faculty and students, off campus faculty and administrators, campus administrators, etc.
- Evidence of analytical, organizational, communication, project, and time management skills and demonstrated ability to set priorities, meet deadlines, and complete tasks and projects on time and within budget and in accordance with task/project parameters.
- Demonstrated proficiency and capabilities with personal computers and software, the Web, and library-relevant information technology applications. Working knowledge of standard computer office applications such as Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint or other productivity software.
- Commitment to fostering a diverse educational environment and workplace and an ability to work effectively with a diverse faculty and student population.
- Capacity to thrive in an ambiguous, future-oriented environment of a major research institution and to respond effectively to changing needs and priorities.
- Demonstrated knowledge of current trends and issues in academic libraries, higher education, and relevant subject disciplines.
- Evidence of active participation, involvement, and leadership in local, state, regional, national, or international professional or scholarly associations.
Preferred Qualifications
- 1 year of academic library experience.
- Background in history and historical research methods and theory.
- Experience conducting oral history interviews according to best practices of the field.
- Knowledge of privacy, confidentiality, and ethical considerations in oral history.
- Knowledge of issues relating to archives and manuscript collections in academic institutions.
To learn more about the position and to apply, please click here.
