Job Posting: Collections Manager and Registrar, Tenement Museum

Position Description

The Tenement Museum seeks a Collections Manager & Registrar, who will be responsible for the day-to-day oversight and preservation of the Museum’s Collections, which include its historic structures and archive. Responsibilities include accessioning, processing incoming/outgoing loans, maintaining collections data systems, exhibition management, preventative conservation care, archives and records management, and emergency response and recovery. The Collections Manager supervises the work of consultants and interns, and works closely with the Museum’s Education Department and Facilities Department. This position reports to the Director of Curatorial Affairs.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Manage the conservation program for 97 Orchard Street, overseeing monthly building monitoring and identifying conservation priorities
  • Supervise access to the collections and archives, respond to public inquiries regarding the collections, and arrange loans to other cultural institutions.
  • Maintain an accessible online photo database; provide access to images and updates image database records accordingly.
  • Monitor environmental conditions in the museum and its collections, interpret data from environmental monitoring equipment and determine corrective action.
  • Collaborate with the Education Department to identify and assemble materials for use in programs and tours.
  • Collaborate with the Director of Curatorial Affairs on collections development and matters related to research on collections items and the museum’s historic properties.
  • Contribute to exhibition planning and installation.
  • Conduct tours of the Museum for the general public.

QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates should hold a Masters Degree in Library Science, History, Anthropology, Historic Preservation or related field and have at least 2 years experience. Candidate should be detail oriented, possess strong oral and written communication skills, and have a working knowledge of PastPerfect Museum Software.

SALARY

Commensurate with experience. Complete benefits package.

Please send cover letter and resume to dfavaloro@tenement.orgNo phone calls, please.

Deadline to apply: July 15, 2011.


Job Posting: Records Manager at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is seeking an experienced Records Manager to administer the institutional records management policy and to serve on project team addressing preservation of electronic records. To apply see:

http://www.mfah.org/about/careers/

Responsibilities:

- Serve on project team researching the implementation of an institutional electronic records archive under a grant funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission
- Assist in applying existing retention schedules to institutional electronic records
- Appraise and propose retention schedules for currently unscheduled records in electronic and paper form
- Research regulatory, statutory and industry requirements
- Revise existing retention schedules as necessary for standardization
- Oversee semi-annual records destructions, off-site storage arrangements and accessioning of records
- Perform record audits and oversee compliance with existing records management program
- Provide semi-monthly orientation sessions for staff
- Assist the Archives Department with imaging projects and research requests

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:


- Thorough knowledge of records management and archival management principles and methodologies required
- Knowledge of electronic records archival systems and OAIS reference model required
- Familiarity with e-mail preservation projects preferred
- Awareness of emerging technologies for electronic search and discovery preferred
- Knowledge of MARC21, EAD, DACS, and current metadata standards used in museums, such as VRACore, CDWA, CCO and Getty vocabularies preferred
- Familiarity with MSSharepoint and MS Access preferred
- Excellent communication and organizational skills
- Ability to work independently, climb ladders and lift up to thirty-five pounds
- Knowledge of art history desirable

Education and Experience:

- Masters in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited program required
- Coursework in records management and 1-3 years records management experience required
- Bachelors degree in computer science or business preferred
- Background in law librarianship or experience with Westlaw preferred
- Experience with enterprise archive software highly desirable
- CRM highly desirable
- Experience in museum setting desirable

transforming libraries

The latest issue of Library Journal featured an article about Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm’s proposal to eliminate the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries. This would involve transferring most Library of Michigan functions to the Department of Education, abolishing the position of State Librarian, and downgrading library services, such as circulation and interlibrary loan – all in the hopes of saving a few million dollars.

Currently, I work at an academic library and budget concerns have been the main topic of conversation and meeting agendas for nearly a year. Last month, we began planning a major restructuring of the university libraries in response to our provost’s charge to create innovative resources and services that will transform and position the library as the center of the university. So far, we’ve brainstormed some interesting ideas that we hope to begin implementing in the near future.

I’m curious to hear about the challenges and opportunities facing other librarians with regard to budgets. How are the libraries you are associated with dealing with the pressure to justify operating costs and emphasize the importance of library resources and services in a climate that, at times, seems eager to view libraries as an unnecessary luxury?


10 Questions to ask your new employees…

There’s a great post on Library Garden that lists 10 questions that managers should ask new hires.  I love the spirit of this post, because it suggests that managers should be open to the fresh perspective of a new employee, and should take his/her observations as an opportunity for improvement.  I imagine that if my employer asked me these questions, I’d also immediately feel as if my opinions were important to the organization.  What a great way to feel welcomed!

Just something for all of us students/young professionals to mull over…


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