Position Announcement

Audiovisual Archivist

University of Houston Libraries

Responsibilities:  Reporting to the Coordinator of Digital Projects within the Special Collections department, the successful candidate will work closely with Special Collections librarians and archivists to manage the preservation, acquisition, and use of the department’s audiovisual collections and related digital materials and make recommendations for their description and arrangement.  Responsibilities will include: creating and implementing policies and procedures for handling these materials; ensuring they are managed and described according to best practices; working collaboratively with other departments to recommend and oversee equipment, vendors, and technologies as needed; researching copyright issues related to these materials; writing grants to further describe, preserve, and provide access to AV collections; and keeping current with pertinent trends, innovations, and best practices.

The Audiovisual Archivist is a librarian position.  Librarians hold academic ranks pursuant to the University of Houston Librarians’ Governance document.  They are expected to develop a record of service and professional involvement. The Libraries support the ongoing professional development of librarians and our goal is to recruit librarians committed to continuous learning.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited library program;
• Relevant professional experience which included the handling and preservation of audiovisual materials in multiple formats;
• Familiarity with best practices for describing audiovisual and digital materials that support access and use
• Ability to work effectively, independently, and collaboratively in a collegial environment
• Excellent oral, interpersonal, and written communication skills
• Must be able to safely lift and carry 40 lbs.

Preferred:

• Knowledge of copyright issues related to archival materials
• Experience with software for accessioning and preserving archival materials
• Experience with audio and video editing software and hardware
• Experience in writing and implementing grants

Salary:  $60,000 to $62,000 anticipated hiring range, depending on qualifications.  Comprehensive benefits package; choice of retirement programs including TIAA-CREF; tax-deferred annuity program available; release time to take a class up to 3 hours/week; no state or local income tax.

Library Information:  Special Collections was founded in 1968 and serves as the main teaching and research center for primary sources at the University of Houston. Special Collections holds over 7,000 linear feet of archival collections, approximately 105,000 rare books, and over 2,000 periodicals and 1,100 historical maps.  Collection strengths include Architecture and Planning; Contemporary Literature; Energy (oil and gas); Environmental Houston; Ethnic Houston; Hispanic Collections; Houston and Texas History; Houston Hip Hop; Performing Arts; University Archives; USS Houston and Military History; and the Shuart Women’s Archive and Research Collection, as well as rare books from medieval manuscripts to modern artists’ books.  Special Collections has active instruction and outreach programs and collaborates with other library departments in developing and presenting a growing collection of unique digitized materials (http://digital.lib.uh.edu/).

The UH Libraries are a member of the Association of Research Libraries, the Greater Western Library Alliance, the Hathi Trust, the Council on Library and Information Resources, the Digital Library Federation, and the Texas Digital Library.  The campus libraries provide access to over 3.1 million volumes.  Total staff includes 69 professionals and approximately 135 support staff.  Additional information about the University Libraries is available at: http://info.lib.uh.edu.

The UH Libraries’ Strategic Directions document focuses on targeting services to specific user groups, reimagining library spaces, promoting outreach, and increasing national recognition.  Further information and the complete document are available at: http://info.lib.uh.edu/about/strategic-directions .  The Strategic Directions support an ambitious set of goals adopted by the University and further the drive for flagship status (http://www.uh.edu/about/initiatives/).  We seek to recruit librarians who can relate their work to these strategies and understand their role in advancing these strategic imperatives.

General Information:  The University of Houston campus comprises 13 colleges and schools offering close to 80 degree programs with an enrollment exceeding 40,000 students, 7,200 of whom are enrolled in graduate studies.  Reflecting the multicultural community of metropolitan Houston, UH is one of the most ethnically diverse research university campuses in the nation. 

Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States, offers all the cultural and recreational opportunities of a great city and is within easy reach of the Gulf of Mexico.  It enjoys a very reasonable cost of living and was selected by Forbes as topping the list of America’s coolest cities (http://www.forbes.com/sites/morganbrennan/2012/07/26/houston-tops-our-li...).

For additional information, including information about Houston's flourishing arts scene and entertainment offerings, please see:  http://Visithoustontexas.com/.  For information about housing and living in Houston see:  http://www.houston.org/

living/index.html.

Application Deadline:  Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.  Applications should be submitted at:  http://jobs.uh.edu/postings/23423

Please also visit the University of Houston Libraries Employment page for more information:   http://info.lib.uh.edu/about/employment

Potential applicants seeking further information should contact John Lehner, Associate Dean for Personnel, Planning, and Systems, at 713-743-9801 or jlehner@uh.edu .

THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER. MINORITIES, WOMEN, VETERANS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.

http://info.lib.uh.edu/about/employment/audiovisual-archivist