Archives Technician

We are seeking a detail-oriented and motivated Archives Technician to support an archival digitization project focused on the preservation and digital access of historical materials. The technician will be responsible for physical preparation and rehousing of archival items, metadata creation and quality control, and coordination with the imaging technician to ensure materials are digitized efficiently and accurately. Knowledge of music scores and related documentation is preferred.

This is a hands-on position requiring familiarity with archival handling, an eye for detail, and comfort working with databases and digital workflows.

Key Responsibilities:

• Material Preparation & Handling
• Review, organize, and prepare archival materials for digitization following best practices.
• Perform basic conservation tasks such as removing fasteners, flattening documents, and interleaving fragile items.
• Ensure items are appropriately labeled and tracked throughout the imaging process.
• Rehousing & Physical Processing
• Rehouse materials using archival-quality folders, boxes, and enclosures.
• Maintain original order and document any changes made during rehousing.
• Update box and folder inventories as necessary.
• Metadata Entry & Quality Control
• Create descriptive, administrative, and technical metadata according to institutional standards (e.g., Dublin Core, EAD, MARC).
• Use spreadsheets, databases, or content management systems to input and maintain accurate metadata.
• Conduct quality control of metadata entries and digital files for completeness, consistency, and accuracy.
• Digitization Workflow Support
• Coordinate with imaging technician to ensure timely and safe transfer of materials.
• Track item status using project management tools or tracking sheets.
• Report any anomalies, damages, or discrepancies discovered during processing.
• Upload of digitized assets to client DAM system.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Library Science, Archival Studies, or related field.
• 1–2 years of experience in an archival, library, or museum setting, preferably with digitization projects.
• Familiarity with archival processing, metadata standards (Dublin Core, MARC, etc.), and preservation techniques.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to follow complex workflows.
• Comfortable using spreadsheets (Excel, Google Sheets), content management systems, and digitization tracking tools.
• Ability to lift boxes up to 40 lbs and handle fragile materials with care.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with digital asset management systems or tools.
• Knowledge of imaging standards and file formats (TIFF, JPEG, PDF/A, etc.).
• Understanding of controlled vocabularies and authority control.