Archivist at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee

Job Description:

Under the administrative direction of the Library Executive Director, the Meharry Medical College Library and Archives is seeking an energetic archivist to assemble, preserve, catalogue and manage Meharry Medical College and Hubbard Hospital historical information. The main duties include creating descriptions and organization guidelines for each collection piece and updating and maintaining an archival database.



Daily Operations



• Develop and implement policies and procedures related to the acquisition, arrangement, description, processing and preservation of archival materials;
• ensure the integrity and protection of records essential to the documentation of the University's development and function.
• Acquire and preserve official University publications; collect archival material from non-official sources, such as private papers of faculty or staff members, student publications and records of student organizations and activities, and papers and memorabilia from alumni.
• Establish criteria for the appraisal of records; analyze documents to appraise their value to posterity or to MMC; appraise and edit permanent records and historically valuable documents; select and edit documents for publication and display according to knowledge of subject.
• Collaborate with the institutions Archives on standards, procedures, and policies whenever feasible.
• Prepare or direct the preparation of document descriptions and reference aids for use of archives such as accession lists, indexes, guides, bibliographies, abstracts and microfilmed copies of documents; direct the filing and cross-indexing of selected documents in alphabetical and chronological order.
• Supervise the transfer of institutional records to the archives and the destruction or transfer of materials not suitable for preservation in the archives.
• Advise outside agencies, scholars, journalists, and others concerning the history of the institution; establish policies related to access to confidential materials.
• Determine fiscal requirements and prepare budgetary recommendations.
• Direct various personnel actions including, but not limited to, hiring, performance appraisal, promotions, transfers and vacation schedules.
• Work with institutional leadership concerning digital records.
• Establish an on-going oral history program.
• Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.
• Engages in outreach activities promoting the Library, University Archives, and Special Collections
• Provides reference assistance to interested parties regarding the Meharry Archives, Special Collections materials


Required Skills



• Knowledge of records management principles and practices
• Knowledge of digital archival practices
• Knowledge of the technologies and automation techniques
• Skills in EAD, Dublin Core and other structure standards relevant to the archival control of digital collections
• Skills in use of desktop publishing applications, such as MS Excel, Publisher, Word, and other routinely used software
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to work independently



Required Education and Experience



• Bachelor's degree from an ALA accredited program for library and information science and/or Bachelor's degree in history or related topic required.
• Master's degree from an ALA accredited program for library and information science and/or Master's degree in history or related topic preferred.
• Experience required with proven office administration and customer service skills.