What are the responsibilities and job description for the Digitization Librarian (Librarian I) position at City of Norfolk, VA?
Description
The Digitization Librarian is responsible for digitizing and cataloging archival materials—including documents, images, and other historically significant items—to help preserve the region’s history for future generations. While this role involves direct work with historical materials, the librarian’s primary focus is a combination of assisting patrons with their research requests.
Whether stationed at the service desk or working behind the scenes, the librarian plays a crucial role in connecting patrons with the information they seek from the collection. When not directly assisting patrons, the librarian dedicates time to digitizing and cataloging archival holdings, ensuring they are accessible and properly described. The librarian also assists with rehousing digitized materials, ensuring they are stored using industry-standard containers and preservation methods.
The Typical Distribution Of Work Time Is As Follows
Today, the SMC houses a diverse array of materials, including over 26,000 cataloged books, approximately 2,500 linear feet of special collections, and archival city records spanning from the early 1700s to the early 2000s. Each year, SMC staff respond to nearly 700 research requests from across the country and around the world.
Since 2005, the SMC has undertaken a digitization initiative to selectively preserve items from its holdings. Currently, the collection includes approximately 16,000 digital items in its online digital asset management system and around 10 terabytes of digitized content. The SMC is equipped with several professional flatbed scanners and a large-format scanner capable of handling materials up to 40x60 inches in a single pass.
Notable collections include the Virginian-Pilot newspaper photograph morgue (mid-1920s to 2000), the Photo Craftsman Photograph Collection, the Guaranty Title and Trust Company records, the Norfolk Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority records, and the papers of William Conway Whittle, Jr.
Essential Functions
Essential functions include but are not limited to:
Work requires specialized knowledge in a professional or technical field. Work requires professional level of knowledge of a discipline which is acquired in a Masters degree in Library Science from an ALA accredited university.
One year of professional experience in library services or related field.
The Preferred Candidate Will Possess
If you are hired January 1, 2022, or after to a position with Virginia Retirement System (VRS) benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.
The benefits described above are broad generalizations. The specific benefits that an employee may be eligible for are governed by City regulations, as applicable to job type.
Non-City
Positions listed with a job type designation of "Non-City" are not subject to the benefits descriptions above. Refer to the content of the job posting for information regarding these positions.
01
The following Supplemental Questions are specific to the position for which you have applied to assist the hiring manager in screening applications for specific experience being sought. Please be specific in answering these questions as they will be used to evaluate which applications will be given further consideration in the process. Do not answer "see resume" or "see application" as these are not valid answers. Please note that if you are invited to be interviewed by the department, your responses to the following questions may be subject to verification.
Are you a current or previous City of Norfolk employee?
If you were referred for this position by a current City of Norfolk employee, please provide the employee's full name, department, and job title, and your relationship to the employee. If not, please indicate by typing "N/A."
04
Please provide an explanation of any periods of unemployment that are 30 days or longer. Indicate N/A if you have not experienced any periods of unemployment.
05
Please select the highest level of education you have completed.
Do you possess a Master’s degree in Library Science from an ALA-accredited university?
Do you currently possess a State of Virginia Professional Librarian Certification?
Do you have any additional certificate(s) from archival standard entities? If you do not have any additional certificates, please type N/A. (Examples: Society of American Archivists’ (SAA) Arrangement & Description (A&D) Certificate, SAA Digital Archives Specialist (DAS) Certificate; and/or Academy of Certified Archivists’ Certified Archivist)
09
How many years of professional experience in library services or related fields do you have?
Please briefly describe your library and/or archival experience. If you do not have any library and/or archival experience, indicate N/A.
11
This position requires a proficient level of computer skills. Please select the response that best describes your computer skill level, including using Microsoft Office.
This position requires a proficient level in using scanners for digitizing archival materials. Please select the response that best describes your level of using scanners.
How many years of professional experience do you have in special collections, archives, or library services?
What archival software (ex. collection management and digital asset management systems) do you have experience using in former professional settings? If none, type N/A.
15
Do you have experience in processing archival materials, including accessioning, arranging, describing, and rehousing materials?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly influencing the fields of digitization and cataloging, from automated metadata generation to image recognition and text transcription. Up to three paragraphs in total, please describe your perspective on how AI is currently impacting—or could impact—the digitization and cataloging of materials such as photographs, archival materials, and books. If applicable, include any experience you have using AI tools in your work.
17
Do you have experience supervising subordinates (including volunteers) and working in a team environment?
The expected hiring salary range for this position is $ 46,589 to $ 53,577. Are you willing to accept a salary within this range?
Please indicate your veteran status. (A copy of your long form DD-214 may be required)
The Digitization Librarian is responsible for digitizing and cataloging archival materials—including documents, images, and other historically significant items—to help preserve the region’s history for future generations. While this role involves direct work with historical materials, the librarian’s primary focus is a combination of assisting patrons with their research requests.
Whether stationed at the service desk or working behind the scenes, the librarian plays a crucial role in connecting patrons with the information they seek from the collection. When not directly assisting patrons, the librarian dedicates time to digitizing and cataloging archival holdings, ensuring they are accessible and properly described. The librarian also assists with rehousing digitized materials, ensuring they are stored using industry-standard containers and preservation methods.
The Typical Distribution Of Work Time Is As Follows
- 50% Research support and patron assistance
- 45% Digitization and cataloging
- 5% Programming, training, and other duties
Today, the SMC houses a diverse array of materials, including over 26,000 cataloged books, approximately 2,500 linear feet of special collections, and archival city records spanning from the early 1700s to the early 2000s. Each year, SMC staff respond to nearly 700 research requests from across the country and around the world.
Since 2005, the SMC has undertaken a digitization initiative to selectively preserve items from its holdings. Currently, the collection includes approximately 16,000 digital items in its online digital asset management system and around 10 terabytes of digitized content. The SMC is equipped with several professional flatbed scanners and a large-format scanner capable of handling materials up to 40x60 inches in a single pass.
Notable collections include the Virginian-Pilot newspaper photograph morgue (mid-1920s to 2000), the Photo Craftsman Photograph Collection, the Guaranty Title and Trust Company records, the Norfolk Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority records, and the papers of William Conway Whittle, Jr.
Essential Functions
Essential functions include but are not limited to:
- Professional knowledge of research, public history, and library services to be able to perform reference functions after appropriate training in software, NPL policies and procedures in accordance with the ALA Library Bill of Rights, Freedom to Read statement, the SAA Core Values of Archivists, and the Code of Ethics for Archivists.
- Conducts historical and genealogical research for patrons.
- Coordinates and oversees digitization for legacy and newly acquired collections, including assessing, digitizing, cataloging, and rehousing.
- Creates automated finding aids and catalogs collections into collection management and digital asset management system.
- Acts as manager on duty when the department supervisor is not available. Duties include providing reference services, resolving patron problems, overseeing staff projects, acting as the main contact for facility maintenance and security, and occasionally working evenings or weekends.
- Performs donor relations, collection development, and program management duties as part of an archives team.
- Participates in programming including planning, scheduling, execution, and evaluation.
- Conducts outreach activities including consulting with outside entities as it relates to best practices in archiving and arranging records.
- Assist in generating reports on various usage of the collection and departmental activities.
- Evaluate different parts of the collection to assess usage, recommend purchases, and deaccession archival materials as necessary.
- Trains new staff in archival processing, digitization, and public service duties and functions.
Work requires specialized knowledge in a professional or technical field. Work requires professional level of knowledge of a discipline which is acquired in a Masters degree in Library Science from an ALA accredited university.
One year of professional experience in library services or related field.
The Preferred Candidate Will Possess
- Minimum of one-year experience in historical research, genealogical research, special collections, archival studies, and/or library services.
- Coursework in archival studies.
- Demonstratable digitization experience.
- State of Virginia Professional Librarian Certification within six months of employment.
- Valid Driver's license
- Regular full-time and permanent part-time employees may receive paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, employer paid pension plan, basic life insurance, voluntary participation in medical and dental, Section 457 deferred compensation, long-term disability, optional life insurance for self, spouse and children, medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, access to membership in credit union and employer provided parking.
- Special project/grant employees are generally eligible for the same benefits of regular full-time employees; however, retirement, life insurance and participation in health plans vary depending upon funding and authorization.
- Temporary/seasonal and part-time employees are generally only eligible for employer provided parking and access to membership in credit union.
- Retirement
If you are hired January 1, 2022, or after to a position with Virginia Retirement System (VRS) benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.
- The Tuition Assistance Program is established to encourage employees toward continued self-development and education. Permanent full-time and permanent part-time classified, unclassified permanent, full-time special projects, and constitutional employees who have completed six months continuous service will be eligible to apply. The applicant’s school of enrollment must be an accredited institution.
The benefits described above are broad generalizations. The specific benefits that an employee may be eligible for are governed by City regulations, as applicable to job type.
Non-City
Positions listed with a job type designation of "Non-City" are not subject to the benefits descriptions above. Refer to the content of the job posting for information regarding these positions.
01
The following Supplemental Questions are specific to the position for which you have applied to assist the hiring manager in screening applications for specific experience being sought. Please be specific in answering these questions as they will be used to evaluate which applications will be given further consideration in the process. Do not answer "see resume" or "see application" as these are not valid answers. Please note that if you are invited to be interviewed by the department, your responses to the following questions may be subject to verification.
- I understand and will answer the following supplemental questions completely and thoroughly.
Are you a current or previous City of Norfolk employee?
- Yes - I am a current City of Norfolk Employee
- Yes - I am a previous City of Norfolk Employee
- No - I am not a previous or current City of Norfolk employee
If you were referred for this position by a current City of Norfolk employee, please provide the employee's full name, department, and job title, and your relationship to the employee. If not, please indicate by typing "N/A."
04
Please provide an explanation of any periods of unemployment that are 30 days or longer. Indicate N/A if you have not experienced any periods of unemployment.
05
Please select the highest level of education you have completed.
- High School Diploma/GED
- Some College (6 months or more)
- Vocational/Technical Degree
- Associate's Degree
- Bachelor's Degree
- Master's Degree or higher
Do you possess a Master’s degree in Library Science from an ALA-accredited university?
- Yes
- No
Do you currently possess a State of Virginia Professional Librarian Certification?
- Yes
- No
Do you have any additional certificate(s) from archival standard entities? If you do not have any additional certificates, please type N/A. (Examples: Society of American Archivists’ (SAA) Arrangement & Description (A&D) Certificate, SAA Digital Archives Specialist (DAS) Certificate; and/or Academy of Certified Archivists’ Certified Archivist)
09
How many years of professional experience in library services or related fields do you have?
- No experience
- Less than 1 year
- 1-2 years
- 2-4 years
- More than 4 years
Please briefly describe your library and/or archival experience. If you do not have any library and/or archival experience, indicate N/A.
11
This position requires a proficient level of computer skills. Please select the response that best describes your computer skill level, including using Microsoft Office.
- I have no experience
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
This position requires a proficient level in using scanners for digitizing archival materials. Please select the response that best describes your level of using scanners.
- I have no experience
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
How many years of professional experience do you have in special collections, archives, or library services?
- No experience
- Less than a year
- 1-2 years
- 2-4 years
- More than 4 years
What archival software (ex. collection management and digital asset management systems) do you have experience using in former professional settings? If none, type N/A.
15
Do you have experience in processing archival materials, including accessioning, arranging, describing, and rehousing materials?
- Yes
- No
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly influencing the fields of digitization and cataloging, from automated metadata generation to image recognition and text transcription. Up to three paragraphs in total, please describe your perspective on how AI is currently impacting—or could impact—the digitization and cataloging of materials such as photographs, archival materials, and books. If applicable, include any experience you have using AI tools in your work.
17
Do you have experience supervising subordinates (including volunteers) and working in a team environment?
- Yes
- No
The expected hiring salary range for this position is $ 46,589 to $ 53,577. Are you willing to accept a salary within this range?
- Yes
- No
Please indicate your veteran status. (A copy of your long form DD-214 may be required)
- I am not a Veteran
- I am a Veteran
- I am a Disabled Veteran
- Required Question
Salary : $46,589 - $53,577
