Manuscripts Cataloger

Announced August 2, 2006

 

The Organization

Chartered by the Georgia General Assembly in 1839, the Georgia Historical Society is a private, non-profit organization that serves as the historical society for the state of Georgia .    GHS is the oldest cultural institution in Georgia and one of the oldest state historical societies in the nation. For over 167 years, GHS has fulfilled its mission to collect, preserve, and share Georgia 's history by presenting a variety of educational programs, authoring publications on Georgia and southern history, and by operating a library and archives at its statewide headquarters in Savannah .

 

The foundation of the Georgia Historical Society is our library and archives, which hold an unparalleled collection of material related to Georgia history.  Within the library and archives is preserved the oldest collection of materials related to Georgia history anywhere in the country, including over 4 million manuscripts, 90,000 photographs, 24,000 architectural drawings, 15,000 rare books, and thousands of maps, portraits, and artifacts.  Each year, these materials draw thousands from around the world to Hodgson Hall, built in 1875 and designed by American Institute of Architects founder Detlief Lienau.  GHS?s vast collection includes such treasures as an original draft of the U.S. Constitution, one of only seven in existence; a compass and snuff box belonging to Georgia founder James Oglethorpe; records related to the Cherokee Removal of 1836; personal possessions of Confederate Generals Lafayette McLaws, James Longstreet, and John B. Gordon; and the papers of Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low.

 

Position Summary

Working independently and on a self-initiated basis, the Manuscripts Cataloger is responsible for updating legacy finding aids and cataloging manuscript collections within the collection of the Georgia Historical Society.  This is a full-time, two-year, IMLS grant-funded position.  The Manuscripts Cataloger is a Monday-Friday employee.

 

Specific Responsibilities

The statements below describe the scope of responsibilities and essential job duties of this position, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Incumbent may perform other duties as assigned.

 

*                  Responsible for updating legacy finding aids within the collection of the Georgia Historical Society.  This includes converting legacy finding aids to an electronic format; using a DACS compliant finding aid template; and creating subject headings using Library of Congress subject headings.

 

*                 Catalog backlog of processed manuscript collections using MARC 21, DACS, and Library of Congress subject headings.   

 

*                  Work with the Special Collections Librarian, the Senior Archivist, and Library Assistant and under the supervision of the Director of Library and Archives in integrating the cataloging module of an ILS into the functions of the Library and Archives Division.

 

Supervisory responsibilities

none

 

Experience/Skills Required

Knowledge, skills and abilities:          Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a part of a team, to organize and prioritize work and act with initiative and good judgment.  Must be a self-starter with flexibility and a willingness to get the job done.  Excellent writing, editing, and proofing skills, along with excellent problem solving, interpersonal, and communication skills.  Must be able to work well under pressure and with attention to detail.  Must represent the Society in a professional manner and be able to work well with diverse groups of people including patrons, board members, donors, volunteers, and staff.

 

Education:     ALA-accredited Masters of Library Science with a concentration in cataloging or a bachelors degree and 2 years of original cataloging experience in a technical services department of a public, academic, or special library or archival repository.

 

Required Experience:  Minimum of four years professional experience in library/archival repository; demonstrated knowledge of cataloging standards including MARC 21 , AACR2r, and Library of Congress;  demonstrated use of creating/updating records in OCLC; familiarity with integrated library systems.

 

Preferred Experience:            Familiarity with primary source material cataloging; archival processing and finding aids; Describing Archives: A Content Standard; and other cataloging tools such as the Art and Architecture Thesaurus.

 

Salary and Benefits

Competitive annual full-time salary.  The Society offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, dental, and disability insurance; paid holidays, and vacation.

 

To Apply

Send cover letter, resume, and confidential salary history to:

 

Manuscripts Cataloger Search

Georgia Historical Society

501 Whitaker Street

Savannah , GA 31401

Fax: (912) 651-2831

Email: [log in to unmask]