Librarian III: Archivist Job at City of Detroit in Detroit

General Purpose

Under general supervision, responsible for a specialty library function or service requiring in‑depth knowledge of a specialized subject area, collection, function, or service for the Detroit Public Library (DPL); responsible for day‑to‑day administration and oversight of the specialty collection, function, or service; and participates in and supports organizational goals, policies, and guidelines.

Supervision Exercised/Received

Works under the general supervision of the assigned Library coordinator or manager; and exercises supervisory responsibility.

Responsibilities

In specialty area of assignment:

• Supervises, coordinates, schedules, assigns, and inspects the daily work activities of assigned staff; coaches, trains and motivates staff; and coordinates and/or provides staff training.


• Assists with managing and prepares the daily workflow and prioritization of projects and staff; measures performance of the unit and staff and recommends or suggests appropriate corrective action; provides advice and counsel to staff; develops developmental work plans for staff; recommends corrective actions and discipline procedures as appropriate.


• Drafts and completes weekly sign‑in sheets for staff members; completes bi‑weekly time sheets for managers to review for payroll office; makes necessary alterations to work schedules due to illness, emergency, or unforeseen change in employee’s personal schedule.


• Administers, monitors, and maintains assigned budgets including book, audio, video, periodicals, and programming budgets; and prepares and processes requisitions or purchases for items utilized in programs.


• Performs miscellaneous duties such as keyboarding, computer troubleshooting, creating displays to encourage traffic flow and visibility of materials; keeps abreast of community milieu and changing literacy needs and develops and customizes programming; laminates shelf‑reading, records audio selections of public domain materials; oversees supply inventory; processes gifts; maintains bulletin boards; may open and distribute departmental mail; and substitutes as reference librarian at other library locations as needed.


• Provides support to the assigned Library coordinator or manager on matters as directed; participates on committees; prepares and presents reports and other necessary correspondence; attends professional group meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in related fields; ensures processes, policies, and practices are interpreted and applied consistently and effectively; ensures accountability and compliance with all current and applicable state and federal laws, Library policies and procedures, rules and regulations.


• Ensures an environment of customer‑responsive services, providing customer‑responsive service and handling customer service issues.


• Performs other duties as assigned or required.

Archivist/Curator Responsibilities

• Establishes and maintains physical and intellectual control over records of enduring value; selects, arranges, and ensures long‑term preservation of such records; assists researchers; provides customer service in person and via telephone, letter, e‑mail; creates physical and digital exhibits; conducts tours and lectures; facilitates donations of materials; develops and maintains relationships with community groups, organizations, and individuals.


• Serves as curator for assigned collection(s); organizes, preserves, and maintains assigned collection; provides customer service regarding collection; creates physical and digital exhibits; conducts tours, lectures, and other events; maintains relationships with community, academic, and professional organizations and individuals.


• Processes and preserves manuscript collections, develops the collection management of materials such as rare books, manuscripts, maps, sheet music, vinyl records, CDs, prints, or photographs; and creates finding aids, indexes and web‑based descriptions for special collections.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA accredited institution and four years of professional library experience in specialty function or area of assignment, including one year of supervisory/lead responsibility over staff and/or programs.

Required Licenses or Certifications: Must possess a valid State of Michigan Driver’s License.

Certifications Preferred: Level I Librarian Certification by the State of Michigan.

Required Knowledge

• Advanced principles and practices of library science.


• Principles and techniques of library materials selection and cataloging in specialty program area.


• Dewey Decimal system, alphabetical shelving systems, and computer searching techniques.


• Books, publishing, book trade, and book review media.


• Reference tools and services.


• Automated library information retrieval system; reference and circulation processes and procedures.


• Understanding of different classification schemes for library materials.


• Significant authors, associations, and publishers in the assigned field.


• Project/program planning and management principles and practices.


• Public and community relations principles and practices.


• Federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.


• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and statistical databases.


• Public library operations, services, and policies.


• Customer service standards and procedures.


• Supervisory principles, practices, and methods.


• ARC, MARC expertise in bibliographic cataloging.

Required Skills

• Interaction with people of different social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds.


• Analyzing, evaluating, and appropriately selecting library materials in specialty program area; researching and answering complex reference questions.


• Managing and administering the coordination of the development and maintenance of library collections.


• Selecting contemporary materials of significance and permanent value.


• Command of all reference tools used.


• Library research techniques, including the use of technology.


• Database records management.


• Problem solving and decision‑making.


• Program design and development.


• Presenting ideas orally and in writing.


• Working cooperatively with internal and external customers in a professional, friendly manner.


• Responding to inquiries in effective oral and written communication.


• Utilizing personal computer software for compiling spreadsheets and reports.


• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with Library and department staff, board members, outside agencies, and the public.


• Supervising, leading, and delegating tasks and authority.

Physical Demands / Work Environment

• Work performed in a standard library environment.


• Requires sitting, standing, walking, stair climbing, reaching, and lifting objects up to 25 pounds.


• Must be able to push/pull library carts and lift/carry library materials.