Position Overview:

The MIT Museum seeks a digitization assistant to digitize archival materials from the Martin Klein Collection. The assistant will match documents to existing records, scan or photograph materials as appropriate, process images to internal standards, and apply appropriate naming conventions and other descriptive metadata to promote digital access.

The Martin Klein Collection comprises 22 linear feet of research papers, technical literature, equipment manuals, business records, and images related to the development, production, and use of sidescan sonar technology in the second half of the twentieth century. This digitization effort is part of a larger project to create an accessible, engaging online presence for the collection.

This is a temporary position, full time (40 hours a week) for 22 weeks (5.5 months). The Assistant will be expected to work during normal operating hours, Monday-Friday 9-5. Work will be done in consult with the curator for the Hart Nautical Collections and the Digital Archivist. Salary range is $23 to $26/hour.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Prepare materials for digitization by separating documents, assigning titles, and marking media for appropriate imaging systems
• Write brief folder-level description of materials for database; rearrange materials within folders if appropriate
• Image materials using photography, scanners, or other appropriate equipment for the media
• Process images, apply OCR, and convert to appropriate file types
• Apply naming conventions and prepare files for upload
• Develop and maintain quality checks on scanning work
• Maintain efficient workflows to process a high volume of materials

Supervision Received:

This position reports to the Assistant Curator for the Hart Nautical Collections. Direction may also be given by the Digital Archivist and Digitization Assistant.

Supervision Exercised:

No direct reports.

Experience/Skills Required:

General Requirements:

• Experience digitizing paper-based materials as might be found in archival collections
• Experience with, or demonstrated ability to learn, museum or archival database systems, digital asset management systems, and photography, scanning, and photo-editing software;
• Excellent accuracy and attention to detail;
• Excellent organizational skills; ability to create and maintain efficient workflows
• Demonstrated ability to learn new skills and processes
• Demonstrated independent problem-solving skills. Must demonstrate sound judgement to identify and report problems to supervisors and contribute to resolving them;
• Ability to work effectively both independently, maintaining accuracy and a high volume of work, and as part of a team;

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to lift materials up to 25 lbs, and to place collections using ladders, carts, and other tools
• Ability to visually comprehend paper-based collections
• Ability to handle paper collections with appropriate delicacy
• Ability to maintain repetitive motions associated with scanning and imaging
• Ability to use computers for long periods of time

Educational Requirements:

High school diploma or equivalent

Preferred Experience Includes:

• Experience with archival processing and data management
• Bachelor's degree. Applicants with a background in digitization, photography, archives management, library science, or other related fields are especially welcome;
• Familiarity with an Apple Macintosh environment, Piction, HubSpot, MimsyXG, Photoshop or Lightroom;
• Interest in underwater exploration technologies and the history of science

Work Environment:

Dual work environments: 1) Typical office or administrative workspaces; 2) Large warehouse space. HVAC is provided in both spaces. Working with photographs and other photographs will require use of gloves.

This position will be 40 hours a week, scheduled between 9am and 5pm Monday-Friday (some flexibility in scheduling may be possible). Work is generally onsite in Medford, Massachusetts facility with occasional possibility to work from home. Pay is $25 hour. The position is hired through MITemps.

To apply, send a resume and cover letter to Libby Meier, emeier@mit.edu.