Librarian III: Archivist

About the Department

General Purpose: Under general supervision, is responsible for a specialty library function or service requiring in-depth knowledge of specialized subject area, collection, function, or service for the Detroit Public Library (DPL); responsible for the 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 assigned Library – coordinator or manager; and does exercise supervisory responsibility.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities: 

The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

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 the performance of the unit and staff and recommends or suggests appropriate corrective action when necessary; provides advice and counsel to staff; develops developmental work plans for staff; recommends corrective actions and discipline procedures as appropriate or necessary.

• 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 or other 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 the changing literacy needs reflected in the service area and develops and customizes programming as appropriate; 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 a variety of committees as assigned; prepares and presents reports and other necessary correspondence; attends and participates in professional group meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the fields related to area of assignment; 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:

• Establishes and maintains the physical and intellectual control over records of enduring value; selects, arranges, and ensures the long-term preservation of such records; assists researchers who wish to use them; 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/concerts; and maintains relationships with community, academic, and professional organizations and individuals.
• Processes and preserves manuscripts 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.

Minimum 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.

Position Duties

Primary Duties & Responsibilities: 

The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

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 the performance of the unit and staff and recommends or suggests appropriate corrective action when necessary; provides advice and counsel to staff; develops developmental work plans for staff; recommends corrective actions and discipline procedures as appropriate or necessary.

• 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 or other 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 the changing literacy needs reflected in the service area and develops and customizes programming as appropriate; 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 a variety of committees as assigned; prepares and presents reports and other necessary correspondence; attends and participates in professional group meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the fields related to area of assignment; 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:

• Establishes and maintains the physical and intellectual control over records of enduring value; selects, arranges, and ensures the long-term preservation of such records; assists researchers who wish to use them; 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/concerts; and maintains relationships with community, academic, and professional organizations and individuals.
• Processes and preserves manuscripts 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.

Minimum 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.

Other Qualifications

Required Knowledge of:

• Advanced principles and practices of library science.
• Principles and techniques of library materials selection and cataloging in specialty program area of assignment.
• Dewey Decimal system, the alphabetical systems of shelving, and computer searching techniques.
• Books, publishing, the 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 of books and reference sources in the assigned field.
• Project/program planning and management principles and practices.
• Public and community relations principles and practices.
• Other pertinent 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 Skill in (Continued):

• Interacting with people of different social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Analyzing, evaluating, and appropriately selecting popular level library materials in specialty program area of assignment. Researching and finding answers to complex reference questions.
• Managing and administering the coordination of the development and maintenance of library collections. 
• Selecting materials and collections of contemporary significance and of 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 and concepts orally and in writing.
• Working cooperatively with internal and external customers in a professional, friendly and cooperative manner.
• Responding to inquiries in effective oral and written communications.
• Utilizing personal computer software programs affecting assigned work and in compiling and preparing spreadsheets and reports. 
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with Library and department staff, board members, outside agencies, and the general public.
• Supervising, leading, and delegating tasks and authority.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• Work is performed in a standard library environment.
• Subject to sitting, standing, walking, stair climbing, reaching, and lifting of objects up to 25 pounds.
• Must be able to push/pull library carts and lift/carry library materials.