Job Number: 20180365  

Number of Hires: Single Hire

Title Code: 6268  

Payroll Title Name: Library Professional 4  

Working Title Name: Audiovisual Preservation Specialist

Department Profile (Specific Information about department/program): The Department of Special Research Collections acquires, preserves, and makes accessible rare, valuable, or unique materials that support UC Santa Barbara students, faculty, and research programs, as well as the scholarly community.

Advertised Range Rate Type: Monthly  

Other Advertised Salary Range Comments: $4,166.67-$5,833.33/mo.  

Percentage of full-time: 100.00  

Days: M-F  

Hours: 8-5  

Summary of Job Duties (Note: This summary will be used for keyword search):

Serving as the Library’s expert in audiovisual preservation and digitization, performs highly complex specialized procedures addressing departmental and Library AV preservation needs under the general direction of the Curator. Selects and prepares all AV formats for digitization, including 78rpm discs, wax cylinders, open reel tapes, and other obsolete audio media, as well as cartridge-based moving image formats such as Beta, VHS, and U-matic. Performs and supervises: the digitization of media according to established procedures; creation of digital images of disc labels; file naming and metadata generation; creation of digital surrogates for online and patron access. Manages the operation of the audio and video preservation labs housed in Special Research Collections; performs basic equipment maintenance; identifies equipment needs; develops and implements workflows for digitization of obsolete formats; and monitors current best practices in AV preservation. Coordinates the development of scripts and software tools to manage, validate, QC, make derivatives, and post-process digital objects.

Contributes to Library-wide planning in digital repository best practices for audiovisual materials and assists in planning for ingest of AV into ADRL. Manages special projects, adapting workflows, staffing, hardware, and software/ scripts as necessary, while also: setting goals; providing training and production oversight; evaluating staff and system performance; and generating reports, statistics, and documentation.

Minimum Requirements

• Excellent general computer and technical skills.

• Experience using audiovisual editing software, in particular digital audio software such as WaveLab, Sound Forge, Pro Tools, or equivalent.

• Previous experience handling and transferring archival sound recordings including 78rmp discs, open reel tape, cylinder, and compact cassette formats.

• Knowledge of contemporary and historical music production techniques.

• Demonstrated ability to independently complete detailed and accurate work.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.  

Desirable Requirements

• Supervisory experience.

• Experience with and knowledge of library and archival systems and procedures.  

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Advanced professional knowledge enabling the performance of a full range of coordinating, and / or highly specialized functional subject area activities.

• Advanced knowledge of applicable systems and databases.

• Advanced analytical and problem solving skills to address highly complex or specialized solutions.

• Advanced interpersonal skills to deal with a variety of people and situations, including providing guidance and leadership to other library professionals.

• Advanced knowledge of library data transformation techniques and software tools. Assists with implementation of new technology as needed.

Digitization Management

• Manages audiovisual digitization lab with high volume of work ensuring that patron reference copies, systematic digitization, and project-based work is coordinated and completed on schedule.

• Digitizes sound recordings from the Library’s collection, including 78rpm discs, cylinders, cassettes, open reel tapes, and other formats, and digitizes cassette based video recordings. Supervises outsourcing of other formats and film to vendors for digitization.

• Prepares and/or supervises students in the preparation of the audiovisual materials for transfer, including barcoding, cleaning, tape baking, and selecting appropriate preservation equipment and techniques including selection of playback styli, playback speed, track configuration, and equalization curves prior to transferring the recordings to digital format.

• Oversees workflow of projects and ensures that established goals are met by completion date, assuring quality control of process.

• Delivers completed transfers fulfilling patron requests, monitors quality control of lab processes, and migrates data to repository for long term preservation storage.

• Consults with Curator when needed in formulating or revising program objectives.

Database Processing & Management

• Working independently without revision, creates digital surrogates and manages file names and metadata in Filemaker Pro databases for digitized audio and video recordings as well as image files.

• Maintains organized stores of digital files in preparation for periodic transfer to archival storage.

• Works with IT staff in maintaining scripts and automation tools to manage digitization workflows and management of digital files.

• Collaborates with Curator, IT, and digital library staff in meeting project goals.

Student Supervision & Training

• Hires, trains, supervises, evaluates student assistants. Reconciles and approves timecards via Kronos timekeeping system.

• Manages and prioritizes work done by student assistants and monitors progress of students assigned to project.

• Instructs staff on correct operation of lab equipment including grooved discs, cylinder recordings, open reel tape, cassette tapes, film, videotape and other formats.

Audiovisual Lab Management

• Maintains equipment in both audio preservation labs including but not limited to equipment calibration, monitoring correct equipment function, and specifying new and used equipment needs.

Miscellaneous

• Participates in monthly staff meetings, and planning and reorganization of operations. Recommends policy and procedural changes to Curator, as appropriate.

• Contributes to special projects, as assigned.

• Engages in training for professional skills enhancement and career development.

• Participates on Library and campus committees, as appropriate.