Newspaper Librarian

Job Summary:

The Newspaper Librarian plays a critical role with the State of Arizona Research Library team to establish a proactive service culture to ensure patrons have expedited, accurate and relevant access to both physical and digital newspaper collections that tell the story of Arizona’s history and government. The Newspaper Librarian will manage newspapers in multiple formats: print, microfilm and digital. The Newspaper Librarian is responsible for the maintenance, development, and accessibility of the collections, as well providing reference services to on-site and remote patrons.

This position is a part of the State of Arizona Research Library team in Library Services at the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, reporting to the State of Arizona Research Library Assistant Administrator. This position must work collaboratively with State of Arizona Research Library team members, as well as other Library Services and Archives staff.

This is a full-time position consisting of a 40 hour work week. This position requires a background check and a fingerprint card on file. The position requires the ability to lift up to 35 pounds. This position must have a valid Arizona driver’s license, be able to drive a state vehicle, and be willing and able to travel both in and out of state.

Job Duties:

• Collection Development and Maintenance. Manages the Arizona Newspaper Project, a special collection of the State of Arizona Research Library. Formulates goals, plans, and procedures for the Arizona Newspaper Project. Evaluates changing news sources and databases. Develops newspaper collection through acquisition of print, microfilm, and digital content. Oversee inventory projects and work with cataloging staff to ensure that holding and metadata records for Arizona newspapers are updated and accurate. Supervises, trains, and evaluates staff, contractors, or volunteers assigned to the newspaper collection.
• Digitization and Collaboration. Support digitization of newspapers added to the Arizona Historical Digital Newspapers digital collection on the Arizona Memory Project by overseeing the selection, organization, and preparation of materials. Collaborate with other cultural institutions regarding newspaper collection, preservation, access, and digitization. Provide guidance and expertise to small and rural libraries and cultural institutions regarding their newspaper collections. Consults and/or coordinates on digital projects, microfilm acquisition, digitization standards, technical workflows, news content creation, preservation and access standards, including National Digital Newspaper Program grant (if awarded).
• Reference and Research Supports. Serve in the on-call reference rotation, and provide in-depth research assistance for patrons in person, and via the phone and email. Provide support to other staff in using news content to address reference questions. Ensure STARL staff has up to date access to Arizona news by disseminating morning news headlines. Direct inventories and create, evaluate, and update research supports such as indices, finding aids, and LibGuides.
• Outreach and Programming. Provide outreach and programming regarding historical Arizona News and its value both online and in person. Represents the Arizona Newspaper Project and the Arizona Historical Digital Newspapers through outreach in the community, social media, professional conferences, public presentations, workshops, tours. Develop promotional materials. Participate in relevant organizations and conferences in the history and journalism communities.
• Grant writing. Write and execute grant funded projects in support of digitization, outreach, and preservation. Implements technical workflows to ensure grant deadlines are met, performs grants management tasks, adheres to award timelines, creates status and performance reports.
• Other duties as assigned as related to the position.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

• Experience in fostering and managing collaborative initiatives
• Familiarity with the newspaper collections throughout the state
• Understanding of newspaper preservation practices, procedures and issues regarding paper, micrographics and electronic/digital records
• Experience with digitization processes and metadata creation and standards
• Expertise in applying project management tools and techniques to define the program goals, develop and execute a plan to meet those goals, effectively and efficiently utilize all resources, implement risk management assessments, apply change management plans as needed, provide required deliverables on time, meet milestones including the established end date of each project
• Development and utilization of relational databases, or researching and determining commercial products available for inventory and project management
• Computer programs including Word, Excel, Access, Power Point, and Outlook
• Effective at presenting to a wide and varied audience base
• Excellent direct written and oral communication with a variety of people and organizations

Selective Preference(s):

• Master’s Degree in History, Journalism, or Library and Information Science, with coursework or internships in archives or library, or an equivalent combination of a relevant degree and experience
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment with both technical and non-technical staff