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Job Description

POSITION OBJECTIVE: The Digitization Archivist’s main objective is to create, organize and describe the Club’s digital assets so that they can be accessed by staff, Club members, online users, and the media to tell the story of climbing: to inspire new climbs, to document the history of climbing, and to provide a key member benefit in the form of trip-planning tools. Digitization Archivist Job Description • Support the goals of the American Alpine Club Library to acquire, preserve, and make available working and archival records according to prevailing professional standards, and subject to relevant policies and procedures. • Using best practices for archives, assist Library Director to prioritize archives projects, process archives collections, and create finding aids/online access. • Assist with the implementation of the digital asset management system, digitization processes, workflows and metadata creation. • Assist in describing and preserving digital collections. • Respond to research queries and facilitate on-site research with use of archival materials. Provide reference services to AAC members and community as needed. • Assist with selection of content to be used for AAC trip-planning tool, websites, and marketing. • Supervise student assistants working on digitization, organization, and description projects. • Assist Information and Marketing Director in evaluating document digitization vendors and managing two large-scale serials scanning, indexing, and online-publication projects. • Participate in the daily operations of the AAC Library on an as-needed basis. Minimum qualifications: • Experience handling archival materials. • Experience creating and converting a variety of digital formats including documents, images, audio, and video. • Experience working with archives management and/or digital asset management systems. • Experience creating metadata using a variety of schema (eg: Dublin Core, PB especially). Preferred qualifications: • Understanding of climbing culture, terminology, history, and significance of resources to the climbing community. • Management experience, teaching aptitude, leadership skills. • Knowledge of web development technologies and markup languages, including HTML, CSS, XML, and EAD. Required Skills: • Strong organization, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills. • Moderate lifting required. • Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a collegial and collaborative manner. • Project management skills. • Knowledge of best practices in digitization, metadata, storage, and management of digital assets. The Digitization Archivist will play a key role in executing the strategic plan, delivering a member benefit that inspires and supports new adventures. As such, the position requires a sociable and action-oriented climber who’s interested in making The American Alpine Club’s stories—past, present and future—accessible to everyone. The person in this position will be expected to work closely with the Information and Marketing team to identify resources to be used for publication and marketing efforts, as well as for expedition and scholarly research by members and others.

Additional Info & Requirements

The Digital Archivist reports to the Library Director. This is a full-time position based in Golden, Colorado with medical benefits, long-term disability insurance, and a 403(b) plan with partial employer matching. The American Alpine Club offers a salary that is competitive with the other national, not-for-profit conservation/environmental organizations for this position. Opportunities for advancement are available.

The Community

As of February 2011, the AAC began executing on a new five-year strategic plan that calls for the most significant and exciting program changes in the Club’s 109-year history. Regaining leadership as an information resource for the climbing community is a priority in that plan. The Henry S. Hall Jr. American Alpine Club Library is an internationally known resource on alpinism, climbing, and mountain regions and cultures. Located in Golden, Colorado, the library serves members dispersed around the world. Our mission is to preserve and provide access to library materials and artifacts that document the history and culture of climbing. As a cultural heritage institution, the AAC Library has the capacity to reach beyond the current climbing community to educate, entertain, and inspire. Vision The AAC unites climbers to advance the climbing way of life. Mission We provide knowledge and inspiration, conservation and advocacy, and logistical support for the climbing community. The AAC is a not-for-profit 501 (c) 3 organization supported by gifts and grants from individuals, corporations and foundations, income from restricted endowments, membership dues, and the sale of merchandise and publications.