Elma Lewis Digital Project Assistant

About the Opportunity

Elma Lewis Digital Project Assistants

The Northeastern University Library is hiring part-time assistants for a grant-funded project supported by Bostons Community Preservation Department. The project Black Art and Joy in Boston (and Beyond): Elma Lewis and the National Center of Afro-American Artists focuses on digitizing cataloging and publishing materials from four archival collections documenting the life and legacy of Elma Lewis (). These collections include her personal papers as well as records from the Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts the National Center of Afro-American Artists and its museumhighlighting her work to promote Afrocentric visual and performing arts.

Part-time assistants will contribute to the descriptive work for the Elma Lewis collections with assignments determined by project priorities. Primary responsibilities include cataloging textual materials in spreadsheets according to departmental standards and project-specific instructions from the Project Librarian. Additional tasks may involve post-production processing of digitized texts assisting with automated captioning workflows for audiovisual materials and developing contextual documentation about the people places and objects represented in the collections.

The assistant will work within the highly collaborative Digital Production Services department and also partner with staff from Archives and Special Collections. The position requires some experience with metadata creation (ideally using MODS Dublin Core or EAD) familiarity with authority files and controlled vocabularies (such as LCSH LCNAF and AAT) and a demonstrated interest in inclusive cataloging and reparative description. Strong attention to detail and the ability to thrive in a collaborative environment are essential.

Preferred Qualifications:

Enrollment in an ALA-accredited MLS or MLIS or equivalent experience

Professional experience with metadata schemas and item-level archival cataloging

Knowledge of controlled vocabularies and thesauri

Exposure to inclusive and reparative description principles

Attention to detail

Proven ability to work independently

Strong communication skills

Hours: 15-18 hours a week. Hours can be flexible but some availability on Tuesdays is strongly

preferred.

Location: Hybrid and fully remote work available.

Pay Rate: $21 per hour

Northeastern University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action Title IX employer. Northeastern University particularly welcomes applications from minorities women and persons with disabilities

Position Type

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience education and skills when extending an offer.

Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical vision dental paid time off tuition assistance wellness & life retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit for more information.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race religion color national origin age sex sexual orientation disability status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

This job is for a current or anticipated job vacancy.

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