Department

Library IT & DS - DLDC

About the Department

In support of free inquiry and expression, the University of Chicago Library is transforming the global knowledge environment to be open, accessible, and equitable. We enable the University of Chicago and our greater community to create a better world through effective information services, a comprehensive connected collection, and a culture of innovation, respect, and partnership.

The Digital Library Development Center collaborates with library staff, university faculty, departments and other groups on campus, and colleagues at other institutions, to enable discovery of the library's information resources, to make the campus community aware of the library's services, to build digital collections, and to ensure the persistence and usability of the library's digital resources over time. Core activities include designing, building, and maintaining websites, databases, digital collections, and the Library Digital Repository.

The Digitization Unit specializes in capturing and converting a diverse range of paper-based and media materials for both University of Chicago users and a global audience. The primary aim is to preserve these materials, enhance accessibility, and promote the discoverability of the Library's general and special collections.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director, Digital Library Development Center, and under the direction of the Head of Digitization, the UChicagoNode Digital Preservation Specialist specializes in preserving the Library’s digital collections and preparing them for delivery by UChicagoNode, a partnership between the University of Chicago Library and the Humanities Division of the University of Chicago. This role involves designing workflows following digital preservation standards and best practices, managing data, optimizing data processing workflows, and ensuring the integrity of digital assets for long-term access. The Digital Preservation Specialist collaborates with Administrative Desktop and Systems
(ADS), Technical Services, Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center (SCRC), and the Digital Library Development Center (DLDC) to support the implementation of preservation plans and to optimize workflows.

Responsibilities

• Manage the movement of files for digital collections across the Digitization Unit, including capture, processing, and transfer to servers, repositories or holding spaces.

• Use appropriate software to perform and record file integrity checks (SHA-512 checksums) after each step prevent file corruption.

• Automate file movement and naming to improve efficiency, prevent loss, and comply with digital preservation standards.

• Maintain and update local drives and server spaces, removing redundancies, while producing derivative files as needed.

• Collaborate with the Digitization Coordinator to align projects with preservation standards and metadata policies, and work with the Metadata Specialist to improve descriptive metadata for improved discovery and access.

• Collaborate with the Digitization Coordinator to oversee quality assurance processes, ensuring adherence to FADGI standards through Golden Thread tool integration, file integrity checks, and data validation.

• Jointly with the Digitization Coordinator and DLDC colleagues, ensure that digital assets are of high quality and preserved.

• Develop and maintain custom tools and scripts to process, validate, and normalize digital content. Enhance data processing workflows for both current and legacy digitization projects, including the implementation of new software and workflow improvements for LIMB processing.

• Work in collaboration with colleagues to optimize data processing pipelines and enhance overall efficiency. Under the guidance of the Head of Digitization, collaborate with the DLDC and ADS to design and implement strategies for the long-term preservation of digital assets.

• Develop and maintain digital preservation workflows and automation scripts to ensure the integrity and longevity of digital objects.

• Ensure the seamless integration of digital collections into preservation repositories, including the Library Digital Repository, adhering to established standards and protocols.

• Write software to package digital masterfiles, associated checksums, metadata, and derivative files, using the BagIT specification, for transfer to the Library Digital Repository.

• Collaborate with external repositories, such as HathiTrust, to facilitate the ingestion of digital assets. • Hire, train, and manage students and interns involved in digital collections projects Provide technical expertise and troubleshooting support to resolve digital preservation-related issues, which may involve addressing hardware or software problems and ensuring the security of digital assets.

• Stay informed about emerging digital preservation technologies and actively contribute to the development of best practices.

• The job provides professional support and solves straightforward problems in a library unit in the acquisition and processing of library materials and resources. Resolves processing problems with units.

• Identifies and documents preservation needs and, with moderate guidance from others, ensures the preservation of library pieces, electronically and digitally.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Science, or a related field with the equivalent practical experience in programming and/or digital preservation. 

• Master’s degree in Library and Information Science, or equivalent, with a focus on digital libraries, preservation, or related field.

Experience:

• Relevant experience in programming, data management, and/or digital preservation, preferably within a cultural heritage institution or academic library setting strongly preferred.

• Experience in planning, coordinating and executing digital projects or complex workflows strongly preferred.

• Knowledge of library and archival digitization practices and standards (conforming to NARA, FADGI, Library of Congress) to ensure that digital files can be maintained over time in a preservation repository strongly preferred.

Preferred Competencies

• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, JavaScript in various frameworks, and experience with version control systems (e.g., Git).

• Demonstrable Unix/Linux literacy: must be able to use sed, awk, grep, etc. effectively from a Unix/Linux command line and in shell scripts to automate appropriate tasks.

• Strong understanding of digital preservation principles and standards (e.g., PREMIS).

• Familiarity with data management practices, including data cleaning, transformation, and normalization.

Working Conditions

• Ability to use computers extensively during the course of the working day.

• Hybrid work schedule.

• Term position through 6/30/2027.

Application Documents

• Resume

• Cover Letter preferred

• Reference List (3)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Library

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

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FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

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Pay Range

$62,000.00 - $70,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement
 

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

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