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Project Archivist - Lapworth Museum of Geology - School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Scienc

Employer
University of Birmingham
Location
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Salary
£27,511.00 - £27,511.00
Closing date
Apr 14, 2021
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

As this vacancy has limited funding the maximum full time salary that can be offered is Grade 6.23 salary £27,511

Grade 6

Part Time - 0.7 FTE/26.25 hours per week

FTC for 18 months

Closing date: 21st February 2021

Background/Context:

The Lapworth Museum contains the largest geological collection in the West Midlands Region, located within the heart of the University of Birmingham's Edgbaston campus and is open to the public 7 days a week with free admission. The museum forms a key part of The University's portfolio of cultural resources, including the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Winterbourne House & Gardens, Research & Cultural Collections, the Cadbury Research Library, the Shakespeare Institute and the Ironbridge Institute, largely set within an outstanding green urban campus. The museum contains collections of around 300,000 objects and one of the most important geological archives in the UK.

Our Unlocking Lapworth's Legacy Project will see the cataloguing of the complete archive of Professor Charles Lapworth FRS, an enormously influential geologist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Lapworth's archive represents the most complete archive of any Victorian or Edwardian geologist in the UK. All collections within the Lapworth Museum, including specimen based collections and archives, have Arts Council England 'designated' status reflecting their national and international significance. Charles Lapworth's unique archive covers popular and topical themes such as fossils, dinosaurs, natural hazards, environmental change, evolution, extinctions, natural resources and industry, but there is much more. Lapworth trained as an English and Art teacher, became a leading scientist nationally and internationally, and was a significant figure in local and national society. The archive includes details of scientific debates, controversies, discoveries, pioneering women in science, roles of amateurs and professional scientists, creative writing, beautifully illustrated works and fascinating personal stories, including Lapworth's own mental health struggles. The diverse content goes beyond the scientific subjects covered, and records how science generally related to, and influenced, late 19th and early 20th century life and society in the Midlands and the UK.

Summary of the role:

The Project Archivist will be responsible for cataloguing and developing online access to the archive of Professor Charles Lapworth FRS (1842 - 1920), and at the same time enhancing collection management. Charles Lapworth's archive is the most complete archive of any UK geologist. It uniquely records the interaction between geology, sciences, education, arts, people and wider society in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Through an innovative and creative programme, including social media activity, events and exhibitions, the post-holder will allow a much wider, and more diverse, audience to engage with this collection and encourage research into this unique interdisciplinary resource.

Main Duties:

Cataloguing of the Charles Lapworth Archive
  • Inputting the corrected finding aid into CALM.
  • Conducting and supervising necessary research into the administrative and biographical history of the collection. Develop appropriate cataloguing structures and catalogue all material within the Charles Lapworth archive; utilising Calm archive management software, which will include conducting necessary research into the administrative and biographical history of the collection.
  • Correcting and improving the existing finding aid with relevance to International Standard of Archival Description (general) standards
  • Developing online access to the catalogue via CalmView, and highlight the collection via The National Archive's Discovery and Archives Hub network. This will involve making use of Archives Hub EAD Editor in line with UK Archives Hub Description standard and EAD guidelines.
  • Developing and improving archive collection management procedures.
  • Sourcing preservation supplies and manage repackaging and associated collection care activities.
  • Ensure the safety and security of the collection.
  • The responsibilities of the Project Archivist will involve a high degree of independent work, planning, organising, managing, evaluation and reporting.
  • The Project Archivist will liaise with the Museum Director in developing plans, for the long terms care management and access to Charles Lapworth's Archive post- project completion.


Public & Academic Engagement
  • Develop links with academic departments and student communities to encourage use of the collection for teaching and research.
  • Develop approaches to sustain ongoing relationships with research communities.
  • Managing access to, and answering enquiries related to, the collection for external and internal researchers and the public.
  • Work with other members of the Museum Team to contribute social media initiatives associated with the project, including a blog and social media activities such as Twitter exhibitions, which will highlight the work to the Museum audiences in an engaging, creative and informative manner.
  • Work with the Museum's Learning & Engagement Manager to develop innovative learning and public engagement resources linked to the collection.
  • Work with other members of the Lapworth Museum Team to deliver an engaging series of events to highlight the content of the archive to researchers, educators, and the wider community.
  • Identify Lapworth Archive items for digitisation and exhibition use.
  • Work with the Museum's Digital Technologies Office to deliver an innovative digital exhibition, which will be launched at the end of the project.


Volunteer Engagement
  • Develop, train and manage archive volunteers to assist with the cataloguing of the Charles Lapworth Archive.
  • Manage volunteer social media activity linked to the project.


Project Reporting
  • An active member of the The Archives Revealed: Unlocking Lapworth's legacy Project Board.
  • Reporting regularly to the Project Board and funding organisations (The National Archive & The Pilgrim Trust) regarding project progress and development.


Other
  • Play an active part in Lapworth Museum Team meetings.
  • Ensure the safety and security of the collection.
  • Carry out any other duties commensurate with the grade.

Qualifications & Experience
  • Postgraduate qualification in Archival Studies or equivalent from an accredited institution or considerable relevant experience
  • Experience cataloguing archival collections to ISAD(G) standards
  • Experience using collections management systems, specifically those that follow ISAD(G) and/or EAD standards
  • Proven experience of cataloguing large archive collections.
  • Proven experience of developing cataloguing structures.
  • Practical experience of cataloguing manuscript material on to CALM or a similar system
  • Experience of working with, training and managing volunteers.
  • Experience of outreach related to the promotion of archival resources.
  • Experience in planning and implementing user-oriented customer service in a library, archive or museum environment.
  • Ability to document large collections whilst maintaining a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to engage with a diverse range of audiences and stakeholders.
  • Good knowledge and understanding of current best practice in archival storage, care and management and a commitment to maintaining up-to-date standards.
  • Awareness of issues relating to access, social inclusion, cultural diversity and disability.
  • A good understanding of the application of relevant legislation to archives collections for example, regarding copyright.
  • Excellent IT literacy.
  • Ability to work independently and equally comfortably within a team environment.
  • Excellent presentation and reporting skills.


We value diversity at The University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community'

Valuing excellence; sustaining investment

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