Job Title | Photoarchivist |
Company | The Frick Collection |
Location | New York, NY |
Full-time/Part-time | Full-time |
Salary | Regular workweek is 35 hours, Mondays-Fridays; hours worked in excess of 35 per workweek are paid at time- and-a-half. Rate of pay is commensurate to experience. Compensation range: $25.27-$27.47 or $46,000-$50,000 annually. |
Posting Website | https://www.frick.org/careers/photoarchivist |
Required Experience | Master’s degree in art history preferred or library and information science from an ALA-accredited university. Strong art historical research background and reading knowledge of one or more foreign language(s). Familiarity with ExLibris Alma and Primo VE. Basic understanding of cataloging standards and MARC21 is desired. Experience with handling of archival materials, basics of project management, social media content creation and strategy, and organizing and leading public programs. Demonstrated ability to think and problem solve creatively, learn quickly, manage multiple projects in a timely manner, and apply new technologies and metadata standards. Knowledge of linked data principles such as Wikidata, BIBFRAME, and Linked Art is a plus. Ability to work independently and in a team environment with a broad range of library and museum colleagues. Commitment to professional development and growth and excellent written and oral communication skills. |
Sample Job Responsibilities | he Photoarchivist assists in the curation of the physical and digital Photoarchive collections, which includes creating and updating detailed library catalog records, preparing materials for digitization, processing gifts of photographic material, and coordinating shipments of Photoarchive material to and from off-site storage facilities. The Photoarchivist also provides support for the discovery of and access to the Photoarchive’s content; assists scholars and museum professionals with art historical research; works with Communications and Editorial departments to develop and create digital content for blogs, social media and webinars; serves as a member of internal working groups; and represents the library in cross-institutional initiatives. |
Application Process | Please send resume and cover letter with salary requirements to: Associate Chief Librarian, Content at jobs@frick.org (include “Photoarchivist” in subject line of email) Frick Madison 30 East 75th Street New York, NY 10021 |
Tag Archives: new york city
Job Opportunity: Librarian for Research Services – NYU
Job Title | Librarian for Research Services |
Company | The Institute of Fine Arts Library NYU |
Location | New York, NY |
Full-time/Part-time | Full-time |
Salary | Faculty status and an attractive benefits package, including five weeks of annual vacation. Salary commensurate with experience and background. |
Posting Website | https://apply.interfolio.com/95626 |
Required Experience | 1) MLS from an ALA-accredited program and MA in Art History or a closely related field. 2) Three years of experience in library instruction, collection development, or public services. 3) Knowledge of integrated library systems, library applications, and other information technologies. 4) Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively. 5) Strong oral, written, and organization skills along with the ability to balance multiple tasks and to attend to detail. 6) Reading knowledge of at least one foreign language. |
Sample Job Responsibilities | The successful candidate will assist in providing research support and library instruction and will establish positive relationships with the faculty and students in the Institute of Fine Arts and within the NYU community at large. In addition, the position will: *Serve as a liaison to faculty, students, and visiting scholars by delivering programs designed to improve the total user experience, providing research support and library instruction, and ensuring optimal accessibility of resources and services. *Help to plan and implement the library’s collection development policy in all formats and address issues such as material selection, collection maintenance, and planning for collection areas. *Perform statistical reports, assessments, other data compilation, and special projects as needed. *Manage the IFA Library when the head is absent. *Participate in professional activities and update developments and trends in the fields of art history and academic librarianship. |
Deadline | Application Instructions Submit your CV and letter of application, including the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three references. NYU Division of Libraries requires all candidates for this position to supply a statement demonstrating their dedication to inclusion, diversity, equity, and belonging as part of their application. Access the Diversity Statement prompt here https://nyu.box.com/v/diversity-statement. The application review will begin by 11/15/2021. Applications will be considered until the position is filled. |
A New Job, A New Degree, and A New Pandemic
By Meg Tohill
Ever since I can remember, all I’ve ever wanted to do when I got older was to help people. The question of how I would do this has continuously meandered along with my career path. With a passion for reading and writing, diving into library science has always been at the back of my mind, but it was only recently that I started putting the plan in motion. The seed that I had planted in high school started blossoming about two years ago.
I went to undergrad at SUNY New Paltz for a bachelor’s degree in journalism. While I maintain a passion for the written word, the power of storytelling, and delivering universal truths, it became abundantly clear to me during my time there that the industry was/ is in significant danger. Although I know many talented new journalists who continue to push back against the dissemination of misinformation in the media, I took the opportunity to start getting creative.
How could I take my skillset and develop it into something tangible? During my time in undergrad, I spent three years working as a part-time library assistant at Sojourner Truth Library. It was there that my pre-existing admirations for libraries and the information professionals who operate them were reinforced.
Ironically, I only decided to enroll in a graduate program a month before coronavirus became our reality over in the states. My entrance interview was over Zoom and my acceptance letter came during the fourth week of quarantine. I had lost a job that I wasn’t passionate about but was essential to live and I had very little prospects about what I was going to do next.
When the letter finally came, I could finally bat away the storm clouds that had been hanging so heavy around my head for months. Quarantine hit me harder than I’d like to admit. All of this stagnant time at home reminded me of past demons, something I usually could manage when surrounded by the camaraderie of my friends, or in many cases, library professionals.
My experience working at Sojourner Truth Library had been incredibly validating. My coworkers were empathetic communicators who had the knowledge to share and after some time, I realized I wanted to be just like these individuals. I wanted to provide information to people who were hurting. I wanted to help people who didn’t know how to help themselves but desperately wanted to do so.
March started like a lamb and ended like a lion. This goes against everything they ever taught us in elementary school, but when you go from being able to see your loved ones, to losing people you thought you had years left with, reality is a hard thing to discern.
We were told in March and April that masks were unnecessary and then suddenly, we became mask-wearing armies. If there was a thing that was true one minute, the next minute we were being told the exact opposite. Finding the truth in quarantine hasn’t just been difficult, it’s been debilitating, making the library science profession more essential than it has ever been. When libraries and their staff are prioritized, individuals don’t have to defer to a magnanimous figurehead spewing “fake news.” When library science is accessible, information is accessible and today, information is a wealth many refuse to inherit.
An election year, a pandemic, a full-time job, and graduate courses will be what I ultimately remember the most from 2020. However, it is my hunger for the truth and the need to help others find it too, that keeps me motivated. I believe that these feelings of determination that accompanied my pain are what I will remember the most.

Meg Tohill is a copywriter at DAC Group of Companies and an MLS graduate student at Queens College. She spends what very little free time she has reading, baking, and hiking with her boyfriend.
Note: Experiences, thoughts, and feelings shared on the ArLiSNAP blog are solely those of the featured author(s) and interviewees and do not represent the views of any employer.
Job Opportunity: Archives Assistant, The Frick Collection (term)
Background
The Frick Collection is an art museum consisting of more than 1,400 works of art from the thirteenth to the nineteenth century, displayed in the intimate surroundings of the former home of Henry Clay Frick. The residence, with its furnishings and works of art, has been open to the public since 1935. The Frick Art Reference Library is an internationally-recognized research library that serves as one of the most complete resources for the study of Western art. Founded in 1920, the Library today holds more than one million study photographs, 285,000 books, 80,000 auction catalogs, and 2,250 periodical titles. It is open to interested individuals from all over the world.
Position Summary Major responsibility of this position is assisting the Archives staff in preparing the archival collections for a move to off-site storage. Rehouse, organize and interfile archival material, create collection- and item-level inventories, and label and barcode boxes. The person in this position may also assist with reference queries, administrative duties, and other archival projects as needed. Frequent lifting to the waist of boxes weighing up to forty pounds. Requirements Undergraduate degree required. Additional consideration will be given to candidates possessing a Master’s Degree in Library/Information Science or enrolled in a Master’s Degree program with an archival component. Previous experience in an archival setting is desired, as is general knowledge of current trends and emerging technologies in libraries and archives. Candidates should be able to work both independently and collaboratively with other team members. Knowledge of Word and Excel required.
Work Hours and Compensation
Monday through Friday, work schedule to be determined. Compensation is $25.00/hour
Benefits in Employment with the Frick Collection
All employees of the Frick Collection may access free or discounted admission to most of New York’s finest museums. Additionally, we provide employees and volunteers with a discount on Museum Shop purchases and an on-site discounted employee dining service. Part-time employees are also eligible to accrue sick in accordance with the New York City Earned Sick Time Act. The Frick Collection offers a beautiful and pleasant work setting and an excellent opportunity to appreciate some of the world’s finest works of art.
To apply, please send cover letter and resume to: Chief, Archives and Records Management jobs@frick.org
The Frick Collection
1 East 70th Street
New York, NY 10021
Include “Archives Assistant” in subject line of email. No phone calls.
Job posting: Library Associate, Circulation and Technical Services, Thomas J. Watson Library at the Metropolitan Museum of Art- NYC, NY
The Thomas J. Watson Library in The Metropolitan Museum of Art is pleased to announce an opening for the position of Library Associate, Circulation and Technical Services. This full-time position is a special opportunity to contribute to the success of an innovative and productive art library at a world-class museum while learning and applying new skills.
The Library Associate is a key member of both the technical services and circulation departments, responsible for ensuring accurate access and inventory control of the library’s collection. Core tasks include receiving, processing, barcoding, and cataloging physical and digital collections in both MARC and non-MARC formats to international standards; performing quality control and resolving discrepancies for bibliographic records, utilizing Sierra software; sending and receiving orders and invoices in accordance with international EDIFACT protocols from all major book vendors; loading bibliographic records via FTP from bibliographic cataloging vendors and communicating with them for proper quality control; processing materials for offsite, withdrawals, and Wert commercial bookbinding; departmental library management and maintenance; managing cataloging of the reference collection in the Drawings and Prints; processing books for departmental libraries; managing daily recalls (average of 120 per month) between curatorial staff; and conducting a detailed inventory of library materials checked out to Museum staff. Provides outstanding service to all library patrons at the Circulation and Registration Desks on a daily basis.
This position reports to the Associate Manager of Circulation and Reader Services. The schedule is Monday–Friday.
Please submit a cover letter stating your interest and your CV, addressed to the search committee to lib.search@metmuseum.org.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILIES & DUTIES:
- Utilizes knowledge of RDA/AACR2 and the LC Classification system to create high quality descriptive and technical metadata in both MARC and non-MARC formats for both physical and digital collections; catalogs research materials in all formats according to national standards
- Assists with data loads of bibliographic and authority records and financial data from vendors using EDIFACT, systems maintenance, and Sierra library software
- Assists in processing and cataloging of gifts for Watson and departmental libraries
- Assists with collection management including offsite processing, withdrawals, and departmental library maintenance
- Collaborates with library staff to maximize the functionality of our integrated library software, Sierra, to assess best practices and streamline workflow for inventory, collections management, recall procedures, and cataloging
- Manages the daily recall process of library materials between curatorial staff and the circulation of departmental library materials for Museum staff
- Coordinates with departing Museum staff to ensure all library materials are returned
- Maintains an ongoing and accurate inventory of materials checked out to Museum fellows
- Processes overdue notices for departmental library books
- Assists with the maintenance of the circulation database in Sierra, including creating and updating item and patron records
- Responsible for cataloging the reference collection in the Drawings and Prints departmental library
- Assists in departmental book retrieval and circulation for library patrons
- Coordinates with curatorial departments to conduct a detailed inventory of library materials checked out to Museum staff
- Provides outstanding customer service in daily Circulation and Registration Desk shifts
- Occasional weekend work required
- Other duties as assigned
REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience and Skills:
- Library experience required
- Excellent customer service skills required
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills required
- Ability to do detailed work accurately and independently required
- While performing duties of this job, the employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and also push or pull objects weighing 30-400 pounds on wheels (book trucks).
Knowledge and Education:
- Work toward or completion of an MLS preferred
- Experience using an automated integrated library system and preferred
- Knowledge of RDA/AACR2, LC Classification and MARC21 preferred
The Thomas J. Watson Library is the central research library of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Reflecting the depth and scope of the Museum’s collection, the library collects scholarly material from the art of early antiquity to contemporary art. Like the Museum, the library’s holdings are encyclopedic and global in nature and provide a broad range of research materials on Ancient Near Eastern, Egyptian, Greek and Roman, Asian, Islamic, European and American art. In addition to its extensive collection of monographs, exhibition catalogs and rare books, the library includes 150,000 auction and sale catalogs dating from the eighteenth century to the present day. Watson Library’s staff of thirty eight adds nearly 20,000 volumes a year, manages a large collection of electronic resources, and continues to build its digital collections, now comprising over one million pages of online content.
The Museum’s library system includes The Robert Goldwater Library, covering the art of Africa, Oceania and the Americas; Nolen Library, providing materials for all ages on the history of art and also curriculum related material for teachers; The Lehman Collection Library, a collection on European painting and decorative arts; The Joyce F. Menschel Library in the Department of Photographs; The Onassis Library in the Department of Greek and Roman Art; The Irene Lewisohn Costume Reference Library; and the Cloisters Library for medieval art and related topics. The Museum’s departmental libraries contribute to combined holdings of more than one million volumes, a collection unrivaled in depth and coverage for the history of art on a global scale.
See https://www.metmuseum.org to learn more about the Museum’s libraries, including access policies and hours, and to connect to the libraries’ catalog, Watsonline.
A Success Story: An Interview with Chantal Sulkow, Acquisitions Librarian at the Bard Graduate Center
Chantal’s New York City-centered journey took her from a BFA program in Illustration to a career in commercial art before deciding to become an art librarian. In this Success Story, Chantal tells us a little bit about what drove her to become a librarian and what she loves most about the profession.
Can you tell us a little bit about your background, your current position, and how you got into the field of (art) librarianship?
Before I became an art librarian, I earned my BFA in Illustration at The School of Visual Arts in New York City, concentrating on oil painting and portraiture. While at SVA, I participated in the copyist program at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and copied old master works on-site in the galleries. The teacher I worked with made me research each painting I worked on; I had to find historical information about the materials and methods the painters used, and this process gave me my first experience with art historical research. After art school I was looking for a way to earn a living with my skills and I transitioned to a commercial art form, painting three-dimensional prototype figures for the toy industry. I started as an apprentice but eventually turned it into a business, and for a number of years I had my own studio. I painted models for toys in development, and my clients included Marvel, Fisher-Price and Hasbro. When technology in 3D printing and outsourcing to China began to change the landscape of the industry, I decided to go to graduate school. I started by looking at programs for art history, but I wanted to set myself on a path to a new career sooner than later. I was considering Pratt, and by chance I learned about their Library Science program. In my first year I took an intensive summer course on Museums and Library Research with Ken Soehner, the director of the Watson Library at the Metropolitan Museum. After spending all day, every day for 2 weeks at the Met Library, I was certain that I wanted to be an art librarian.
What does a typical day at work look like for you?
As Acquisitions Librarian at the Bard Graduate Center, I am in charge of purchasing for the library; I handle book requests from faculty and students and serve on our staff Collection Development Committee. I’m always looking for new materials to add to the collection; to keep on top of new publications I look at catalogs and email lists, and I follow the social media accounts of museums, academic institutions and publishers so I can track what exhibition or scholarly materials are coming up. In addition to acquisitions, I also do a good deal of reference; our staff shares reference desk responsibilities, and I work with our Reader Services Librarian to meet with students for research appointments, as well as to give research workshops, handle some of the ILL responsibilities, and, when necessary, accommodate requests from outside researchers. I also oversee our library’s rare materials collection.
Do you have any advice for current students and/or those on the job market?
Get involved with ARLIS! My involvement with this organization has been so valuable and rewarding. Join your local Chapter! If you can, go to local Chapter events or meetings- volunteer for a position on your Chapter board. Join an ARLIS/NA committee, or serve on an award committee. Go to the annual conferences; apply for scholarship money to get yourself there, and even if you don’t get funding, it’s worth paying for it yourself if you can make it happen, though of course that’s not always possible. Doing these things will help you network and meet people, and the work you do as a volunteer will help showcase your professional skills to others in the community who might hire you. More directly, reach out to other professionals for advice and mentorship. In my first semester in library school I told one of my professors that I was thinking of pursuing art librarianship and she gave me the names and contact info for two of her colleagues who were art librarians. When I followed up and reached out they both invited me to come in to chat. The early help and encouragement that they gave me was invaluable.
What accomplishments in the field of art librarianship are you most proud of?
Before I was hired to a full time position, I was appointed as ARLIS/NA’s New York Chapter Social Media Coordinator. I run the Chapter’s social accounts, which include Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. This is a board position I’ve held for nearly 2 ½ years, and it’s been great fun- I launched the chapter’s Instagram account, and I’ve been able to boost our followers and overall engagement across the board. Running the Chapter’s social platforms has enabled me to establish connections with and gain deeper knowledge of other cultural institutions, while promoting awareness of the value that art libraries have to offer. My work as the NY Chapter Social Media Coordinator also led me to run a survey on the use of social media in art libraries, and I organized and participated in a session on the topic at the most recent ARLIS conference. I am currently working with some of my session teammates on an article for Art Documentation based on our presentation, and I’m excited about where further research and exploration on this project will lead.
If you could go back and time and do part of your career or education over again, is there something you would have changed? A class you would have taken? A project you would have started?
If I had a do-over for any part of my professional life, I would have gone to graduate school years earlier, before I had kids. This is not to say you can’t get your degree while being a parent! It is absolutely 100 % doable, but presents challenges one wouldn’t otherwise have. When I began graduate school my daughter was starting kindergarten, and midway through the program I took a semester off when my son was born. (He was a perfect academic baby- born in between semesters!) Of course, finishing graduate school with 2 kids was no easy task, especially with a sleepless infant! I started the program at Pratt as a dual Library Science and Art History major; however, after my son arrived I decided to drop the Art History component and concentrate on the MLS, in an attempt to fast-track getting a degree, and getting a full time job- which, fortunately, I was able to do. When my kids are a little older I would still like to return to school and finish my subject Masters; in an ideal world, I’d like to get a PhD! You never know what might happen.
Job Posting: Assistant Librarian (Part-time, temporary), New York School of Interior Design, NYC
Paid Internship Opportunity: Image Keywording Intern, Great Bowery, NYC
This position reports to the Image Annotation Manager. The Keywording Intern will be responsible for classifying and describing the images of a large, diverse photo archive. They will collaborate with other Keyworders to ensure consistency and accuracy, and will also help to organize the controlled vocabulary used to keyword these images.
This internship provides an opportunity to learn about the business of high-end image licensing, as well as standards and innovations in image keywording.
The ideal candidate has a background or strong interest in commercial and/or fine art photography. Familiarity with beauty, fashion, lifestyle, celebrity, and/or interior design media is essential. Previous experience keywording or cataloguing images or other assets is a big plus.
Must have basic computer proficiency (Mac), and excellent command of English. Experience with DAMs, Excel, and understanding of search engine functionality helpful. Research skills and attention to detail are critical.
Please submit a cover letter and resume through NYFA only. Applications submitted via direct email will not by reviewed.
(Link: https://www.nyfa.org/Jobs/Show/9bb38331-8a2c-41c6-8f34-a55c2288c097)
Join ArLiSNAP at the 2018 ARLIS Winter Conference!
The ARLIS 2018 Winter Conference will be held in New York City from February 25-March 1. Registration for the conference is now open, and we hope that you’ll consider attending one of ArLiSNAP’s events while you’re in town.
Attend our Annual Meeting
Sunday February 25 | 3:00pm – 4:00pm
At our annual meeting we will discuss what ArLiSNAP has been up to in the last year and our plans for 2018. Let us know what kind of content and information you hope to see in the next year and hear about upcoming opportunities to volunteer and participate in our community.
ArLiSNAP Night Out!
Tuesday, February 27 | 7:30pm
Join ArLiSNAP at The Stag’s Head on Tuesday, February 27 @ 7:30 PM. Our night out is an opportunity to meet other students and new professionals from around the country to talk about our conference experiences. The pub is just a short walk from the conference, at 252 E 51st St, and we hope to see many of you there!
Register for our Workshop
Thursday, March 1 | 9:00am – 1:00pm
Attend ArLiSNAP’s career development workshop featuring a career advice panel hosted by our co-moderator Breanne Crumpton. Get tips on writing the perfect cover letter and receive expert and peer critiques on your resume. In our final panel, learn more about the academic publishing industry and how to get started as an author.
The workshop is free! Read more about our speakers and activities here.
Questions about ArLiSNAP’s events at the winter conference? Email our conference liaison at michelle.wilson(at)rutgers.edu
Michelle Wilson
ArLiSNAP Conference Liaison
Paid Internship Opportunity: Digital Image Processing Archival Internship, Calder Foundation, NYC
Description
The Calder Foundation is a non-profit institution dedicated to preserving the legacy of the twentieth-century artist Alexander Calder.
The Terry Roth Internship was established in honor of our longtime friend and collaborator with the goal of making internships accessible to all candidates by compensating recipients.
Digital Image Processing Archival Internship
Fall 2017
Part-time
Minimum commitment: 15 hours per week, 10 weeks
The archival internship is open to students (undergraduate or graduate) or recent graduates of art history or a related discipline. Undergraduates must have completed at least two years of study.
Archival Interns will learn organizational tasks involving cataloguing, preserving, and digitizing all aspects of the foundation’s collection of archival material. The Calder Foundation Archive maintains over 130,000 documents, 26,000 photographs, dozens of films, and thousands of press clippings, articles, and publications. The Archive is also responsible for researching, cataloguing and archiving dossiers of information and images for more than 22,000 known works created by Calder.
Digital Image Processing interns will assist with identifying, analyzing, and processing images of artworks to be integrated into the Foundation’s physical and digital holdings.
Applicants must be conscientious, mature and detail-oriented. They must also possess strong visual and analytic skills. Also beneficial is prior experience with archival tasks, FileMaker Pro databases, Photoshop, and Epson scanning equipment.
Application Instructions / Public Contact Information
Deadline to apply is Friday, 1 September 2017. Please submit the following materials to resume@calder.org
– a brief statement of interest
– resume
– names and contact information of two references (academic or professional)
NO INQUIRIES OR PHONE CALLS, PLEASE. Only applicants being considered for the internship will be contacted by the Foundation for an in-person interview.
LINK: https://www.nyfa.org/Jobs/Show/21e90de1-c4f1-48fb-a123-52448bda2655