Month: June 2010

Red Alert: Support NHPRC Reauthorization by This Wednesday!

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Below you will find the text of an email from SAA Headquarters. Please read it and consider lending a hand in the battle to reauthorize the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Georgia is a state represented by a member of the Subcommittee to reauthorize NHPRC! Please consider faxing a letter of support to Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R, GA). Contact information and tips on how to write a letter can be found below.


You live in a state represented by a member of the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and the National Archives – and we need your help! 
The National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) is due for reauthorization in Congress this year – a year in which fiscal issues are being hotly debated and very serious situations are developing for such essential programs as NHPRC.
On Thursday, July 1, at 2:30 Eastern time, the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census and the National Archives will mark up (i.e., vote on) H.R. 5616, an amended bill that is now more similar to the comparable Senate bill (S. 2872).  The Senate bill still calls for reauthorization of NHPRC at only $10 million (the same level of authorization that has existed since 1991!).  The new version of the House bill calls for reauthorization at $20 million – a more appropriate level. 
The important next step in this process is to make sure that the subcommittee – on July 1 – votes to approve the version containing the $20 million authorization.  Frankly, there are some strong anti-spending voices on the subcommittee – so it is critical that we let Chairman Lacy Clay (D-MO) know that the archives, history, and genealogy community wants to see this bill passed. 
If you live or work in the district represented by a member of the subcommittee, including Chairman Clay, please fax a message of support for NHPRC reauthorization at $20 million – no later than Wednesday evening! 
Members are:

Carolyn Maloney (D, NY)
Steve Driehaus (D, OH)
Henry Cuellar (D, TX)
Judy Chu (D, CA)
Eleanor Holmes Norton (D, DC)
Danny Davis (D, IL)
John Mica (R, FL)
Patrick McHenry (R, NC)
Lynn Westmoreland (R, GA)
Jason Chaffetz (R, UT)
Fax: 202-225-4709
Fax: 202-225-3012
Fax: 202-225-1641
Fax: 202-225-5467
Fax: 202-225-3002
Fax: 202-225-5641
Fax: 202-226-0821
Fax: 202-225-0316
Fax:  202-225-2515
Fax: 202-225-5629

Call or send faxes to:  Chairman William Lacy Clay, Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census and the National Archives, B-349C Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC  20515; Fax:  202-225-4784 or  Email:  Send as a pdf to Anthony.Clark@mail.house.gov
Important Points to Stress in Your Letter:

  • H.R. 5616 (new version of H.R. 1556) calls for reauthorizing the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) at the funding level of $20 million. It is scheduled to be marked up on Thursday, July 1, at 2:30 pm ET.
  • IF YOU ARE WRITING TO A SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBER, URGE HER/HIM TO ATTEND THE MEETING AND VOTE IN FAVOR OF H.R. 5616 IN ORDER TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE CONDITION OF, AND ACCESS TO, THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL RECORD.
  • NHPRC is the only federal agency that provides grants specifically for archives, which it does through competitive grants for projects with a national scope and a modest state/national partnership grant category for grants to states.
  • NHPRC is a good investment of federal dollars.  All grants must provide a 50% cost share in local funds.  NHPRC grants often serve as “seed money” to start archives programs or additional archival activities.  Many institutions then continue to support the program with their own dollars after the grant period.
  • NHPRC stimulates jobs in the archives and records management profession.  Historical records projects are “jobs heavy.”  On the average, 75% of NHPRC funds for projects are used to pay for staff.
  • Provide information about why NHPRC is important to your region/state/institution, or tell a personal story about your use of a record or its importance to you.
Here’s an example of a compelling story about the good that NHPRC has done:

The City of Seattle (Washington) in 1985 and 1986 received two NHPRC grants (one-year outright and a second-year matching) totaling $58,065 to collect preserve and make available the City’s archival records.  The grant funded one position, but more importantly served as seed money for the creation of a permanent archives program.  Today, the Seattle Municipal Archives is a fully funded program with five permanent professional staff, several student workers, volunteers, and interns, and an annual personnel budget of approximately $500,000.  The Archives manages 10,000 linear feet of textual records, nearly 1.5 visual images, and a variety of other formats.  Its web site includes a wide range of indexes, over 130,000 photographs, and educational materials including exhibits and digital materials organized in topics for use in the classroom.  Archives staff, through effective advocacy, was largely responsible for the City creating a records management program in 2001.  In 2009, the Archives received a second NHPRC grant ($106,480) to catalog, index, and make available a huge backlog of unprocessed records, including nearly 2000 linear feet of records.  This grant has allowed the hiring of an additional professional archivist for two years whose sole job is to work on this backlog.

DLG Earns an Emmy!

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Have you been following the Digital Library of Georgia on their blog, Twitter feed or Facebook page? If so, then you already know that the Civil Rights Digital Library (UGA) was honored this past week with a regional Emmy award for the film “Andrew Young Presents: How We Got Over”

Catch the whole story, including a list of the archivists who were honored, at the DLG blog.

Congratulations!

Georgia Archives Month Update: Get Your Flyer!

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Flyers for the 2010 Georgia Archives Month are available for download at the Society of Georgia Archivists website: Download here.

Don’t forget to print your flyer and post it around your workplace. It’s an easy way for you to contribute to the promotion of this Georgia Archives event.

If you are planning an event for GAM, be sure to visit the website or contact co-chairs Bridget Lerette or Elaine DeNiro.

Job opening: Digital Projects Librarian, Digital Library of Georgia

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POSITION:              Digital Projects Librarian/Archivist


DEPARTMENT:      Digital Library of Georgia

PURPOSE AND SCOPE:

The Digital Projects Librarian/Archivist is responsible for metadata and authority control, student hiring and supervision, quality control, and other duties related to the development of digital resources for Digital Library of Georgia initiatives including but not limited to the federally supported Civil Rights Digital Library and the forthcoming ASERL Civil War era digital library portal being created through a partnership with 32 Southeastern research libraries. The Digital Projects Librarian/Archivist reports to the Associate Director of the Digital Library of Georgia (DLG) and works as a member of the DLG’s Metadata and Site Development unit.

The award-winning Digital Library of Georgia is a GALILEO initiative based at the University of Georgia Libraries. The DLG works together with Georgia’s libraries, archives, museums, and other institutions of cultural heritage to provide access to the cultural and historical resources of the state of Georgia. This primary mission is accomplished through the ongoing development, maintenance, and preservation of digital collections and online digital library resources. These may include materials such as original manuscripts, typescripts, books, photographs, maps, sheet music, posters and broadsides, newspapers, primary source materials on microfilm, audio, video, and other formats. Each project is made available freely to the public as part of GALILEO.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Describes digital objects using national and local standards. This includes the application of AACR2 and the Dublin Core metadata standard. The Digital Library of Georgia uses Library of Congress Subject Headings as its subject vocabulary and the Art and Architecture Thesaurus for genre terms.

Engages in authority work to provide intellectual control over the application of subject headings, personal names, corporate names, and place names as a component of the metadata process. The Digital Library of Georgia uses a local database for controlling personal, corporate and place names in conjunction with the Library of Congress Authority File.

Proofs the work of student employees to maintain a high level of quality for the resources generated. Participates in the hire and supervision of student employees engaged in data entry and other tasks associated with the creation of digital resources.

Participates in planning for digital projects and communicates with Digital Library of Georgia and GALILEO (the statewide virtual library) personnel to coordinate work effort.

Generates content for and provides input into Web site design, including the development of contextual and other resources that supplement digitized collections.  DLG employs formal academic prose in its projects under the guidelines of the Chicago Manual.

Measures outputs by generating and collecting statistics.

Contributes to the mission of the Digital Library of Georgia by participating in the development and evaluation of policies and services, assessing user needs and satisfaction with learning outcomes, serving on appropriate committees, and maintaining an awareness of changes in allied departments.

Develops and maintains professional skills by participating in continuing education and professional development activities such as conferences, workshops, and committee work; by conducting research or writing for publication; or by engaging in other creative and learning activities.

Participates in library-wide communication by reading, responding to, and initiating information transmitted via the Library listserv, and appropriate library-wide or departmental meetings, and asking questions, seeking clarification, or initiating discussion on library issues.

Maintains awareness and acts upon changes and needs in the organization by assuming similar duties and responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

ALA-accredited approved MLS, or relevant Master’s degree (ACA certification expected in 5 years for continued employment).  Knowledge of AACR2, LCSH, Dublin Core metadata standard and familiarity with MARC; Familiarity with HTML or XML; Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships; Excellent research, writing, and oral communication skills; Ability to function as a contributing team member in a production-oriented environment; Experience creating metadata or catalog records, or describing archival materials preferred; Digital library experience preferred; Degree in history, public history or American studies preferred.

BENEFITS:


UGA offers an attractive benefits program including a choice of health and retirement plans, dental plan, tuition remission and a relocation allowance; 21 days annual leave, 12 paid holidays. Information about Athens: http://www.libs.uga.edu/athens/. 

Salary:  entry-level minimum $38,000; commensurate with experience.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:  Qualified applicants who wish to be considered for this position should send their letters of application, complete résumés, and the names, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers of three references by July 23, 2010, to:  Jan D. Hudson (libjobs@uga.edu), Human Resources Department, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia 30602-1641.  Electronic applications are preferred. 

The University of Georgia Libraries values diversity in its faculty, students, and staff and strongly encourages applications from underrepresented minority candidates.  The University of Georgia is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer.

SGA Members Testify Before Congress

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On June 9, 2010, SGA members Kaye Minchew and Karen Jefferson testified before the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census and National Archives at a hearing entitled “Strengthening the National Historical Publications and Records Commission“. A webcast of the hearing is available on the website of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

SGA Fellow Kaye Minchew is the Executive Director of the Troup County Historical Society and Archives. Karen Jefferson is Records Manager at the Robert W. Woodruff Library of the Atlanta University Center. Ms. Minchew appeared as a representative of the National Association of Government Archivists & Records Administrators, on whose Board she has served for many years. Ms. Jefferson appeared as an experienced archivist and records manager to specifically discuss the work of State Historical Records Advisory Boards, in particular, the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board (GHRAB). The prepared testimony of both Ms. Minchew and Ms. Jefferson is available online.

Please join me in congratulating our colleagues on this accomplishment. Both Ms. Minchew and Ms. Jefferson are long term members on SGA with recognition on a national level and a demonstrated dedication to the advocacy of archival enterprise.