Manuscript Data Curation Fellow

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Manuscript Data Curation Fellow

Job Profile Title

Librarian A

Job Description Summary

Fellow will work with member institutions to generate metadata descriptions for undescribed manuscript objects in the form of DS Catalog records. The Fellow will assess the needs of current and prospective members, carry out basic evaluation and research in collaboration with institution staff (in some cases onsite), collect and organize information using the DS data model and its documentation to create structured descriptions, and assist in data enrichment and the maintenance of DS authorities to facilitate ingest of records into the DS Catalog. The Fellow will also act as a liaison between DS and its members regarding manuscript description practices by conducting direct member outreach in collaboration with the PDM, including presenting online workshops and training sessions with member institution staff.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Create original manuscript metadata description for Digital Scriptorium membershop seeking metadata creation support for undescribed manuscripts.
• Conduct outreach to and needs assessment for Digital Scriptorium members for metadata creation service.
• DS member data reconciliation for DS Catalog entry.
• Conduct and/or assist online workshops and training sessions with DS member institution staff.
• Promote DS Catalog work at conferences or through publications.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Master of Science, Master of Arts, and 0 to 1 year of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• MLIS with a background in premodern manuscripts studies, or PhD in a relevant field.
• Strong facility with a classical (e.g. Latin, Greek, Sanskrit) language and/or a relevant modern language (e.g. Arabic, Hebrew, French, German, Italian etc.).
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in manuscript description, including use of authorities.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with stakeholders and collaboratively with technical staff.
• Ability to work remotely using conferencing software and electronic communication tools.

Application Requirement 

• A Cover Letter and Resume/CV are required to be considered for this position. Please upload your Cover Letter where it asks you to upload your Resume/CV; multiple documents are allowed.  

** Please note that this is term position with a target