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Historic Germantown Guide/Educator, Stenton, Philadelphia
Do you love History as well as working with children and the public? Historic Germantown, a partnership of 19 museums in Northwest Philadelphia, is currently seeking Educators for the hands-on learning program History Hunters, as well guiding tours at several of the museums.
The History Hunters Youth Reporter Program, a national award-winning educational program, takes place at five historic sites in Historic Germantown: Cliveden of the National Trust, the Johnson House, Stenton, La Salle University Art Museum, and Wyck. The program uses individual histories of the sites to teach students a larger American narrative, covering United States’ history that spans from colonial times through the Civil War, focusing on the diverse perspectives of history, and making connections to the past with a diverse population of students. The program will serve approximately 3,500 students during the 2024-2025 school year, in Grades 4 and 5.
All Educators will receive complete training and support for all five of the History Hunters locations and will also work with the general public at several Historic Germantown sites throughout the year, which may include Stenton, Cliveden, Wyck, Concord School House, Germantown Mennonite Historic Trust, Historic Fair Hill, ACES, Lest We Forget Slavery Museum, Historic Rittenhouse Town, and Historic Germantown Museum.
An ideal candidate for this position might have a background in American history or education, will have experience working with children and the public, is comfortable presenting information to a group, is enthusiastic, friendly, and personable. Some college or equivalent experience desired. We aim to have our team reflect and respect the experience and background of all the children they will be working with. Bilingual candidates and those who have experience and ability working with children from Philadelphia public schools are strongly encouraged to apply.
Historic Germantown is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, welcomes individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and believes that an inclusive and respectful environment enriches our community and our educational and employment experiences. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Historic Germantown is committed to building a culturally diverse team and strongly encourages applications from minority candidates.
This position is part-time. It requires some flexibility, and hours will vary depending on when tours are scheduled. Weekday availability is required; weekend availability is strongly desired. Compensation is $17.00 per hour.
For information about the program, visit www.historyhunters.org.
For information about the sites in Historic Germantown, visit www.freedomsbackyard.com
Please send resume, references, and cover letter to both contacts below:
Rachel Corma
History Hunters Program Coordinator
(215)-329-7312
rachel.corma@stenton.org
Carolyn Wallace
Cliveden Education Director
(215)- 848- 1777
cwallace@cliveden.org
Deadline to apply: August 1, 2024
(Posted 7/8)
PT Education and Public Programs Assistant, The Hershey Story Museum, Hershey
The Hershey Story Museum is looking for a part-time program assistant to help create and deliver educational programs to school and summer camp groups and to assist with the planning and execution of public programs for visitors of all ages. This position works in a team environment to provide engaging visitor experiences that focus on the life of Milton Hershey, the town of Hershey, the company and of course chocolate!
Major Duties/Responsibilities:
– Help facilitate in-person, outreach and virtual learning programs for schools, camps, scouts, and other community groups.
– Assist in the development, creation, and implementation of curriculum-based and other programming for diverse audiences that provide interactive experiences.
– Input group information into ticketing system, create confirmations, and update spreadsheets.
– Communicate with schools, groups and staff to arrange visits.
– This position will be scheduled Monday – Friday, 25 – 28 hours a week with an occasional weekend or evening shift for special events.
Minimum knowledge, skills and abilities Required:
– Excellent public speaking skills and ability to lead and engage groups of children and adults.
– Ability to work well as part of a team, follow through with assigned tasks and think on your feet.
– Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
– Knowledge of museum practices and museum education standards are a plus.
Minimum Education and Experience Required:
– Three years of experience in a museum or classroom or in conducting programs for children.
– Bachelor’s degree in education, history, public history, museum studies or related field is a plus.
$18.00 per hour
This position requires criminal history background checks in addition to child abuse background checks as a condition of employment.
Please send letter of interest and resume to Elizabeth Lindsay at elalindsay@hersheystory.org.
(Posted 6/24)
Archivist, Berks County History Center, Reading
The Historical Society of Berks County, dba Berks History Center (BHC) in Reading, PA, is seeking an energetic and passionate library/archives professional for the role of its Archivist. The ideal candidate will be a leader familiar with all facets of a historical society’s operations, including archivist/librarian duties, collections management, personnel management, and facility operations. Candidates must be professionally flexible and understand that all employees within the organization wear many hats at any given time. This position reports to the Executive Director.
Position Goal: The BHC Archivist contributes to the organization’s success by preserving the archival materials and library holdings of the BHC’s Henry Jansen Library collections and through the operation of the research library open to the citizens of Berks County and those that visit us to gain an understanding of the unique legacy of our community. In addition, the position contributes to the organization’s success by assisting the executive director in overseeing library facility maintenance and ensuring that the research library and programming provided by the BHC are accessible to the public.
Performance Responsibilities: The Archivist will be a critical member of the overall staff team who supervises Library staff, volunteers, and interns. The Henry Janssen Library is the center for genealogical and historical research at the Berks History Center. BHC’s archival holdings have grown extensively since the founding of the Society in 1869. They include personal and family papers and the records of churches, cemeteries, and local businesses. Some items especially worth noting are: County tax records from 1754 to 1850; Census reports from 1790 to 1920; over 17,000 photographs; newspapers from 1796 to the 1940s (including the run of the Reading Eagle from 1869 to 1988 on microfilm); Church and Cemetery Records from 1730 to present; and numerous histories on local Berks County families.
• Direct supervisor of a part-time Assistant Archivist, monitoring the work of about thirty volunteers and assigning projects.
• Accepts donations of materials for consideration as potential accessions to the Collection, presents them to the Museum & Library Committee, and ensures the proper paperwork is completed and temporary custody standards are followed.
• Processes new accessions following archival standards.
• Responsible for establishing inventory and cataloging priorities for the entire library and archival collections and implementing work plans to accomplish collections management goals.
• Plan and manage collections storage for archives, library materials, vertical files, and microfilms.
• Deaccessions of materials that are superfluous to the Library and organization’s collections policy and overall mission.
• Assists the Assistant Archivist with Reference desk duties as needed.
• Ensures proper handling of materials in research rooms.
• Respond to remote research requests and handle photograph reproduction requests, including scanning materials.
• Maintains Library visitation and use statistics, including tabulating daily visitor totals and inputting data into an Excel spreadsheet.
• Prepares weekly deposit forms for admission and copies fees. Works with the Business Manager to reorder office supplies and maintain service contracts related to the Library.
• Compose content for The Historical Review of Berks County, and monitor the Organization’s social media accounts with the Marketing & Development Manager to moderate and encourage engagement.
• Provide research support to the curator.
• Curates temporary mini-exhibits that coordinate with special events or organizational marketing plans.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Must be able to work Wednesday through Saturday, with occasional night and weekend hours, for organizational events and other needs.
Candidate must be able to present the following background checks, required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Board of Trustees of the Berks History Center, on their first day: Pennsylvania State Police PATCH; PA Childline – PA Child Abuse History Clearance Program; FBI Fingerprinting Services. Successful candidates must also sign the BHC Child Abuse Policy and Code of Conduct Forms.Qualifications:
Required:
• Graduate degree in Library Science, Public History, or Museum with coursework or educational experience in archives. Preferably an MS in Library Science with an Archives Management Concentration from an ALA/SAA-accredited program.
• Demonstrated interest in American history. Undergraduate degree in History preferred.
• Ten or more years of professional archival experience in archives or special collection environments, as well as staff and volunteer management experience.
• Ten or more years of experience processing various archival materials following current archival standards and policies.
• Experience using a collections management system, such as Archivist’s Toolkit or preferably PastPerfect.
• Ability to use standard office equipment (i.e., copy machine), microfilm readers, and book scanners. Train staff, volunteers, and interns on how to use these devices.
• Ability to troubleshoot basic technology issues.
• Knowledge of reference services in a research setting, especially archives and special collections.
• Understanding of copyright regulations as they relate to library and archival materials.
• Demonstrated written and oral communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to foster a positive and collaborative work environment, effectively manage and resolve conflicts, and work with a diverse range of personalities.
Additional Qualifications:
• Ability to work independently and on a large team, often with competing deadlines.
• Participate in formulating policy, procedures, programs, planning, and budget preparation with the Museum & Library Committee and Executive Director.
• Demonstrated commitment through active membership in professional and/or scholarly associations and the interest in staying current on professional trends
and policies.
• Experience using a wide variety of social media platforms.
Terms of Employment:
Full-Time Experienced.
The position holder must be able to perform the job’s essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation. The employee is responsible for informing the BHC Executive Director of any and all reasonable accommodation that will be required.Equal Employment Opportunity
The BHC is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of age, citizenship, color, disability, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, veteran status, genetic information, ancestry, and any other protected status. The BHC values and promotes diversity as a strategic advantage.
Berks History Center Mission:
Berks History Center leads the way in telling the 300-year story of Berks County and its people, with the aim of building an understanding of our unique history, strengthening our sense of community, and inspiring our community’s progress in the years to come.
More about the BHC:
Founded in 1869, the Historical Society of Berks County, now the Berks History Center (BHC), is the official historical society for Berks County, Pennsylvania as recognized by the Berks County Board of Commissioners. The BHC owns and operates two facilities in Reading, Pennsylvania. The BHC’s Museum collection includes 28,941 three-dimensional artifacts dating from 1684-2017. The purpose of the BHC is to promote the discovery, collection, preservation, and publication of the historical legacy, records, and information relating to Berks County and the City of Reading. It accomplishes this by collecting and preserving Berks County artifacts, court records, books, newspapers, maps, genealogies, artwork, relics, engravings, manuscripts, letters, and all other materials that illustrate and document the history, growth and development of the area. Our concentration includes, but is not limited to, the social, commercial, and artistic development that shaped the community we serve. In addition to being an important adjunct to the educational institutions in Berks County, we also strive to promote the artistic and cultural legacy of our community, which enhances the quality of life and place for the citizens of Berks County, as well as the county’s reputation as an important destination for tourists throughout the world.
The Center’s Henry Janssen Research Library & Archives is staffed by a full-time archivist and holds 2,782.37 linear feet of archival and manuscript material, including 272 collections, 7,628 books, 600 maps, and 20,665 photographic images. This state-of-the-art research center hosts genealogists, scholars, and researchers from all 50 states and abroad.
Salary Information:
Starting salary between $50,000 to $55,000 per year. Full-time, exempt. Medical, dental, and vision insurance, paid time off, and a 403(B) plan.
Please send a PDF cover letter and resume to:
Benjamin Neely, Executive Director executive.director@berkshistory.org
(Posted 6/13)
Library Assistant, York County History Center, York
The York County History Center seeks a Library Assistant who will provide efficient, friendly library reference service. This is a full-time, hourly, non-exempt position, plus benefits. Normal work hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m.—5 p.m., with some evening and special event hours.
Library Assistant duties include, but are not limited to:
• Assist patrons and volunteers in the Library & Archives Reading Room as needed and assist in other day-to-day operations of the Library under direction of Director of Library & Archives.
• Maintain patron and volunteer sign-in logs and monthly usage statistics.
• Respond to short (< 15 mins.) research questions (by phone and email) and complete minimum research requests when appropriate under supervision of Director.
• Ensure that library & archives materials are properly reshelved at end of each day. Maintain orderly library facilities.
• Supervise volunteer use of copy machine; assist patrons with operation of digital microfilm scanner. Provide other technical assistance to patrons and volunteers as needed.
• Help implement policies concerning collections use, reflecting conservation best practices and accessibility to the public.
• Assist with archival collection projects, care, and conservation under direction of the Director and Assistant Director on periodic basis.
• Provide input concerning short, intermediate, and long-range planning relating to Library & Archives
• Work with other History Center staff, volunteers, and committees on projects that utilize Library & Archives resources.
• Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
The minimum requirement is a Bachelor’s degree in History, Library Science, Public History, Applied History, American Studies, or related fields. Consideration is also given to candidates with library reference experience, public history experience, and customer service experience.
Skills necessary to perform this entry-level position include strong organizational and communication skills and the ability to work independently. Familiarity with computers and Microsoft Office programs required. Experience with PastPerfect and/or other archival & library collection management software a bonus. Those with local history and/or genealogy research experience are strongly encouraged to apply. Must be able to lift 30 lbs. A valid PA driver’s license is required. Must complete a PA State Police and Child Abuse background check.
Salary: $29,250
Deadline to apply: June 28, 2024
Please submit cover letter and resume no later than June 28, 2024 to: abentz@yorkhistorycenter.org Applications reviewed upon receipt.
(Posted 6/13)
Manager of Digital Services, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Division: Library
Supervisor: Librarian and CEO
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Manager of Digital Services is primarily responsible for overseeing HSP’s Digital Services Department, digitizing archival collections in response to external or internal requests, and managing HSP’s Rights and Reproductions service (including overseeing staff, volunteers, interns, and outside labor assigned to help perform the work). The Manager of Digital Services supervises one part-time position, which is shared with the public services division of the Library. This is an on-site, full-time (40 hours per week, Monday through Friday), permanent position.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:
Coordinate HSP’s Rights and Reproductions program, including producing invoices and licensing agreements. Confirm that all fees are paid prior to releasing digitized files to external clients.
Perform digital image capture, conversion, and preservation of manuscripts, books, and historic graphics using photography and scanning equipment.
Assign descriptive, administrative, and technical metadata to digitized collection material and upload media to associated catalogue records in HSP’s Digital Asset Management System (DAMS).
Identify items requested for digitization in HSP’s databases, card catalogue, finding aids; page the materials; and return them to their proper storage locations in a timely manner.
Train and supervise Digital Services staff and interns on digitization procedures and standards.
Increase visibility and facilitate use of HSP’s digitized collection material through HSP’s front-end Digital Library and project Omeka site and collaboration with internal and external clients.
Maintain quality control standards for digital images and metadata records.
Create and maintain documentation for department procedures and policies based on institutional standards and best practices.
Assist in coordinating and supporting internal and external collaborative digital projects and initiatives with peer institutions and third-party businesses.
Collaborate internally with staff in the Library, IT, Institutional Advancement, and Learning and Engagement.
Serve on the Library Leadership Team.
Implement HSP’s Strategic Plan over time as it relates to digital initiatives, including the acquisition and maintenance of systems and protocols and prioritization of digital projects.
Perform other duties as assigned.
SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS:
Master’s degree, or its equivalent required, in Archival Management/Museum Studies/Public History, and/or an MLIS, and/or Graduate degree in Digital Humanities.
A minimum of two years related digital imaging experience required; rights and reproductions experience preferred.
Past experience in an archive or special collections library, and demonstrated knowledge of digitization technologies and appropriate handling of rare books and manuscripts required.
Strong interpersonal, communication, and customer-service skills as well as an ability to collaborate internally and externally.
Knowledge of metadata standards used in digital collections (e.g. DACS, Dublin Core, AACR2, LCSH), digital preservation best practices (OAIS, NDSA), and collections management systems (Collective Access) desired. Must have excellent interpersonal skills and exhibit the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
Familiarity with one or more of the following would be a plus: Collective Access, Islandora, Omeka, Archive Space, Photoshop, Linux, MySQL, Lightroom, and Drupal.
Ability to manage projects with multiple dimensions.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; and talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands or arm; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance, color vision, and depth perception.
STATUS: Exempt
SALARY RANGE: $45,000 – $50,000
Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume to the contact person listed for each position (below). A background check and interview may be necessary.
Bernadette Vereb
Chief Administrative Officer
bvereb@hsp.org
(Posted 6/13)