Library of Congress, Manuscript Division
Librarian (Manuscript Historian), Modern American History
Institution Type: | Government |
Location: | District of Columbia, United States |
Position: | Archivist, Curator, Librarian, Other Professional, Research Professional |
JOB TITLE: Librarian (Manuscript Historian), Modern American History
DEPARTMENT: Legislative Branch
AGENCY: Library of Congress
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: 140144a
SALARY RANGE: $89,924.00 to $116,901.00 / Per Year
OPEN PERIOD: Wednesday, August 27, 2014 to Wednesday, September 24, 2014
SERIES & GRADE: GS-1410-13
POSITION INFORMATION: Open - Permanent
PROMOTION POTENTIAL: 13
DUTY LOCATIONS: 1 vacancy in the following location: Washington DC
WHO MAY APPLY: Anyone may apply - By law, employment at most U.S. Government agencies, including the Library of Congress, is limited to U.S. citizens. However, non-citizens may be hired, provided that other legal requirements are met and the Library determines there are no qualified U.S. citizens available for the position.
SECURITY CLEARANCE: Top Secret
SUPERVISORY STATUS: No
JOB SUMMARY:
The Librarian (Manuscript Historian Specialist) position has primary curatorial and acquisition responsibilities for the political, military, and legal collections of the Manuscript Division that fall in the modern period, roughly from 1900 to the present. Included in this time frame are hundreds of collections, notably the papers of Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, and Calvin Coolidge as well as cabinet members from those and subsequent administrations; dozens of members of Congress; Supreme Court Justices; journalists and publishers; military officers and defense secretaries; diplomats and foreign intelligence officers; and countless other American luminaries.
The Manuscript Division is one of the foremost special collections repositories of the world. The specialist works under the general supervision of the chief of the Manuscript Division, who provides guidance concerning the general scope, direction, and objective of assignments. This position is located in the Manuscript Division of Library Services.
The position description number for this position is 137724.
The incumbent must undergo a background investigation and qualify for top national security clearance.
The tour of duty for this position is Full-Time.
The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.
The incumbent of this position will work a flextime work schedule.
Occasionally Saturday service in the Manuscript Reading Room is required.
This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.
This position has no promotion potential.
Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.
Travel Required: Not Required
Relocation Authorized: No
DUTIES:
The Manuscript Specialist (Historian) has primary curatorial and acquisition responsibilities for the collections of the Manuscript Division, one of the foremost special collections repositories of the world. The division collects and preserves personal papers of prominent individuals and the records of political, social, and professional organizations as well as rare Americana, and makes these materials available to researchers. The specialist applies expertise in designated subject fields such as Early America, 19th C. America, Civil War and Reconstruction, 20th C./Modern America, African American History, Science and Technology, Women's History, or American Literature and Culture. He or she combines the skill sets of historians, archivists/librarians, curators, and acquisitions officers. He or she participates with division management in the making of policy decisions, especially, but not exclusively, those related to collection development. The specialist performs at a high degree of responsibility in interpretation of collections, outreach, and advanced reference capacities.
Completes library acquisitions of personal papers and organizational records of historical significance within the field of modern American history and of other historical manuscript and archival materials. Locates collections of interest and negotiates with the creator or owner to acquire the material.
Communicates historical information through a variety of means, such as written materials or papers used for publication or presentations.
Proposes and oversees digital projects and physical exhibitions, and curates their content.
Uses a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of American history, archival methods and the research needs of the scholarly community. Analyzes existing Library of Congress manuscript and archival holdings to identify areas that need to be supplemented or where holdings in the field of modern American political, military, and legal history are inadequate. Prepares appraisals and recommendations for organizing newly acquired manuscript collections and criteria for disposing of unneeded material. Analyzes the condition of records and recommends preservation treatment to safeguard them from deterioration, damage or destruction, or from impairment of their value through disarrangement or alteration. Considers the need for microfilming, digitizing, or photocopying.
Makes collections and the information in or about them available in response to individual requests. Supports professional researchers and provides advice and consultation to scholars. Uses knowledge of the holdings as well as subject matter expertise to identify and locate germane source materials, explain the background, suggest primary and secondary sources or documents that might be useful to the inquirer, and provide the information requested.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision.
Ability to translate the results of historical research into various written formats. **
Ability to organize and analyze historical information and materials. **
Demonstrated knowledge of American history subject areas sufficient to acquire collections. **
Knowledge of the principles, concepts, and techniques of professional archival work.
Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing in conducting and presenting historical research.
Knowledge of integrated library systems, library applications, and other information technologies.
No additional requirements to those listed above.
HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:
The Library of Congress evaluates applicants through an applicant questionnaire and a structured interview. Applicants may also be screened for some jobs through licensing, certification, and/or education requirements, a narrative/application review, and/or a preliminary telephone interview. The knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are marked with a double asterisk (**) in the vacancy announcement and the applicant questionnaire are considered the most critical for a position. To be considered for final selection, applicants must demonstrate fully acceptable experience in these designated KSAs in the narrative/application review, preliminary telephone and/or full structured interview. The various assessment tools listed above are designed to verify or explore applicants' experience, knowledge, and training directly related to the job in order to identify the best qualified applicants for selection.
To preview questions please click here.
BENEFITS: You can review our benefits at: http://www.loc.gov/hr/employment/index.php
OTHER INFORMATION:
Although it is the Library's policy to afford the maximum pay benefit to employees when setting rates of pay, a new appointee who has had no previous Federal service will generally be paid the minimum step of the grade.
The Library of Congress is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities who meet eligibility requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.
Applicants must submit a complete application package that is received by the closing date of this announcement.
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The date of certification must be within one year of the vacancy closing date. For more information contact the selective placement program coordinator at 202-707-3960 or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.
The Library of Congress is the national library of the United States and is part of the Legislative Branch of the Federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service.
Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation.
The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.
Initial appointments, permanent or indefinite, to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period. In addition, per Library of Congress Regulation 2010-12, an appointee is subject to a one-year supervisory probationary period, if this is his/her first supervisory/managerial position at the Library.
Are you a veteran? Please indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming in your application materials and/or applicant profile and provide the appropriate supporting documentation to validate your claim. Those applying for 5-point preference must submit Member Copy 4 of your DD 214. Those applying for 10-point preference must fill out an SF-15 (click here for the form) and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form. If required supporting documentation is not attached, Veterans' Preference will not be considered in the application process.
For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please see the Library of Congress Merit Selection Plan, Section X.D, at: http://www.loc.gov/hr/employment/msp010909.pdf.
HOW TO APPLY:
You are required to apply online for this announcement. We are unable to accept mailed or emailed documents. You must complete the entire application process, including submission of all documents BEFORE this announcement closes. To do so, follow the link below to the job listing on USAJOBS and follow the instructions there:
http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/379429100
Contact: |
AGENCY CONTACT INFO: Library of Congress Customer Service Center 101 Independence Ave. SE Room LM-107 Washington, DC 20540 Phone: 202-707-5627 Fax: 000-000-0000 Email: JobHelp@loc.gov |
Website: | http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/379429100 |
Primary Category: | American History / Studies |
Secondary Categories: | Archival Science Digital Humanities Library and Information Science |
Posting Date: | 08/28/2014 |
Closing Date | 09/24/2014 |