POSITION VACANCY

The Historic New Orleans Collection

Documentation Coordinator

Systems Department

The Documentation Coordinator is responsible for the management and
support of automation projects within the Collection.  Except for a
core set of duties the position is fundamentally project-oriented.
All projects involve a common set of skills, detailed below, under
"Required Skills."

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Coordinator participates in the support of the institution's
Collections Management System, including the maintenance of databases,
the running of certain transactions for users, and software
troubleshooting.

The Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the implementation of
data entry standards that apply across the research divisions
(Library, Manuscripts, and Curatorial) and the Collections Manager's
office (Registration).  The Coordinator documents and maintains
centralized rules for data entry and cataloging vocabulary, acts as
the liaison between departmental cataloging and reference staff and
the Systems Department technical staff, and has chief authority for
resolving centralized data terminology issues.  The Coordinator also
advises the divisions on methodology for the application of external
cataloging standards within the museum's automated system.  An issue
of particular concern is MARC compatible data entry for the Library
and Manuscripts division data and the exchange of data in this format
with national bibliographic networks, particularly OCLC.

The Coordinator maintains all internal electronic publications used
for reference.  The Coordinator will also create new resources when
necessary.


REQUIRED SKILLS:

1. Ability to prioritize and coordinate multiple projects, working
both independently and within a team.

2. Excellent written and interpersonal communications skills

3. Familiarity with cataloging practices and standards for
bibliographic, curatorial, registration and manuscripts data in a
research institution and museum setting.  Formal training or
professional experience is required in one of these areas.

4. Knowledge of MARC data formats for bibliographic and manuscripts
data.

5. Experience in database management and database editing, preferably
with collections management database systems.  Familiarity with the
concepts of database design, and understanding of the concepts of
vocabulary control and thesaurus construction in automated systems.

6. Other computer literacy:  Knowledge of at least one word processing
package, preferably Word.


BENEFITS

Competitive salary. Full health and dental insurance. 401 K with
vesting in one year.

THE HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION

The Historic New Orleans Collection was established in 1966 by General
and Mrs. L. Kemper Williams, private collectors of Louisiana material,
to maintain and expand their collection and make it available to the
public through research facilities and exhibitions. The Collection
operates a museum accredited by the American Association of Museums in
a complex of historic French Quarter buildings at 533 Royal Street.
Facilities at Royal Street include the Williams Gallery for changing
exhibitions, several permanent exhibition galleries illustrating the
history of the city and state, the Williams Residence house museum,
and a museum shop. The Williams Research Center, comprised of
curatorial, manuscripts, and library collections is in the newly
restored Third District Municipal Court building at 410 Chartres
Street.

SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT

The systems department is responsible for all aspects of
computerization at the Historic New Orleans Collection. Currently, the
system includes a local area network and WAN linking the museum and
research center. Software administered by the department includes a
Windows NT network, office automation, collections management, and a
word wide web page. Future plans call for the integration of
information from all three research divisions into a single OPAC, the
establishment of an intranet and the deployment of multi-media access.


Submit resume and letter to Chuck Patch at the Historic New Orleans
Collection, 533 Royal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130, voice:
523-4662; fax: 598-7108; e-mail [log in to unmask]










Chuck Patch
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