Salary: c£28-40k
Reference number: VM005204

The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom and one of the world’s greatest research libraries. We are seeking an innovative and highly motivated person to help the Library as it develops its digital collections.

Digital Preservation Manager
The British Library has an ambitious and broad-based range of digital activities, from collaborative digitisation projects to web archiving to managing electronic material deposited under legislation at the British Library. The Library is developing a Digital Object Management programme, which will provide the infrastructure for maintaining and archiving the electronic component of the national published archive.

Job details

This post represents a dedicated focus for the long-term preservation of digital materials within the British Library. You will be a key member of a planned cross-directorate team focusing on the long-term preservation of digital materials within the British Library. This is to ensure that digital preservation is being addressed in projects to enable continued long-term access to the British Library’s digital material. In the first instance, the post will focus on the preservation elements of the Digital Object Management programme. Based within Collection Management, you will work with many parts of the organisation as representing the collections, and collaborate with external research projects and comparable institutions. The post will ideally be located in London.

Experience and skills required

It is an extremely interesting time in this area, as practice tests the theories of digital preservation. The post represents the opportunity to make a significant contribution to this evolving subject. As this is an emerging field, it is not anticipated that the successful candidate will have any stereotypical background. An understanding of information systems, library skills (especially life cycle collection management), experience in digital preservation and an understanding of the philosophy of preservation would be the ideal combination.

Benefits

Benefits include a choice of defined benefit pension scheme (requiring employee contributions of 3.5% of salary) or stakeholder (money purchase) scheme (optional employee contributions). You will have an annual leave allowance of 25 days, rising to 30 days after 10 years total service. In addition, all staff receive 10.5 days bank/privilege holidays.

Further information

Job profile (PDF format download from http://www.bl.uk/pdf/digpresman.pdf)

To apply for this job

The British Library is an Equal Opportunities employer. We recognise the benefits of employing a diverse workforce. All applicants are considered on the basis of their merits and suitability for the job and all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria will be invited for interview. We would therefore encourage all disabled applicants to please declare their disability on their application form. For an application pack and further details on how to apply, please contact People Media on +44 (0)20 7420 2080 or email [log in to unmask] quoting the reference VM005204 and where you saw the advertisement.

The closing date for the receipt of completed applications is 17 December 2004. Interviews will likely take place on Thursday 13 January 2005.