About the Library Foundation of Los Angeles

The Library Foundation of Los Angeles provides critical support to the Los Angeles Public Library, resulting in free programs, resources, and services available to the millions of adults, children, and youth of Los Angeles. Through fundraising, advocacy, and innovative programs, the Library Foundation strengthens the Los Angeles Public Library and promotes greater awareness of its valuable resources. For more information, please visit lfla.org.

About the Los Angeles Public Library

Celebrating 150 years of service, the Los Angeles Public Library serves the largest and most diverse urban population of any library in the nation. A recipient of the nation’s highest honor for library service—the National Medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Services—its Central Library, 72 branch libraries, collection of more than eight million books, state-of-the-art technology accessible at lapl.org, and thousands of public programs provide everyone with free and easy access to information and the opportunity for lifelong learning.

The Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) and the Library Foundation of Los Angeles (LFLA) invites applications for a 20-hour/week Community Archivist to support its Digitization and Special Collections department. The Community Archivist will help LAPL research, plan, and implement a personal and community archiving project, “Your Story is Ours: Memory & Belonging in LA.” The five-year grant-funded project, supported by the Mellon Foundation, will cultivate personal and community archiving in the East Valley, Northeast LA, and South LA through Memory Lab activities in neighborhood libraries and community events. The Community Archivist will help LAPL develop a participatory archiving model among LA’s Black, Queer Chicanx, and Skid Row/Homeless communities. The model will have the potential to be scaled to other communities historically mis/underrepresented beyond the project by enabling librarians to facilitate personal and community archiving activities that empower community members to preserve their moments and represent themselves in LAPL’s special collections.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of LAPL’s Research and Special Collections Manager, the Community Archivist will support two community advisory groups to help LAPL understand the archival needs of the project’s three targeted community groups. The Community Archivist will also help implement community and personal archiving plans developed through the project with community guidance, including training librarians and community members to conduct oral history interviews, scan objects, and adopt metadata and digital preservation best practices.

Primary responsibilities of the Community Archivist include:

• Conducting background research and conduct interviews;
•  Organizing interviews and appropriate training for volunteers;
•  Recruiting, supporting, and coordinating volunteers;
• Conducting research and training for volunteers;
• Assisting the Project Manager with efficiently organizing and storing those oral histories that will become part of the Library’s collection;
• Assisting the Project Manager and Library staff with developing personal archiving and scanning workshops and events;
• Assisting the Project Manager and Library staff in developing ways to share the collected stories through online and in-person exhibitions, online sharing, and other presentations.
• Conducting community scanning days with the assistance of Library staff;
•  Assisting the Project Manager and Library staff in publicizing the project via newsletters, blogs, social media, etc.;
•  Assisting the Project Manager and Library staff with developing community and educational engagement opportunities;
•  Developing programming and school outreach with the Project Manager and Library staff;
• Training Library staff and community volunteers to use archival equipment.
• Other duties may be assigned.

• Experience and education in oral history projects and digitization/archiving are strongly preferred
• Keen interest in and enthusiasm for the history of Los Angeles
• Excellent interpersonal communication and writing skills
• Self-starter and team player

COVID Requirements

LFLA requires all employees to receive COVID-19 vaccinations as determined unless a reasonable accommodation is approved.

Application Deadline and Information

The Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) and the Library Foundation of Los Angeles (LFLA) will accept applications from June 18 2024-July 8, 2024 (4:00 pm).

Please submit a Cover Letter with your application materials to highlight your experiences and skills that make you an ideal candidate for this position.

Compensation, benefits, and Job Terms

This is a grant-funded, short-term position from August 2024 through June 2028.

The Community Archivist position is a part-time non-exempt position, and they typically work 20 hours per week. The hourly rate is $30.00.

This position is eligible for the following benefits: employee assistance program, paid vacation and holidays, sick leave, and 401 (k) with employer matching.

Additional benefits include parking benefits or an LA Metro Pass, and a 20% discount at The Library Store (exclusions apply). 

This is a hybrid position, with a workspace provided at Central Library in downtown Los Angeles, and the selected candidate must have access to reliable transportation for travel within the Los Angeles region. 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The LFLA is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles, including braids, locks, and twists), ethnicity, religion, color, sex (including childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, uniform service member and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, age, protected medical condition, genetic information, disability, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.