Summary
This position is located in Culpeper, Virginia in the Preservation Services Section, National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, Researcher and Collections Services.
The position description number for this position is 181096.
The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.
The incumbent of this position will work a flexitime work schedule.
This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.
Duties
Handles a variety of moving image video formats, including those which are consumer, educational, industrial, professional, and archival. The condition of these media formats ranges from pristine recordings, made on modern state-of-the-art videotape/discs machines, to fragile antique recordings, some of which are dirty and degraded, which are made on antique legacy machines. Machine formats include a wide range such as Digital Betacam, Betacam, U-Matic, VHS, Betamax, 1" and 2" open reel and video cassettes in addition to optical discs. The incumbent uses these VTRs to transfer the video images and associated sound tracks to more stable media, including digital formats. In addition, reformats videotape and disc formats, e.g. tape to tape; digitization; file to tape. Routinely provides fulfillment of preservation copy orders. Performs quality assurance on all material digitized and duplicated; monitors the completion of preservation projects and fulfillment orders. Provides support to datacine digitization and fulfillment operations as needed.
Creates digital files of selected materials and performs post-processing functions consistent with preservation directives with a keen sense of awareness to archival sensitivities. Performs digital preservation on moving image collection materials encompassing the earliest historical analog formats through modern digital media. Generates master MJPEG2000 files from analog and digital source materials. Ensures that the visual content media is digitized without visual or technical anomalies.
Captures existing metadata and creates new descriptive and technical metadata for all items ensuring that all pertinent information about the original recorded work and its original production data is appropriately given according to established guidelines. An understanding of database and cataloging standards will be necessary for the creation and modification of metadata associated with the collections to be preserved.
Reviews and monitors the completion of preservation projects. Suggests and implements methods to improve quality and productivity in preservation reformatting.
Conducts reformatting projects to assure that reformatted materials are complete, accurate, cataloged, and meet national preservation standards and the preservation standards of the Library.
Monitors project work plans including workflow, inventory, staffing requirements, training, statistical, and tracking requirements, timeframes, and benchmarks for the completion of projects. Reports and consults with supervisor to ensure the integration of individual projects into overall reformatting plans.
Provides assistance, service and information to curatorial organizations and interacts with vendors, contractors, and engineers as required. Plays a role in formulating annual preservation goals with documenting and estimating of time and resources. Develops and updates reference aids and databases, technical library and documents.
Provides routine preventive maintenance and cleaning on all equipment used to digitize, monitor, or transfer original video material to new media or files, including, but not limited to, the routine cleaning of heads and tape paths. Replaces failed splices and detached leaders in addition to repair of damaged cassette/cartridge housings. Supports recording of live or remote events held at Library venues, or sponsored by the Library at other locations. Reviews and monitors the completion of preservation projects.
Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Conditions of Employment
Library of Congress employees are prohibited from using illegal drugs, including marijuana. The Library is part of the Federal Government and abides by federal law, so regardless of individual state or District of Columbia laws, marijuana use is illegal, considered criminal activity, and can affect your employment at the Library. In addition, past or current drug use and activities (e.g., selling or distributing) may deem you ineligible for employment.
Qualifications
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.
Knowledge of the operation of professional video equipment used to preserve obsolete video formats through digitization.**
Ability to analyze and treat videotape materials to carry out conservation treatment and other preservation measures.**
Ability to remain productive while managing multiple priorities.**
Knowledge of audiovisual preservation standards, guidelines, and best practices.
Ability to coordinate equipment operation and maintenance.
Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
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.
For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please see the Library of Congress Merit Selection Plan, Section 8.5, at: Merit Selection Plan
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How to Apply
Please carefully follow all instructions under the How to Apply tab to ensure you are considered for the position.
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, complete the following steps.
Step 1: If you do not already have one, create a resume on USAJOBS. Although you must enter your Social Security Number for USAJOBS, this information will not be provided to the Library of Congress.
Step 2: Review the Job Announcement. We recommend you go to the end of the Qualification and Evaluation section of the job announcement to preview the online questions that you will answer in Step 4. You may wish to customize your USAJOBS resume to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions.
Step 3: Click on the "APPLY ONLINE" button to the right of this announcement. Follow USAJOBS' instructions to access your account and submit your resume. You will be redirected to the Hiring Management website to complete the application process. If this is your first time in Hiring Management, you will be asked to answer questions related to your eligibility for Federal employment. You will be able to update this information and save it to our account for future announcements.
Step 4: Once you have completed the eligibility questions, you will be taken directly to the vacancy application questions. Answer all questions honestly and thoroughly.
Step 5: Hiring Management offers three options that will electronically attach your documentation to your online application once you finish answering the questions in the job announcement.
(1) You may select a document that you have already uploaded to USAJOBS for a previous announcement.
(2) You may electronically upload a document directly from your computer to your application. Be certain to review your complete application for confirmation of the document uploaded and click on "Finished" to be returned to USAJOBS.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have multiple documents of the same kind, e.g. 2 undergraduate transcripts from different schools or 2 SF-50s, etc., be sure that they are all in the same file on your computer or in your USAJOBS profile before uploading them. If you try uploading them individually, only the last one sent will be visible in our system. If you have any questions about this information, please contact the person on this announcement BEFORE the closing date.
Step 6: Click on "Finish" after you have completed your application. Once you have submitted your application, you can check your status online through your Hiring Management or MY USAJOBS account. Your complete online application and any required supplemental documentation (e.g., SF-50, etc.) must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of the announcement. It is your responsibility to ensure that all documents are received on time and that the materials are readable. Failure to do so will result in your application being excluded from consideration for this announcement.
If you are experiencing any technical difficulty with the online process, you MUST CONTACT THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE. For all technical issues please contact jobhelp@loc.gov , no later than 4:30pm EST of the Closing Date. REQUESTS FOR EXTENSIONS WILL NOT BE GRANTED.
Next steps
Please review our evaluation process under Evaluation. You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging onto the USAJOBS "My USAJOBS" tab and clicking on "My Applications." You will receive final notification via e-mail when the vacancy has been filled.