SNCA Blog  

Posting on behalf of Andrea A. Breazeale, MBA, MSHR, SPHR, Director of People and Engagement, NC Rural Center

Step into a role where history, purpose, and impact intersect. The Archivist will play a pivotal role in preserving and shaping the legacy of the NC Rural Center by organizing, processing, and bringing to life four decades of work supporting rural communities across North Carolina. From carefully arranging archival materials to digitizing critical records, this position blends hands-on detail work with a broader narrative mission. Working in close partnership with the Communications team, the Archivist will serve as the steward and storyteller of the organization’s 40-year journey—ensuring its history is not only preserved but meaningfully shared for years to come.

In this CONTRACT position, the Archivist will direct the review, organizing and presentation of the archival material covering the 40-year history of the NC Rural Development Center. This archival processing work may involve sorting papers, photographs, or other archival materials into chronological and/or topical order, labeling folders, or digitizing documents. This position will work closely with the Communications team, President/CEO and an Advisory Committee in the effort to tell the story of the 40-year history of the NC Rural Center.

**THIS IS A SHORT-TERM CONTRACT POSITION.  EXPECTED DURATION OF 9 TO 15 MONTHS**

Essential Functions:

• Responsible for establishing a centralized repository for paper, photographed, born-digital and digitized historical items.
• Develop policies and workflows that ensure long-term preservation, discoverability, and access to the NC Rural Center’s historical records.
• Responsible for compiling the most important and relevant artifacts of the NC Rural Center history.
• Inspect documents and consult with program area leaders on their record keeping practices.
• Arrange, catalogue, exhibit, and maintain collections and records of valuable material for the Center and expand their physical and digital access.
• Respond to research requests, partner on collaborative projects with other program teams.
• Focus on day-to-day project management and assist the overall project by supporting the archives process and workflow among program teams.
• Appraise records in all formats created by Rural Center program teams, to identify those having historical value.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Minimum of two years experience in archiving, records management or historical document preservation.
• Expertise in image, audio, video, and text formats and their preservation requirements.
• Experience with relational collections management systems and digital storage best practices.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively across departments.

Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in records management, library and information science, digital archiving, or a related field.

Salary and Benefits
$65,000 - $75,000, based on background and experience
This is a contract position and not eligible for benefits.

To apply:
Visit the Careers page on the NC Rural Center website: https://www.ncruralcenter.org/careers/

The Education and Development Committees are excited to announce that the SNCA award applications for 2026 are officially open! Each year we offer four awards that recognize the work of both archival professionals and students. Additionally, they provide support for professional development opportunities, including the SNCA Annual Meeting. 

Please see below for additional information on each award. If you have any questions, please reach out to Amy Archambault, SNCA Development Chair (aarchamb@gmail.com), or Kristen Daniel, SNCA Education Chair (danielk23@ecu.edu). 

SNCA Development Committee Awards

Michelle Francis Endowment Fund: The purpose of the Michelle Francis Scholarship is to provide SNCA members access to professional development opportunities by attending the annual SNCA conference. This award is intended to provide assistance with travel and conference fees and to defer costs associated with attending the conference. It also allows an archivist who normally might not attend an opportunity to increase their knowledge by attending this important function.

• Scholarship: $250

• Application Deadline: Friday, March 6th, 2026

• Link to Application: https://www.ncarchivists.org/francis 

Thornton W. Mitchell Service Award: The Thornton W. Mitchell Service Award seeks to recognize an individual who has demonstrated outstanding service to the archival profession in the state of North Carolina. SNCA members are encouraged to nominate their colleagues to highlight and celebrate their exceptional work.

• Nomination Deadline: Thursday, March 26th, 2026

• Link to Nomination Form: https://www.ncarchivists.org/mitchell 

SNCA Education Committee Awards

 C. David Jackson Memorial Scholarship: This student scholarship is intended to promote continuing archival education and professional alliances among archivists in North Carolina. In addition to using the scholarship funds to support attendance at the annual meeting, recipients are encouraged to use scholarship funds to register for workshops and other professional development opportunities that would provide supplemental education to existing coursework and work experiences.

• Scholarship: $500

• Application Deadline: Friday, March 6th, 2026

• Link to Application: https://www.ncarchivists.org/jackson  

Gene J. Williams Award: SNCA annually recognizes a project on an archives-centric topic completed for a graduate-level course, thesis, practicum, or similar by a student residing in or attending a North Carolina school.The award recipient is selected in the Spring and their project is published in SNCA's peer-reviewed Journal of the Society of North Carolina Archivists.

• Scholarship: $250, free attendance to the next annual conference (2027), and a one-year SNCA membership

• Application Deadline: Friday, March 6th, 2026

• Link to Application: https://www.ncarchivists.org/williams 

There's still time to submit a proposal for the Spring 2026 SNCA/SCAA joint conference. We are looking forward to everyone's great ideas and learning with colleagues this spring.

SNCA/SCAA Annual Meeting 

Call for Proposals

Many Voices, Stronger Archives: Advocacy through Community

UNC-Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | May 28-29, 2026

The Programming Committee encourages you to submit proposals for the SNCA/SCAA Joint 2026 Annual Meeting. This year’s theme, "Many Voices, Stronger Archives: Advocacy through Community" calls us to reflect on the roles and impacts of advocacy and community within the archival profession.

We encourage submissions that address a wide range of topics, including, but not limited to:

• America’s 250th

• Reflections of past communities

• Outreach to communities: engagement and partnerships

• Community-driven projects/exhibits

• Community among archival professionals

• Various aspects of advocacy

• Support for small archives/lone archivists

• Grant writing

• Inclusive metadata and description practices

Proposal Form

Proposals are due by February 13, 2026 at 5:00 pm

Kelli Policelli has been named State Archivist of North Carolina. 

https://www.dncr.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2025/12/02/kelly-policelli-named-state-archivist-north-carolina

Eileen Dewitya named Frank Borden Hanes Curator of the Rare Book Collection and Lisa Gregory named curator of the North Carolina Collection at UNC Chapel Hill. 

https://library.unc.edu/news/university-libraries-names-permanent-curators-for-special-collections/

Sharing from East Carolina University

East Carolina University’s Laupus Health Sciences Library and our Medical History Interest Group will be hosting Sheena M. Eagan and David M. Durant's "Beyond Unit 731: Japanese Medical Atrocities in the Greater Pacific War, 1931-45: Context and Implications" on November 3rd, 2025 at 2pm at this link. 

Presentation Description: Much is known about the horrific medical experiments conducted by Nazi physicians and researchers at Auschwitz and other concentration camps. Less well known are the numerous horrific atrocities performed by Japanese medical personnel during the Second World War. Unit 731, a biological warfare research complex, performed hideous medical experiments that claimed thousands of lives. Its work culminated in a number of biological warfare attacks as part of Japan’s war in China.

Unfortunately, such horrific acts went well beyond Unit 731, involving both the Japanese Army and Navy Medical Corps, and the civilian Japanese medical establishment. This included regular involvement of medical personnel in war crimes, killing of non-ambulatory wounded, and the widespread practice of vivisection as a tool of both medical research and education.  This presentation will explore the history of these crimes, their context, and the broader conditions that made them possible.

About the Speakers: 

Sheena M. Eagan, MPH, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Bioethics and Interdisciplinary Studies at the Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, where she also directs the Medical Humanities & Ethics Distinction Track. Her research explores the intersections of bioethics, medical humanities, and the history of medicine, with particular attention to ethical challenges in times of war, disaster, and public health crisis. She has published and presented widely on military medical ethics, social determinants of health, and the historical legacies of medicine under conditions of social and political upheaval.

David M. Durant is Professor/Federal Documents & Social Sciences Librarian at East Carolina University, in Greenville, NC. He holds a Master of Science in Library & Information Services from the University of Michigan, and an MA in Russian and Soviet History from the University of California, Los Angeles. His research interests include the use of disinformation and propaganda, reading in the digital age, and 20th Century history.

This presentation is part of the Ruth and John Moskop History of Medicine Lecture Series. All are welcome and refreshments will be provided.

Celebrate Our Archives Month Theme "People's of North Carolina" with a blog post by Patrick Cash

North Carolina's "Papa Wyche": Major General Ira Thomas Wyche and His Career

Major General Ira Thomas Wyche (1887–1981) stands among North Carolina’s most accomplished military figures of the twentieth century. Born on the isolated Ocracoke Island and educated at the United States Military Academy, Wyche’s career spanned four decades of transformation within the United States Army. His life reveals both the depth of North Carolina’s contribution to national service and the evolving nature of American military professionalism.

Ira Thomas Wyche was born on October 16, 1887, on Ocracoke Island, the son of Methodist minister William W. Wyche and his wife, Mary. Orphaned at an early age following his mother’s death and his father abandoning his family, Wyche was cared for by his grandparents and neighbors. His early life was shaped by the challenges of being raised on the isolated barrier island, a fact he would later credit for his famed resourcefulness and determination. He attended the Quackenbush School in Laurinburg and Trinity Park School in Durham, institutions that prepared promising southern students for higher education. His academic promise and family connections earned him an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, from which he graduated in 1911.

Upon entering the Academy, Wyche joined a cohort of future generals that included the likes of Omar N. Bradley and Jacob L. Devers, individuals who historians have credited with defining the  U.S. Army during World War II. Wyche’s cadet training emphasized mathematics, engineering, and the new scientific approaches to military discipline that characterized the post-Spanish-American War era.

A Professional Officer, 1911–1941

Upon graduation, Wyche received his commission to the Coast Artillery Corps but was transferred to Field Artillery, a branch that appealed to his technical precision and leadership aptitude. His early postings took him to the American West before the United States entered World War I. During the conflict, he served in the American Expeditionary Forces in France, where he joined the 10th Field Artillery Regiment, rising to temporary lieutenant colonel and commanding artillery units in the thick of combat, gaining valuable experience in both field operations and staff coordination.

Following the end of World War I, Wyche pursued a methodical career path through the professional military education system, graduating from the Field Artillery School, the Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College.⁴ His assignments in these years reflected the Army’s emphasis on doctrinal development and instructional rigor. He served as an instructor and staff officer at multiple training commands, where he helped standardize the curriculum that prepared younger officers for modern warfare. This steady progression through the ranks exemplified the professionalization of the interwar U.S. Army, which increasingly valued education, merit, and technical expertise over political patronage.

World War II and the 79^th Infantry

Wyche’s leadership reached its peak during the Second World War. On June 15, 1942, he assumed command of the newly reactivated 79th Infantry Division, commonly referred to as the “Cross of Lorraine” division. The 79th Infantry Division was activated for World War I in 1917 and saw its most significant combat during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in the fall of 1918, where it played a key role in the assault on Montfaucon. During the war, the 79th demonstrated determination in advancing against entrenched German forces, but had been deactivated in 1919 following the end of the war. Reactivating and training the division was a formidable task, but Wyche’s leadership, which was characterized by a methodical approach that emphasized rigorous physical conditioning, live-fire exercises, combined arms coordination, and amphibious warfare preparation, proved to be up to the task.

The division trained at Camp Pickett, Virginia, before moving to England in April 1944 in preparation for the Normandy invasion. Wyche’s insistence on realism in training, replicating the coastal terrain, practicing beach landings, and coordinating with naval and air units, helped ensure the division’s readiness for its eventual combat role. His involvement, including front-line inspections and direct engagement with junior officers and enlistees, earned him respect and loyalty.

The Normandy Campaign and the Assault on Cherbourg

Though Wyche and the 79th Infantry Division did not land on the beaches of Normandy during D-Day itself, they would reach the sands of Utah Beach on June 12, 1944, just six days after the initial invasion. Upon arrival, the 79^th  was tasked with securing the Cotentin Peninsula and, critically, the city of Cherbourg, whose deep-water port was vital for sustaining the Allied logistical buildup in France, and its capture was a primary objective. Wyche and his men faced entrenched German forces, fortified with artillery, minefields, and natural defensive positions. Under his leadership, the 79th executed a series of coordinated assaults, culminating in the capture of Fort du Roule, a key defensive position overlooking Cherbourg. Cherbourg finally fell on June 29, 1944, after three weeks of fierce fighting. Wyche’s leadership during this phase earned commendations from senior commanders, including one from his former classmate General Omar Bradley.

Pursuit to the Seine, the Liberation of Paris, and Crossing the Rhine.

Following the breakout from Normandy through Operation Cobra in late July 1944, Wyche and the 79th Infantry Division were among the units ordered to pursue retreating German forces toward the Seine River. Under Wyche’s leadership, the 79^th executed a complex river crossing at Mantes-Gassicourt in August 1944. The operation involved rapid bridge-building, coordination with engineers and armor, and effective reconnaissance to secure crossing sites. The successful crossing helped facilitate the encirclement of German forces, leading to the eventual liberation of Paris, France.

As the Allies advanced into Germany, the 79^th Infantry Division encountered the heavily fortified Siegfried Line during the winter of 1944-1945. Wyche’s men endured harsh conditions and fierce German resistance. In March 1945, Wyche and his men took part in Operation Plunder, the large-scale Allied crossing of the Rhine River. The success of the operation permitted Allied forces to continue their push east into Germany, capturing key military strongholds and German cities along the way, hastening the fall of Nazi Germany and the end of the war in Europe.

“Papa Wyche”: A Leader Among Soldiers

Wyche’s leadership style earned him the affectionate nickname “Papa Wyche” among his troops. He was known for personally visiting front-line units, engaging with soldiers, and personally working to address their needs and concerns. This personal touch fostered loyalty and high morale, rare among generals whose presence at the time was often limited to rear command posts.

One of Wyche’s notable innovations was the establishment of an in-division replacement training system. Recognizing the toll of combat and the need for prepared reinforcements, Wyche instituted a program that trained replacements within the division before sending them to front-line units. This system improved cohesion and reduced casualties among newcomers, providing a model adopted by other divisions.

Following the surrender of Nazi Germany, Wyche briefly commanded VIII Corps and III Corps before his appointment as Inspector General of the Army in January 1947.

The Inspector General and the Lee Investigation

In May 1947, Wyche was tasked with investigating syndicated columnist Robert C. Ruark’s allegations that Lieutenant General John C. H. Lee, commanding general of the U.S. Forces European Theater, had misused enlisted personnel in Italy and exploited Army resources for personal comfort. Wyche’s inquiry cleared Lee of the charges, concluding that Ruark’s reporting had exaggerated or misrepresented the situation. His balanced handling of the case preserved the Army’s credibility at a delicate moment when public confidence in the military became strained due to number of public controversies and budget reductions.

Wyche’s measured professionalism during the investigation earned praise within military circles and from the Secretary of the Army, who commended his objectivity and command of facts. He retired from active duty the following year, on September 30, 1948, closing a thirty-seven-year career that had bridged the U.S. Army’s transition from horse-drawn artillery to atomic-age administration. Upon retirement, Wyche moved to Pinehurst, North Carolina, where his civic engagement reflected the broader postwar veteran culture of the state, where he remained active in veterans’ organizations and civic affairs until he passed away on July 8, 1981. Upon his death, Wyche was interred at the Fort Bragg Main Post Cemetery.

Legacy and Significance to North Carolina History

Wyche’s legacy is both national and distinctly North Carolinian. His rise from Ocracoke’s maritime isolation to the upper echelons of the U.S. Army reflected the possibilities of merit-based advancement in early twentieth-century America. He stands in a lineage of Tar Heel military leaders, such as Major General John F. Morrison and General Jacob L. Devers, whose contributions shaped national policy and combat doctrine.

For North Carolina historians, Wyche represents a vital link between local heritage and international conflict. His story underscores how the state’s citizens participated in the creation of a modern, professional army during a century of global upheaval. The preservation of his papers at East Carolina University ensures that researchers can continue to study his administrative acumen, leadership philosophy, and human dimension of command. The collection includes correspondence, military orders, training materials, and reports related to the 1947 Lee investigation, materials invaluable for understanding both the institutional Army and its moral culture in the postwar world.

Wyche’s life also contributes to broader discussions of civil-military relations, wartime innovation, and the role of character in leadership. His career reflected the Army’s best traditions: discipline, adaptability, and an unwavering sense of duty. For North Carolina, he remains a model of how local upbringing and public service can intersect in the making of national history.

Philip Howard, “Ocracoke’s WWII General Ira Thomas Wyche,” Ocracoke Observer, March 26, 2025, https://ocracokeobserver.com/2025/03/26/ocracokes-own-wwii-general-ira-thomas-wyche.

Howard, “Ocracoke’s WWII General Ira Thomas Wyche.”

George W. Cullum, Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, Supplement, 1910–1920 (West Point, NY: Association of Graduates, 1920).

Ira Thomas Wyche Papers (#210), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.

United States Army, The Cross of Lorraine: A Combat History of the 79th Infantry Division, June 1942–December 1945 (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946), 3–7.

“79th Infantry Division (U.S.),” Database-Mémoire, https://www.database-memoire.eu/prive/en-us/12-present-us/191-79-infantry-division-us.

“79th Infantry Division,” US Army Divisions (ArmyDivs),https://www.armydivs.com/79th-infantry-division.

“Forgotten Fights: Assault on Fortress Cherbourg,” The National WWII Museum, https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/assault-on-fortress-cherbourg-june-1944.

Hank H. Cox, The General Who Wore Six Stars: The Inside Story of John C. H. Lee (Dulles, VA: Potomac Books, 2018), 222-225.

“General Wyche to Investigate Charges in Italy,” Time, May 12, 1947.

William S. Powell, Dictionary of North Carolina Biography: T-Z. United States: University of North Carolina Press, 1996.

Submitted by Rebecca May, Wake Forest University

Wake Forest University: ZSR Library

Location

Winston Salem, NC

Open Date

Sep 24, 2025

Deadline

Oct 27, 2025 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Description

The Z. Smith Reynolds Library seeks a library and archives professional to serve as Outreach and Reference Archivist for Special Collections & Archives (SCA). The successful candidate will provide leadership in outreach, reference, and programmatic initiatives that highlight and preserve Wake Forest University history, with a special focus on planning and implementation for the University’s Bicentennial in 2034.

In collaboration with the Director, Special Collections & Archives/Executive Director, Wake Forest Historical Museum, the Outreach and Reference Archivist will serve as an additional liaison between the University Archives, Wake Forest University, and the Town of Wake Forest (home of the University’s original campus) communities to prepare and plan for the 2034 bicentennial. Travel will be required between the locations, and funding will be provided for mileage reimbursement.

This is a full-time, twelve-month Librarian position with Library Faculty status. The Outreach and Reference Archivist reports to the Public Services Archivist and is a member of the Special Collections & Archives Team, one of six teams in the library. ZSR Library faculty are governed by the policies of the Librarians’ Assembly and are evaluated annually on Librarianship (70%), Scholarship and Professional Achievement (20%), and Service (10%).

Duties and Responsibilities

The Outreach and Reference Archivist will lead initiatives that connect the campus and broader community with University history and Special Collections resources. Bicentennial planning will be a major focus, but responsibilities will extend beyond 2034 to ensure sustained engagement and access.

• Bicentennial Planning & Outreach
  • Coordinate SCA’s contributions to the Wake Forest University Bicentennial.
  • Collaborate with the Wake Forest Historical Museum and other partners on exhibits, programs, and events.
  • Conduct and manage oral history interviews documenting Wake Forest history.
  • Serve on any relevant university committees.

• Access & Engagement
  • Develop reference services, subject guides, exhibits, and instructional support related to WFU history.
  • Create and manage social media content and oversee the University Timeline.
  • Promote archival resources to Wake Forest communities through ongoing outreach programs.

• Digitization & Collections Prioritization
  • Collaborate with SCA Collections Archivist and Digital Collections Librarian to identify and select high-priority collections for processing and digitization.

• Supervision
  • May supervise student assistants and volunteers.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited library school or equivalent master’s degree.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse constituencies in a team-based environment.
• Excellent communication, research, and writing skills.
• Demonstrated potential to meet promotion requirements within a ranked, non-tenure track library faculty appointment.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred qualifications are not required and ZSR is committed to helping future colleagues increase their academic knowledge and/or develop preferred skills.

• One to two years of experience in an archives and/or special collections environment.
• Experience conducting and managing oral history projects, including metadata creation.
• Familiarity with metadata schema such as DACS and Dublin Core, and with other library and archival descriptive and content standards.
• Demonstrated skills in project management.

Salary and Rank

Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. The anticipated rank is Assistant Librarian, with a minimum starting salary of $60,000 annually plus a comprehensive benefits package including professional development support. The budget for this position is limited to the Assistant Librarian rank. Librarians appointed at the Assistant rank are expected to achieve promotion to Associate within the time frame defined by the ZSR Librarians’ Assembly Governing Document.

About ZSR Library and Wake Forest University

The Z. Smith Reynolds Library, with a collection of over 1.9 million volumes, materials expenditures of over $6 million, and an operating budget of over $14 million, serves over 5,500 undergraduates and more than 2,800 graduate and professional students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, School of Medicine, School of Law, School of Business, School of Divinity, and the School of Professional Studies.

Wake Forest University is a private liberal arts institution consistently ranked among the nation’s top universities. Wake Forest combines the resources of a research university with the intimacy of a smaller college, offering small classes, strong faculty-student engagement, and Division I athletics. The University is deeply committed to public service and engagement with the world, as reflected in its motto, “Pro Humanitate.”

The campus is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, ideally situated between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Atlantic coast. To ensure a safe learning and working community, Wake Forest University conducts background checks on the final candidate. Wake Forest seeks to recruit and retain a diverse faculty and staff to enhance the excellence of the University and to offer students a wide variety of perspectives and ways of learning.

Application Instructions

Interested applicants should submit the following materials through Interfolio at https://apply.interfolio.com/174591: a cover letter addressing required and preferred qualifications (typically no more than two pages), curriculum vitae, and contact information for three professional references. Questions may be directed to Rebecca May, search committee chair, at petersrb@wfu.edu. For full consideration, applications should be received by October 27, 2025, when review will begin. Review will continue until the position is filled.

Submitted by John O'Connor, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has reopened our application for the Library Archives Operations Manager position. We are a great library and medium-sized collection focused on improving the diversity of, discoverability of, and access to our collections. Please post to your list at your as soon as possible. We appreciate your help!

_____________________________________________________________

APPLY at the Mecklenburg County HR Application Portal

Library Archives Operations Manager

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

“Follow your calling, Find your career”    

Please apply by 10/9/25

Salary Range $67,095.00 - $100,642.00

This is an exempt (salaried) position. Pay rates are based on education, skill, experience level and internal equity. Internal equity considerations include an assessment of the applicant’s salary history and qualifications in comparison to the market rate and requirements for the job.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is one of America’s leading urban public libraries, serving one of the country’s great emerging metropolitan areas in North Carolina. Our library system serves a community of approximately one million citizens in the city of Charlotte and the towns of Matthews, Pineville, Mint Hill, Davidson, Cornelius, and Huntersville – all located in Mecklenburg County. Accessible and welcoming to all, our library celebrates the joy of reading, fosters learning and growth, connects people to each other and the world, and inspires individuals with what they can achieve. Through our 20 locations, online, and through targeted outreach, we deliver exceptional library services and programs with a mission to create a community of readers and empower individuals with free access to information and the universe of ideas.

Location: 
Library Administration Center
510 Stitt Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28213
*Note: this position is expected to primarily work at the LAC after the new Main Library has opened, but will be required to perform some reference shifts (weekly) in the Main Library as well*

Schedule:
40 hours per week. Typically 8-5, though some schedule flexibility is available (e.g., 8:30-5:30, etc.). Occasional Work From Home on an ad hoc basis is allowed with manager permission, but primary duties of the role require in-person work. Occasional weekend work may be required with weekday schedule adjustments as needed.

Position Summary:
The Archives Operations Manager is responsible for the development and management of archival collections. This role is responsible for ensuring the acquisition, preservation, discoverability, and accessibility of archival materials in accordance with professional standards and developing archival collection policies and procedures. This role manages the work of 2 Librarians who provide archival and special collections processing.

Essential Functions:

• Lead archival collection development through the acquisition, processing, arrangement, description, and preservation of physical and digital archival materials.
• Manage Librarian work on digitization, special collections processing, and archival collections development.
• Provide leadership in the ongoing development and implementation of archival standards and best practices for physical, digitized, and born-digital collections.
• Follow international archival and metadata standards and practices to provide accurate arrangement, description, and discovery for the Library’s archival collections.
• Create original accession and resource records for each collection in the archive using Encoded Archival Description (EAD) metadata schema.
• Create and maintain relationships with community partners to develop archival collections.
• Assist with other aspects of Archives and Special Collections duties, to include reference, programming, outreach, and innovative projects within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community in addition to archival duties.

Job Requirements

Minimum Qualifications: 
Minimum of five years of progressive, specialized experience in archives that yields the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position.

Education:
Master’s degree in Library Science (or equivalent such as MIS, MSIS, MLIS, MSLS, etc.) from an ALA-accredited institution; preference for concentration in either physical or digital archives.

Licenses and Certifications:
NC Public Library certification required or must be obtained within a specific timeframe.

Equivalent Education & Experience Accepted? Yes

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated knowledge of archival standards (such as NARA 1571, DACS, EAD, etc.) related to documents, maps, newspapers, photographs, artifacts, textiles, and digital records.
• Working knowledge of archival management systems (such as ArchivesSpace)
• Knowledge of MARC metadata standards.
• Coursework or professional development related to digital archives.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge in:

•  Current trends and developments in archival sciences.
• Acquisition, processing, arrangement, description, and preservation of physical and digital archival materials

Skilled in: 

• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, presentation skills, and public speaking skills including the ability to adjust communication style to interact effectively with users of different ages, backgrounds, and abilities
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and self-directed learning.

Ability to: 

• Building Partnerships: Identifying opportunities and taking action to build strategic relationships between one’s area and other areas, teams, departments, community groups or organizations to help achieve business goals.
• Communication: Clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the audience and helps them understand and retain the information provided.
• Decision Making: Identifying and understanding issues, problems, and opportunities; comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions independently; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequence.
• Information Monitoring: Setting up ongoing procedures to collect and review information needed to manage an organization or ongoing activities within it.
• Technical/professional Knowledge and Skills: Having achieved a satisfactory level of technical and professional skill or knowledge in position-related areas; keeping up with current developments and trends in areas of expertise.
• Work Standards: Setting high standards of performance for self and others; assuming responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks.

Computer Skills:

• Excellent command of various computer applications including Microsoft Office Suite.
• Above average command of computers and comfort discussing basic digital preservation topics.

Work Environment:
Works in an office setting with moderate noise

Selection:
This classification has been identified as having a role in the development of ADA compliant technologies and for which the incumbent agrees to follow County policies to the best of their abilities in order to meet these obligations.

Reasonable Accommodations Statement:
To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Disclaimer Statement:
This is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, requirements or working conditions. Other duties may be assigned based on business need and the supervisor’s request. Mecklenburg County reserves the right to revise the job description at any time. Designated positions may be required to assist in emergency and/or disaster situations.

APPLY at the Mecklenburg County HR Application Portal

Join us in celebrating Archives Month and America's 250 with a series of free, virtual Lunch and Learn talks related to the different peoples of North Carolina, and the roles they have played in the country's history, and how we preserve related records. Our first talk will be next Wednesday!

SNCA Archives Month Lunch and Learns

October 1st, 12-1pm, Promise and Peril of Handwritten Text Recognition & Artificial Intelligence in Archives

Ben and Sara Brumfield, creators of From the Page, will be speaking about using AI for transcription of archival documents. Not all transcription is the same. Documents transcribed by humans or different kinds of AI have different strengths and weaknesses that affect how archives can use them responsibly. We'll go deep into three transcription methods: human transcription by staff or volunteers, handwritten text recognition via tools like Transkribus, and generative text from large language models like ChatGPT. Then we'll talk about where AI works and where it fails. Finally, we'll look at two ways we are trying to implement responsible AI to help humans -- both volunteers and staff -- in FromThePage.

Meeting Link: https://ecu.webex.com/ecu/j.php?MTID=ma67f0fae4834aa872bb38159719c7012 

Meeting number: 2863 354 7342

Meeting password: JSixBswm342

October 8th, 12-1pm, Show-and-Tell Panel

• Zachary Tumlin, Project Archivist for the Duke Family Papers, Duke University, speaking about Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans and his project to process her family papers 

• David Gwynn, Digitization Coordinator and Associate Professor, UNC-Greensboro, speaking about a LGTBQ oral history project

• Karina Burbank, Special Collections Research Center Student Exhibit Curator, North Carolina State University, speaking about NC State Fair collection

Meeting link: https://ecu.webex.com/ecu/j.php?MTID=m4ced025702ab75834a7c414f25b8f02d

Meeting number: 2865 211 5631

Meeting password: 7MxjYmYPr37

October 29th, 12-1 pm, Archives Influencing Art

Winston-Salem based artist Sauda Mitchel will speak about her work utilizing printmaking and QR code technology as a creative non-traditional access method linking viewers to archival repositories, curated exhibitions, and aggregated data.

Meeting link: https://ecu.webex.com/ecu/j.php?MTID=m75148041e64ccd4aa1ada69317fd972b 

Meeting number: 2633 436 2260

Password: GupstPgd369 

Dear SNCA Members,

After careful research and thoughtful discussion, the SNCA Board has made the decision to adjust our annual membership dues. This change will allow us to continue offering high-quality educational programs, support the annual conference, and sustain the overall health of our organization.

Beginning with your next membership renewal, the new rates will be as follows:

• Regular Membership: $30 (previously $25)
• Student Membership: $10 (previously $12.50)

We believe this adjustment will not only help maintain the quality of programming our members expect but also make student membership more accessible, with the hope of encouraging greater student involvement in SNCA.

This decision was not made lightly, and we remain committed to transparency with our membership. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out directly to Patrick Cash, President, at cashpa18@ecu.edu or Randall Bowman, Membership Chair, at rbowman@elon.edu.

Thank you for your continued support of SNCA and for the vital role you play in strengthening our community of current and future archivists across North Carolina.

Sincerely,

Patrick Cash, President

Randall Bowman, Membership Chair