Digitalization Specialist

Description

LAC Federal is seeking an experienced full-time Digitization Specialist for a position with our client, a prestigious government library located in Beltsville, MD. The Digitization Specialist will work with the federal staff to plan and carryout a large-scale digitization project of federal agency publications. The Specialist will provide configuration management, systems administration, and operational support for the digital preservation repository and associated digitization infrastructure. This role ensures that digitized materials, metadata, and preservation files are properly ingested, validated, stored, and maintained in accordance with established digital preservation standards and agency operational requirements.

The Specialist works at the intersection of library metadata, digital imaging workflows, repository configuration, and preservation storage systems to ensure long-term accessibility, integrity, and reliability of digital collections.

Responsibilities:

Administer and support NAL’s digital preservation repository, ensuring proper ingestion, storage, validation, and retrieval of digital objects.

Configure and maintain repository settings, workflows, user permissions, and metadata schemas in alignment with NAL policies and standards.

Monitor repository performance, storage utilization, file integrity, and preservation workflows.

Implement fixity checks, version control procedures, and validation routines to ensure authenticity and long-term integrity of digital assets.

Maintain accurate documentation of repository configurations, change controls, and system updates.

Establish and maintain configuration baselines for repository software, digitization-related applications, and preservation workflows.

Implement structured change management processes to ensure updates and modifications are tested, approved, and recorded.

Coordinate with vendors and IT stakeholders to troubleshoot issues, deploy patches, and resolve system-level concerns.

Ensure repository systems comply with file naming conventions, metadata standards, and digital object storage requirements. 

Ensure accurate mapping and transformation of MARC-based bibliographic metadata into repository-compatible digital metadata formats.

Validate metadata during ingest to confirm compliance with NAL digitization processing requirements and ANSI/NISO holdings standards.

Support integration between catalog systems and the digital preservation repository.

Oversee digital object packaging, including structural, descriptive, administrative, and preservation metadata components.

Perform routine maintenance of digitization-related software systems and digital storage environments.

Monitor system logs, workflow queues, and repository ingestion pipelines to ensure uninterrupted operations.

Support backup, replication, and disaster recovery procedures to ensure digital preservation continuity.

Identify risks to system stability or data integrity and recommend corrective actions.

Utilize workflow management systems (e.g., JIRA) to track repository-related tasks and technical issues.

Contribute to monthly activity reporting, documenting system status, configuration changes, repository metrics, and identified operational risks.

Provide technical recommendations to improve efficiency, reliability, and preservation quality across digitization and repository operations.

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience supporting digital preservation repositories or institutional repository platforms in a library, archives, or cultural heritage environment.
• Strong understanding of digital preservation principles, including fixity, authenticity, redundancy, versioning, and lifecycle management.
• Experience with metadata standards and bibliographic systems, including the ability to interpret MARC records and transform metadata into repository-compatible formats. 
• Knowledge of digitization standards and best practices, including familiarity with FADGI guidelines.
• Experience in configuration management, system documentation, and change control processes.
• Experience supporting file storage environments, digital asset management systems, or repository platforms.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills in technical environments. 

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to sit for extended periods while working at a computer workstation, reviewing digital files, configuring repository systems, and managing metadata and digitization workflows.
• Ability to occasionally lift, carry, or move boxes of library materials, digitization equipment, or related supplies weighing up to approximately 25 pounds.
• Ability to perform repetitive tasks such as keyboarding, mouse use, and handling physical materials during digitization preparation, while maintaining attention to detail and accuracy.

Benefits

Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)

Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)

Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)

Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)

Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)

Short Term & Long-Term Disability

Training & Development

EEO Statement

The company and its subsidiaries are an equal opportunity employer and celebrate the population of differences and does not discriminate in its hiring/hiring practices, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Nothing in this job specification restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. 

Critical features of this job are described under various headings above. They may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons. The above statements are strictly intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees in this position.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. 

To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. 

Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.