Preservation Handling Technician
Job Title
Handling Technician (Preservation Operations)
Day in the Life
A handling technician is responsible for the proper handling and digital processing of collection items. Collection items include manuscript and typescript single page documents, photographs, negatives, slides, books, scrapbooks, newspapers, and oversized materials such as blueprints and maps. Handling technicians capture digital images following standard capture guidelines to ensure proper digital preservation. They use several pieces of equipment including flatbed, rotary, and CopiBook scanners. They may also work with specialized equipment like the Phase One, ATIZ, or Versa Scan for digital capture. A handling technician needs to understand and use many different programs such as Epson, Scantheus, and Capture One as well as Adobe products such as Photoshop and Bridge.
A good handling technician is quick to learn new equipment and technologies. They understand the importance of digital preservation and attention to detail. A day in the life of a handling technician is spent working with materials and capturing digital images. Individuals who prefer hands-on work and value the preservation of history would do well in this profession.
Experience Pathway
A handling technician needs a high school diploma and previous production, digital scanning, or digital capture experience. While a bachelor’s degree is not required, it is beneficial, as is a background in history or photography.
Thoughts from Our Handling Technicians
“Taking part in the digitization of the collection is a wonderful opportunity. Not only do we get to see incredible things, but we are taking part in the process of making the collection available to academic and family history patrons. This allows for new research, publication, and sometimes temple work. The availability of these documents helps bring people to Jesus Christ and turn the hearts of the children to the fathers.
“This work allows us to help preserve and make available the history of the Church. Digital preservation protects our history. This is important work, and I am grateful to be a part of it.”