Project Benefits Up grading the hard copy set of records with a digital copy will significantly reduce the amount of time it takes Cultural Resources Staff to track down records needed to complete environmental reviews and internal management projects.

Project Feasibility

The project would require hiring additional, temporary staff to assist with the volume of record keeping required to ensure that Cultural and Paleontological Records are filed to current standards. Current BLM program staff would assist and direct temporary staff with the project goals to ensure quality control and maintain confidentiality of the records as well as integration into the offices' filing system.

Digitize Cultural and Paleo Records

Project Description The Ridgecrest Field Office has an extensive volume of records on file with the Cultural and Paleontology Programs. Only a very minor amount, less than 3%, of these records have been digitized to current standards. Currently these records are in file boxes as a result of the 2021 office remodeling project. This project would fund an archaeological technician to focus on digitizing and filing of sensitive BLM records to current standards and comply with the BLM CA Cultural Protocol.

The Digitization Archival Technician will assist the BLM RIFO Archaeology Team with digitizing and curating confidential records for the Cultural and Paleontological Resource Program.   The Digitization Archival Technician is responsible for providing digitization and archival services to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in Ridgecrest, California.  These services will be provided for 12 weeks in person at the BLM Ridgecrest Field Office. 

Overall Objective(s) The objective of this work is to assist the BLM RIFO Archaeology Team in developing an inventory of hard copy records on file with the Cultural and Paleontology Programs and creating a matching electronic inventory of these records.  • Identify physical records in the RIFO.  • Scan and index hard copies to generate a digital archive.  

Qualifications

Because the agreement under which this position is being advertised is a Public Lands Corps Youth Assistance Agreement, all applicants must be between the ages of 17 and 30 years old on their start date (up to age 35 for veterans).

• Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, History, or closely related museum sciences or archival classes
• Educational and field experiences related to archaeology;
• Exposure to reviewing and interpreting cultural resource data in reports, maps, photographs, etc.;
• Interest in strengthening current skills in developing, editing, organizing, and managing digital files using databases;
• Written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to effectively communicate BLM land management (multiple-use) principles and cultural resource management concepts;

Additional requirements:

• Ability to work independently and in a team setting to accomplish project goals;
• Possess strong organizational skills with ability to meet deadlines and produce professional deliverables including draft documents for team review;
• Flexibility and capability to meet the demands of rapidly changing plans and schedules;
• Possess a valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record with experience safely operating 4WD vehicles on and off paved roads;
• Willingness and ability to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the mission of GBI and goals of BLM;
• Complete a DOI BI. Applicants who already possess a fully adjudicated BI will be strongly considered; and
• Ability to meet AmeriCorps eligibility requirements: (1) U.S. citizenship or legal resident alien status, (2) eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award (limit of four terms or the equivalent of two full-time education awards), (3) pass National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) and federal criminal background checks, (4) adhere to the rules, regulations, and code of conduct as specified in the Member Service Agreement; and (5) not engage in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement