Sai Estep
Banner Elk,NC
Summary
Library and archives professional with 5 years of experience in archival work, including arrangement, description, rehousing, digitization, and metadata creation. Successfully coordinated community projects, such as the Digital Watauga project, and provided effective reference assistance in the Adult Services department at the Watauga County Public Library. Demonstrated ability to supervise technicians, volunteers, and students while ensuring adherence to professional standards and developing instructional documentation. Proficient in creating promotional materials and leveraging social media for advocacy, emphasizing attention to detail and organizational skills.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Digitization Technician
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC
11.2022 - Current
- Perform digital imaging alongside analog to digital audio/video conversion with precision.
- Create Dublin Core metadata and maintain thorough documentation.
- Ensure equipment maintenance and calibration for peak operational readiness.
- Repair and clean items as needed to reformat or transfer content.
- Train and oversee up to seven student workers.
- Collaborate with faculty, staff, and students to assess digitization needs effectively.
- Manage the execution of digitization initiatives within the library and the broader campus community.
Adult Services Specialist and Digital Watauga Coordinator
Watauga County Public Library
Boone , NC
01.2020 - 10.2022
- Digital Watauga Project: Oversaw and coordinated daily activities of the project’s employees and volunteers. Performed ongoing tasks such as digitization, metadata creation, and file organization. Managed the project's 200,000 items. Instrumental to increased production rates and growth of users during position tenure.
- Adult Services: Planned, organized, promoted, and implemented the library’s program of services for adults. Assisted with reference inquiries, programming, publicity, and computer training of library users.
Youth Services Specialist
Watauga County Library
Boone , NC
07.2019 - 12.2019
- Organized and promoted programs, planned and led weekly story time, helped patrons with reference questions, and worked closely with coworkers to complete various projects.
Group Care Administrator
Valle Crucis Conference Center
Valle Crucis, NC
01.2019 - 01.2020
- Facilitated reservations and drafting contracts, maintaining databases and reservation books, and being readily available to help guests.
Education
Master of Library Science - Archives And Records Management
North Carolina Central University
Durham, NCBachelor of Science - Sustainable Development, Environmental Studies, Geography And Geographic Information Systems
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC05.2012
GIS Certificate -
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC05.2012
Skills
- Archival description standards
- Digital imaging and asset management
- Analog to digital conversion
- Metadata creation and management
- Omeka web publishing
- Exhibit curation and installation
- FADGI compliance
- Dublin Core metadata
- Reference assistance and support
- Project management
Accomplishments
- Jones House Exhibit, “150 Years of Workers of Boone,” March 2022
- Jones House Exhibit, "Animals of Watauga County," May 2023
- Estep, S., (2025). Community Collaboration in Action: Coming Together for the Blowing Rocket Digitization Project, poster being presented at SAA annual conference.
- Bradshaw, T., Estep, S., & Woods, J. (2021). Small archive projects in a pandemic: Entertaining America, poster presented at Midwestern Archives Conferences.
- Bradshaw, T., Estep, S., & Woods, J. (2021). Crowdsourcing during covid: Alternative archival programming, poster presented at American Library Association annual conference.
- Bradshaw, T., Estep, S., & Woods, J. (2021). Crowdsourcing during covid: Entertaining Appalachia, poster presented at Society for American Archivists annual conference.
- Winner of LSTA 2021-2022 ARSL Scholarship Grant
- Co-founded the Pandemic in Watauga Project, 2021
- Secretary of the Watauga County Historical Society, 2021-present
- Chair of Humans vs. Zombies program, 2024
- DSI Blog Post, Digitizing the University Libraries Student Artwork Contest, November 2024
- WCHS Hall of Fame induction writeup for Virginia "Ginny" Stevens December 2023
- WCHS Hall of Fame induction writeup for Sandra Hagler, September 2022
- WCHS Hall of Fame induction writeup for Velma Burnley, December 2022
- Member of Society of American Archivists
- Member of American Library Association
Timeline
Digitization Technician
Appalachian State University
11.2022 - Current
Adult Services Specialist and Digital Watauga Coordinator
Watauga County Public Library
01.2020 - 10.2022
Youth Services Specialist
Watauga County Library
07.2019 - 12.2019
Group Care Administrator
Valle Crucis Conference Center
01.2019 - 01.2020
Master of Library Science - Archives And Records Management
North Carolina Central University
Bachelor of Science - Sustainable Development, Environmental Studies, Geography And Geographic Information Systems
Appalachian State University
GIS Certificate -
Appalachian State University
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