Special Collections Research Specialist

Description

The Special Collections Research Specialist is an Administrative Professional (A/P) position - full-time, 12-month, term appointment (up to two years). Reappointment for a second term contingent on job performance and available funding.
Under the general direction of the Associate Dean, the Research Specialist position will improve access and enhance outreach activities for the Open Court collection, the Alwin C. Carus papers, and the Hegeler-Carus families' papers.

Examples of Duties

The Research Specialist provides direct service to the general public, students, academic and specialized researchers, and correspondents by interpreting, evaluating, and analyzing their research needs by applying knowledge of history and literature, historiography, and the holdings of the archives in order to guide, direct, instruct, or provide the information necessary to answer inquiries and to make the archival records of the Special Collections Research Center available for use.
The Research Specialist arranges, describes, and prepares finding aids for collections of enduring historical value according to archival best practices. The Research Specialist supervises the work of student assistants, including graduate assistants.
The Research Specialist contributes to the development and enhancement of departmental research and digital projects. The Research Specialist performs special projects and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• This position requires a Master's degree in philosophy, literature, classics, languages, linguistics, world religions, history, or related field; OR MLS degree with BA in one of those fields.
• Knowledge of arrangement, preservation, description, and interpretation of manuscript collections, including the use of archival management systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work with multimedia records and curate digital collections.
• Demonstrated ability in instruction and promotion of primary source materials.
• Demonstrated strong communication (written and oral) and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse staff and clientele.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience providing moderately complex to complex reference services at an archival repository or research library.
• Knowledge of philosophy and its research methods.
• Reading knowledge of German, French, or Latin.
• Proficiency reading cursive handwriting from the 19th century to modern times.
• Experience managing projects that involve collaborating with diverse campus groups and personnel.
• Experience in archival conservation techniques.

Supplemental Information

The Special Collections Research Center (SCRC) of Morris Library at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU) collects and preserves unique and rare historical materials in selected subject areas and promotes the use of these materials by the SIU community, scholars, and the public. Its goal is to advance scholarship and further the educational, research, and service missions of the university.