Archives Education Fellowship in Special Collections

Job Description
Department:
Special Collections and Archives - Staff
Pay Rate Type:
Hourly
Employee Type:
Job Summary:Colby College Libraries
Full-Time, Temporary, 9-Month, Non-Exempt, Hourly, Staff Appointment

The Archives Education Fellowship in Special Collections is a 9-month (mid-August 2022 through mid-May 2023) appointment that provides essential support to the archives education librarian. The Fellowship is conceived to be a fifth-year professional opportunity that provides recent college graduates with valuable archival and teaching experience. There is the possibility of extending the Fellowship for a second year. We encourage inquiries from candidates who will contribute to the diversity of our College, including its cultural and ethnic diversity.

Colby College Special Collections houses the College’s rare books, literary manuscripts, and institutional archives. Located in Miller Library, the Colby College Libraries’ main branch, Special Collections achieves its dual mandates of preservation and access via a range of professional activities that physically safeguard, intellectually describe, and outwardly promote use of the collections. Special Collections staff develop the collections primarily via judicious acquisition of materials with direct ties to the Colby curriculum.

The primary venue through which Special Collections enriches Colby’s academic program is the vibrant and ever-expanding Archives Education program. Led by the Archives Education Librarian, the program currently provides over 50 archival labs per academic year in close collaboration with teaching faculty. Archival labs are immersive experiences that annually connect over 700 undergraduates with unique and rare materials. The labs range in intensity from single hands-on sessions to semester-long engagement involving scaffolded assignments.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Following the lead of the Archives Education Librarian, the fellow will:

• Participate in faculty consultations to schedule and plan archival labs
• Develop and plan class sessions, active learning exercises, and assignments
• Research and select appropriate teaching materials housed within archival, literary, and rare book collections
• Co-teach archival labs with the archives education librarian as needed
• Assist students with research when they return to complete immersive assignments
• Document and assess archival lab experiences and keep accurate statistics for reporting and advocacy
• Develop outreach materials to promote and expand the teaching program, including social media and exhibits
• Perform additional duties as assigned; duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in education and experience; relevant coursework preferred
• Colby graduate preferred, due to familiarity with Colby’s history and campus culture
• Prior experience in an archival/rare book repository preferred
• Excellent research skills
• Genuine interest in the archival and rare book fields and in teaching with primary source materials
• Outstanding interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills
• Attention to detail
• Able to work independently, exercise judgment, and manage projects with minimal supervision while also adjusting to new projects as assigned
• Must be highly motivated, flexible, and comfortable with diverse audiences
• Talent to work as a member of a team, establish priorities, and work collaboratively as a member of a diverse community within a fast-paced work environment
• Ability to promote and make accessible archival/rare book collections in creative and innovative ways
• Must demonstrate reliability and consistency during the workweek; this position is intimately integrated into the daily work of the teaching program and the department

KEY RELATIONSHIPS:

Co-supervised by the assistant director for special collections and the archives education librarian, this position has significant interactions with faculty, staff, and students.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS :

General open office and campus environment. Position involves sitting, although frequent movement is necessary. Occasional lifting is required. Computer usage involving repetitive hand/wrist motion is also necessary.

TO APPLY :

Interested candidates should apply electronically by clicking the "Apply" button on the Colby Careers website. Please submit a letter of interest, resume, and the contact information of three professional references. Materials should be addressed to:

Archives Education Fellowship in Special Collections - Search Committee
Office of Human Resources
Colby College
5500 Mayflower Hill
Waterville, ME 04901-8855