Archivist - A00047

Position Summary:

The Dean B. Ellis Library at Arkansas State University seeks a forward-thinking professional Archivist to lead our Archives & Special Collections unit. This position will be instrumental in continuing the transformation of Archives & Special Collections from a predominantly traditional manuscript archive to one with an active digital presence. A-State’s archival collections primarily emphasize Northeast Arkansas, with a focus on political, agricultural, and historical manuscript collections. Collections include the political papers of four members of the U.S. House of Representatives totaling 72 consecutive years, 206 reels of recently digitized 16mm news footage from Jonesboro’s KAIT-8 television station, the papers of former Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe (2007-2015), and the Judd Hill and Twist Plantation records

The successful candidate will work primarily within Archives & Special Collections, but will also actively collaborate with other library units in a collegial and cooperative environment. This is a non-teaching, non-tenured faculty position reporting to the Library Director. The Archivist will be the primary spokesperson on behalf of Archives & Special Collections, and will supervise the unit’s full-time and part-time personnel

Duties & Responsibilities:

Supervises and leads day-to-day operations of Archives & Special Collections Hires, trains, supervises, mentors, and evaluates full-time personnel, interns, and graduate assistants Plans and oversees the acquisition, processing, description, storage, preservation, and possible digitization of materials that document the cultural heritage of Northeast Arkansas and the Mississippi Delta region Identifies and expands upon opportunities to incorporate archival and special collections and resources into the curriculum Ensures that all Archives & Special Collections activities are in accordance with best standards and practices Assists patrons with research, copy, and licensing requests Actively participates in the preparation and submission of grants and other external funding proposals Actively maintains the full integration of Archives & Special Collections in the Dean B. Ellis Library through communications, collaboration, policy development, and participation in a variety of library meetings, planning, and assessment processes Develops and implements procedures, guidelines, and workflows    Engages in continuing professional development, including participation in state, regional, and national professional activities Other duties as identified or needed

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability and willingness to work with colleagues in a collaborative and team environment, as well as independently
• Experience working with archival manuscript collections, especially in processing archival collections in accordance with foundational principles such as respect des fonds and original order
• Experience training and directing the work of staff, student assistants, interns, and/or volunteers working on archival processing projects
• Experience curating collections with privacy concerns, including processing and providing access to sensitive, restricted, or classified information
• Experience writing archival finding aids, whether in an archival content management system, or in Microsoft Word/Excel
• Ability to lift and carry a forty-pound box and climb a ladder to retrieve materials
• Ability to travel as needed to participate in consortia and professional activities

General Days/Hours:

Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Additional hours as requested and/or needed
Regular and reliable attendance

Other:

Please note: all position postings close at 12:00 A.M. CST on the position closing date

Minimum Qualifications:

ALA-accredited MLS with an archival component, MA in Archival Studies, or international equivalent
Three (3) years of archival experience with increasing levels of responsibility

Preferred:
• Experience working in an academic setting
• Demonstrated ability to publicly advocate for archives, special collections, and archival projects
• Successful experience in writing grants and other forms of external fundraising
• Experience working with a variety of formats including: born digital, digitized, paper-based, and mixed media archival collections
• Familiarity with major archival content management systems (ACMS), such as ArchivesSpace, Collective Access, etc.
• Demonstrated ability to work simultaneously on a variety of projects and initiatives
• Familiarity with or interest in Arkansas history and politics
• A documented record of ongoing professional activity