Assistant Archivist

Assistant Archivist
University of Puget Sound
Job ID: 6629
Location: Library Administration
Full/Part Time: Part Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular

Staff Posting Details
Appointment: regular, part-time, (0.657) FTE, non-exempt.

Position Summary:

This is a 25 hour per week position that processes the archival holdings of the Archives & Special Collections and provides reference, research, and teaching services as well as supports digital projects work for the department. This position reports directly to the Archivist & Special Collections Librarian.

Working closely with the Archivist & Special Collections Librarian, the successful candidate will help the Archives & Special Collections transform access, enhance discovery, and stimulate student learning using primary sources. This position will process the archival backlog and incoming collections according to the department's guidelines, from accession through re-housing, organization, description, creation and upload of EAD (encoded archival discovery) and DACS-(describing archival content standards) compliant finding aids. The Assistant Archivist serves as principal contact for the Abby Williams Hill papers, a unique collection of writings, ephemera, and artifacts of Hill, an early Tacoma artist. This position will also support acquisitions work by liaising with academic departments, programs, and student organizations to facilitate the transfer of university records to the archives.

This position provides reference services for the Archives & Special Collections, including oversight of the reading room hours, facilitating research appointments, and communicating with researchers via phone, email, or video. This position will assist in supervision of student employees and assist in outreach and instruction for the Archives & Special Collections. This includes assisting with the Archives & Special Collections Instagram account, updating the archives webpages, and organizing and assisting at Archives & Special Collections events.

In addition, the position will also assist with digital projects, which may include the digitization, description, and upload of archival materials to discovery platforms. The position will also need to scan archival materials in support of reference requests and departmental outreach projects.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

• Establish physical and intellectual control over collections by participating in the accession, preservation assessment, arrangement and description, basic conservation, and preparation for long-term storage of collections based on archival policies and procedures including the development of EAD-compliant finding aids.
• Assist in liaising between the Archives & Special Collections and university offices and departments to facilitate the transfer of records and support records management best practices.
• Provides reference services for faculty, staff, students, and the broader community and supervises the Archives & Special Collections reading room during Drop-In Hours.
• Serves as principal contact for the Abby Williams Hill papers, a unique collection of writings, ephemera, and artifacts of this early Tacoma artist. Responsibilities include oversight of the archival collection, research assistance, outreach and consultation with other stakeholders including the Curator of Abby Williams Hill Memorial Collection of paintings.
• Collaborates with the Archivist & Special Collections Librarian to promote and provide curriculum integration support and research assistance for students and faculty.
• Assists in outreach efforts, including providing content for the Archives & Special Collections Instagram account, updating archives webpages and guides, and planning and facilitating events.
• Creates and maintains archival metadata adhering to best practices and standards.
• Participate in the digitization, description, and upload of archival materials to discovery platforms.
• Assists in supervision of student employees.
• Organizes workflow efficiently to maximize production and meet deadlines.
• Compiles statistics for project and individual work.
• Participates in committees, task forces, and other groups as appropriate.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position may be responsible for the supervision of 1-4 student assistants.

Qualifications:

• Graduate degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited institution or equivalent archival experience and academic training.
• 2-3 years successful work experience, with demonstrated ability to provide customer service.
• Aptitude for working effectively with students, faculty, staff, and community members; enthusiasm for delivering high-quality service to an academic community.
• Strong organizational skills, with attention to detail and thoroughness; project management experience or aptitude.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, belonging, inclusion, and equity.
• Understanding basic records management principles, including but not limited to access and handling of sensitive materials.
• Creative problem-solving abilities, initiative, perseverance, and intellectual curiosity.
• Familiarity with archival metadata schema.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to learn, adopt, and propagate new technologies quickly.
• Ability to respectfully work, communicate and provide ledership within a diverse campus community.

Physical Requirements:

Ability to work with a variety of materials in various states of repair and cleanliness. The work environment requires frequent walking, standing, lifting and carrying materials up to 50 pounds, and may require collection shifting.

Compensation and Benefits: This position is benefited and the hourly wage range is $20.98 to $26.55 per hour DOE. Decisions about starting salaries are made based on the extent and relatedness of the candidate's education and experience and on internal equity and market considerations.

Puget Sound offers a generous benefits package. For more information, visit: https://pugetsound.edu/human-resources/benefits

Application Deadline: Review of application materials will be immediately. Search and selection procedures will be closed when a sufficient number of qualified candidates have been identified.

Required Documents:

Resume Letter of Interest

Applications submitted without the required attachments will not be considered.

All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of all required background checks. All new hires will be required to submit proof of current COVID-19 vaccination (including booster) or receive an approved medical or religious exemption from the university.

Diversity Statement:

We acknowledge the richness of commonalities and differences we share as a university community; the intrinsic worth of all who work and study here; that education is enhanced by investigation of and reflection upon multiple perspectives. We aspire to create respect for and appreciation of all persons as a key characteristic of our campus community; to increase the diversity of all parts of our University community through commitment to diversity in our recruitment and retention efforts; to foster a spirit of openness to active engagement among all members of our campus community. We act to achieve an environment that welcomes and supports diversity; to ensure full educational opportunity for all who teach and learn here; to prepare effectively citizen-leaders for a pluralistic world.

Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. To learn more please visit: https://pugetsound.edu/about-puget-sound-0/mission-core-values/institutional-equity-diversity

The University of Puget Sound is an equal opportunity employer.


How to Apply
For complete job description and application instructions, visit: www.pugetsound.edu/employment

About Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a selective national liberal arts college in Tacoma, Washington, drawing 2,600 students from 48 states and 20 countries. Puget Sound graduates include Rhodes and Fulbright scholars, notables in the arts and culture, entrepreneurs and elected officials, and leaders in business and finance locally and throughout the world. A low student-faculty ratio provides Puget Sound students with personal attention from faculty who have a strong commitment to teaching and offer 1,200 courses each year in more than 40 traditional and interdisciplinary fields, including graduate programs in occupational and physical therapy and in education. Puget Sound is the only nationally ranked independent undergraduate liberal arts college in Western Washington, and one of just five independent colleges in the Pacific Northwest granted a charter by Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s most prestigious academic honorary society. Visit "About Puget Sound" (http://www.pugetsound.edu/about) to learn more about the college.

As a strategic goal and through our core values, University of Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. EOE/AA



jeid-8b1127b3a6b4d246849b7c5794083c5a