Assistant Archivist

Description

Position Summary:

The Assistant Archivist will inventory, arrange, and describe paper, media, and digital archival collections pertaining to the heritage of Northeast Arkansas and the operations and functions of Arkansas State University. Collections include university records, agricultural, historical, and political collections which consist of congressional, gubernatorial, and legislative papers. The successful candidate will participate in digitizing archival resources for the Dean B. Ellis Library’s A-State Research and Creative Hub (ARCH) institutional repository and with grant-seeking activities.

This position will work directly with in-person and online researchers, faculty, and students to provide reference service and access to the collections. The Assistant Archivist will supervise the Archives & Special Collections in the Head Archivist’s absence and will help supervise graduate assistants. This non-teaching, non-tenured, faculty status position is part of the Archives & Special Collections unit at the Dean B. Ellis Library and will report to the Head Archivist.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Arrange and describe archival collections pertaining to the heritage of Northeast Arkansas and the Delta region, including but not limited to, political and agricultural collections.
• Process archival materials in all formats but especially paper, photographic, digital, and audio/video.
• Participate in identifying and acquiring archival collections pertaining to the heritage of Northeast Arkansas and the Delta region.
• Work with the Head Archivist to develop and implement procedures and guidelines and workflows
• Provide reference services for Archives & Special Collections as needed
• Actively participate in library and campus teams and committees
• Engage in continuing professional development, including participating in state, regional, and national professional activities
• Other duties as identified or needed

General Days/Hours:

Monday through Friday: 8:00 am-5:00 pm
Occasional Saturdays: Hours dependent of Library operating hours
Additional hours as requested and/or needed
Regular and reliable attendance

Requirements

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal 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 principles such as respect des fonds, original order, and MPLP
• Experience curating collections with privacy concerns, including processing and providing access to sensitive, restricted, or classified information
• Knowledge of current library and archival standards and vocabularies, such as EAD, DACS, MARC, RDA, and LCSH
• Experience writing DACS-compliant finding aids, whether in an archival content management system or in Microsoft Word/Excel
• Ability to travel as needed to participate in consortia and professional activities

Preferred Qualifications:

• Two (2) years of archival experience with increasing levels of responsibility
• Experience working in an academic setting]
• Experience working with a variety of formats including born-digital, digitized, paper-based, and mixed-media archival collections
• Familiarity with archival content management systems such as ArchivesSpace, Archon, or Archivist Toolkit
• Demonstrated ability to work simultaneously on a variety of projects and initiatives
• Familiarity with or interest in Arkansas history and politics
• Ability to assist patrons effectively
• A documented record of ongoing professional activity

Minimum Qualifications:

• ALA-accredited MLS with an archival component, MA in Archival Studies, or international equivalent