Special Collections Associate

The full-time Special Collections Library Associate will assist the Head of Special Collections and FIT Archive (SPARC) in all aspects of unit operations. S/he/they will work in a secure area of the library with valuable, rare, physical, digitized and born digital historical primary research materials and must be knowledgeable of and comply with security best practices and regulations.

The Library Associate will lead by example and provide expert collection processing and maintenance and support public service, research assistance, and general support of the unit's mission and daily operations.

Responsibilities:

• Collections / Access
  • Arrange, process and describe a broad variety of archival and manuscript collections in physical and digital formats.
  • Use collection management and tracking systems (ArchivesSpace, CollectiveAccess, etc.) in the creation of complex finding aids.
  • Handle fragile, rare collections and employ appropriate best practices, including preservation re-housing and treatment techniques, and applying appropriate digitization protocols.
  • Maintain shelves and physical spaces to preserve intellectual controls of all materials, with oversight of the Special Collections Reading Room to maintain a secure environment.  
• Public & Customer Service
  • Provide researcher and reference services to SPARC patrons.
  • Provide research and instruction support for patrons and groups; Retrieve appropriate materials for researchers; Provide information concerning locations of library resources and other directional inquiries
  • Conduct preliminary research interviews; Schedule appointments for individual researchers and groups.
  • Conduct training and information sessions for various groups internal to or external from FIT.
  • Assist patrons with the use of Library catalogs; responds to patrons' questions
  • Develop innovative services to assist patrons both onsite and virtually. 
• Administrative
  • Maintain statistical usage and other data and use them for various reports.
  • Participate in preparing and updating policies and procedures of the unit
• Cross Unit Responsibilities
  • Work in various capacities outside of the home unit to accomplish library wide initiatives. Such as but not limited to: 
  • Work at any library service desk to fill coverage gaps, assist with metadata description and processing, etc 
  • Serve on various library groups and committees, including but not limited to the Library Public Services Group; Meet with the unit heads and middle management to ensure high quality seamless service to library patrons
  • Support marketing and promotion activities; Represent the library at campus events throughout the academic year (such as attending functions pertaining to new students); participate in the library's event programming (such as Love Your Library)
  • Represent the library at campus events throughout the academic year (such as attending functions pertaining to new students)
• Supervisory
  • Assist with training and supervision of units student aides, clerks, and/or interns/volunteers
  • Assist with staff-cross training initiatives
  • In the absence of the unit head, will act as the authority of the unit in administrative capacities

The preceding description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required of the position; other duties may be assigned consistent with the classification of the position.

LocationFashion Institute of Technology, 7th Avenue, Manhattan Community Board 5, Manhattan, New York County, New York, 10001, United States

Compensation

$66,313 - $71,066 yearly

Application URL or Email

Apply online here