Archives Assistant, Williams College Libraries, Williamstown, MA
Posted July 24, 2015
We are pleased to announce an opening for a full-time, year round Archives Assistant with the College Archives and Special Collections department of the Williams College Libraries. Under minimal supervision and in conjunction with the College Archivist, the Archives Assistant is responsible for managing the daily operations of the department. This position is responsible for working with patrons, donors, accessioning donations, processing collections, conserving materials, providing reference services, assisting with the planning of class instruction sessions, conducting research appointments, completing research for college offices, and preparing exhibitions.
Responsibilities:
- Provide reference assistance to staff, faculty, students and outside researchers for collections and databases available in the College Archives and in other departments or institutions
- Conduct research appointments with scholars and members of the campus community involved in class or college-related projects
- Accession incoming gifts and donations using ArchivesSpace and other content management software
- Arrange and describe the archival collections using archival national standards (such as DACS), and creates and posts online finding aids/research guides to collections
- Perform conservation procedures for a variety of media as necessary when processing a collection
- In concert with the College Archivist and Records Manager/Digital Resources Archivist, works closely with donors to acquire the donation/transfer of items in a variety of formats of historical interest to the college
- Perform outreach activities such as preparing exhibitions, utilizing rare and special collections, as well as contributing to campus wide projects and initiatives
- Hire, train, supervise, and develop projects for student assistants
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of two years of experience in a related field
- Ability to interpret and clarify research inquiries utilizing base knowledge of national archival standards
- Must be able to exercise considerable discretion and judgment regarding access and use of the collections, and handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion
- Organizational skills, attention to detail, flexibility, ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment, effective communication skills, and the ability to provide high quality customer service are essential
- Ability to work with the public, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and a commitment to serving students, staff, faculty and the public in a courteous manner
- Experience with and knowledge of the MS Office Suite, Adobe Products, ArchivesSpace or another content management system, Google applications and cloud-based solutions
- Experience in reference and/or research, management and/or supervision of students, handson preservation techniques, and web editing is preferred
- Knowledge of and commitment to the values of a liberal arts education
- Demonstrated user-oriented approach to service
- Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds, climb a ladder, stoop and reach in a variety of physical locations
For optimal consideration, please complete the application and submit your cover letter and resume by August 7, 2015.
Employment at Williams is contingent on the verification of background information submitted by the applicant, including the completion of a criminal record check, and education when applicable.
To apply for this position, please visit https://staff-careers.williams.edu. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us via phone at (413) 597-4247 or email at [email protected]. Beyond meeting fully its legal obligations for non-discrimination, Williams College is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community where members from all backgrounds can live, learn and thrive.
Job ID 301113