Archives Project Assistant, Healey Library, Boston, MA

Posted October 18, 2017

The University of Massachusetts Boston was established in 1964 to provide the opportunity for superior education at moderate cost to the people of greater Boston. It is located on Columbia Point peninsula, which it shares with the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library. UMass Boston is nationally recognized as a model of excellence for urban universities. UMass Boston brings the resources of a major university to people from all walks of life, offering undergraduate and graduate programs in approximately 90 fields of study, as well as advanced certificate programs through its Division of Corporate, Continuing and Distance Education. The University is one of five institutions in the Greater Boston Urban Education Collaborative, a group that collectively works to expand services, enrich programming, develop greater flexibility, and contribute more fully to the future development of the community.

 

The Joseph P. Healey Library seeks a part-time, non-benefited, Project Assistant to process the papers of Theresa-India Young (1950-2008), noted Boston fiber artist, educator, community organizer, and artist activist. Under the close direction and supervision of the Project Director, the Project Assistant will survey the collection, verify and update the preliminary inventory, write a processing plan, process the incoming collection according to the department’s guidelines, archival best practice and MPLP, from accession through re-housing, organization, description of series and subseries, creation and upload of finding aid. The Project Assistant will draft a short report of the project for publication in the department’s online newsletter.

The project will provide excellent hands-on training, real-world experience, and the mentorship and guidance of a full-time practicing archivist to budding professionals in the archives profession.

 

Duties:

• Develop and document a processing plan for the incoming collection;
• Establish series, create box and folder lists, re-house materials as necessary;
• Describe materials using standard archival terminology with attention to accuracy and appropriate level of detail;
• Set processing priorities in accordance with goals established and communicated by supervisor;
• Identify and refer items as necessary for preservation treatment;
• Create a finding aid that meets departmental standards;
• Identify duplicate and extraneous material in unprocessed collection and manage disposition decisions in consultation with Project Director.

 

The ideal candidate will be a second-year graduate student with training and archival processing experience that they may have been gained through an internship, volunteering, or as an employee of an institution with archival collections. Demonstrated ability to work independently, efficiently, accurately and with attention to detail. Ability to work as a team. Demonstrated familiarity with archival processing standards and understanding of pragmatic and efficient processing procedures, including applying MPLP guidelines. Demonstrated working knowledge of intermediate features of desktop word processing, spreadsheet (e.g. formulas, import/export) applications. Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. Working conditions will likely include some exposure to dust and mold.

 

The University of Massachusetts Boston provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information. In addition to federal law requirements, the University of Massachusetts Boston complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the university operates. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment. Among the procedures which may be used to select personnel to fill vacant positions are review of work experience, reference checks, and interviews. All appointments and promotions will be effective on a Sunday.

 

Please apply online with your resume, cover letter, and list of three professional work references.

• Temporary, non-benefited. 
• Part-time, up to 10 hours/week.
• Weekly schedule TBD.
• Hourly rate: $15/ hour
• Unrestricted funding.

 

Review of candidates will begin following the application closing date.

 

Closing date for applications: November 1, 2017.

 

Apply here.