Special Collections Fellow, University of California Riverside, (Riverside, CA)
Posted November 5, 2025
Position description
The University of California, Riverside Library seeks applications for a Special Collections Fellow. This is a temporary, full-time, benefitted appointment for one year, with a possible one year additional extension, within the Special Collections & University Archives department (SCUA). This full-time, career-building opportunity is ideal for early-career librarians committed to the field of archives and special collections, and/or Native American Studies.
We will hold two informational sessions about this position on Zoom webinar. All are welcome to attend.
Thursday, October 9 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm (Zoom registration link: https://ucr.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dUSXggzmQBu8Ud3_YRxZsQ)
Monday, October 20 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm (Zoom registration link: https://ucr.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_T4muwOayTG2uyuttZiJP3g)
Key responsibilities include:
Reporting to the Special Collections Processing Archivist, the Fellowship centers on increasing documentation and discovery of the Rupert & Jeannette Costo papers, an important collection documenting Native American history and culture, through the Costo Baskets Project. The Fellow will gain professional experience in metadata and record creation, outreach to Indigenous communities, digital and physical exhibition design, and special collections librarianship, while being fully integrated into the department. This position will be supported by a dedicated team including their primary supervisor, a formal Fellowship mentor, and a professional mentoring committee.
Specific responsibilities include:
• Participate in a structured onboarding and an individualized, professional development program.
• Under the guidance and mentorship of Special Collections Librarians, serve as a core member of the Costo Baskets Project, which is an outreach and metadata initiative to increase knowledge and discoverability of the Rupert & Jeannette Costo papers collection.
• Review, describe, and document objects in collaboration with library and community partners.
• Collaborate with library partners to develop relationships and conduct outreach with local Indigenous communities to improve accessibility to culturally significant materials.
• Collaborate with Digitization and Conservation staff regarding care and accessibility of collections.
• Develop a physical capstone exhibition highlighting the Costo materials and sharing findings with on-campus and tribal community audiences.
• Provide mid-term and final project reports to supervisors, including recommendations for continuity of the project.
• Participate in Special Collections & University Archives (SCUA) departmental activities.
Mentorship Professional Development
• Attend relevant conferences, webinars, and training sessions.
• Under the guidance of the Fellowship Mentor, engage with a formal Mentoring Committee, including one-on-one meetings, mock interviews, application support, and professional networking guidance.
• Opportunity to participate in Library and/or UC-wide committees.
Appointment at rank of Associate Librarian Temporary status. Please note that this position is a temporary, full-time, benefitted appointment for one year, with a possible one-year additional extension.
Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
Master’s degree (MLS or MLIS) from an ALA-accredited institution, or equivalent professional degree in Archival Studies, or accredited graduate degree (Master’s or Ph.D) with a specialization in archival management. Degree completion must have been completed no more than 3 years prior to posting date (October 2025).
Demonstrated interest or coursework in special collections, archives, or Native American Studies.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Ability to work collaboratively in a team-based environment.
Excellent organizational and time management skills.
Preferred qualifications
Experience with metadata creation or cataloging practices, particularly for cultural heritage materials.
Knowledge of legal and/or ethical issues surrounding cultural materials, including Indigenous representation, provenance, and repatriation.
Experience working with Native American communities or community-based research.
Compensation and Hours:
See Table 26-B: Represented Librarian Series, Fiscal Year (https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2025-26/represented-july-2025-scales/t26-b.pdf) for the salary range for this position. The full salary range for the position is $72,224 – $84,745.
Department: https://library.ucr.edu/
How to Apply
Document requirements
- Curriculum Vitae – Your most recently updated C.V.
- Cover Letter
- Statement of Research (Optional)
- Statement of Teaching (Optional)
Reference requirements
- 3-5 required (contact information only)
Please provide contact information for a minimum of three references.
Apply link: https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/JPF02184
Help contact: [email protected]