Assistant Archivist

spelman college; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Spelman College seeks an Assistant Archivist to oversee physical and digital archival processing under the College Archivist. You will assist with reference requests, coordinate outreach activities such as instruction, programming, and exhibits, and help manage processing workflows in ArchivesSpace.

The role requires a strong background in archival theory, familiarity with DACS/EAD/EAC-CPF, and experience supervising student workers, with onsite work at our Atlanta campus.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in library or information science or equivalent in history.
• Graduate level coursework in archival management & theory.
• Knowledge of archival standards including DACS, EAD and EAC-CPF.
• Excellent leadership and organizational skills for coordinating projects.
• Ability to work independently and with diverse staff in a dynamic environment.
• Knowledge of the history and culture of the African Diaspora.
• Experience with digital content management systems.

Responsibilities

• Arrange material in alphabetical, chronological or subject order per plan of arrangement.
• Perform routine preservation tasks and handle unstable materials.
• Prepare item-level inventories for physical collections.
• Assist with receipt, shelving and relocation of archival materials.
• Prepare transfer documentation and donor acknowledgments for the Archives.
• Process digital and physical archival collections and support projects.
• Assist data entry for ArchivesSpace databases.
• Supervise undergraduate student workers in the Archives.
• Assist with reference inquiries and patron support in the Reading Room.

Skills

Archivist theory

Leadership

Communication

Teamwork

Diaspora history

Education

MLS or MSc in Library/History

Archival management coursework

Tools

ArchivesSpace

Digital CMS

Job description

Position Summary

Under the supervision of the College Archivist, the Assistant Archivist will oversee the planning and implementation of physical and digital archival processing for the Spelman Archives, assist with reference requests, and help coordinate outreach activities such as instruction, programming, and exhibits.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Arrange material in alphabetical, chronological or subject order in accordance with a predetermined plan of arrangement
• Perform routine preservation work, including identifying and photocopying unstable material; removing paper clips, staples, rubber bands, and other damaging materials
• Prepare and input/type item-level inventory list of the physical contents of archival collections
• Assist with the physical receipt, shelving and relocation of archival collections
• Prepare transfer documentation for college departments and acknowledgement correspondence for donors to the Archives
• Performs core archival processing and collection management functions including processing digital and physical archival collections and assists with other departmental needs and projects
• Assist with data entry for physical and digital archival collections in ArchivesSpace
• Assist in supervising undergraduate student workers in the Archives
• Assist with responding to reference inquiries and working with patrons in the Archives Reading Room

Required Qualifications

• A Master’s degree in library or information science from an ALA-‐accredited program or a Master’s degree in history or a related field from an accredited program
• Graduate level coursework in archival management & theory
• Demonstrated knowledge of archival theory and practice, including experience processing archival records
• Knowledge of relevant standards for archival description including DACS, EAD and EAC-CPF
• Excellent leadership and organizational skills and ability to plan, coordinate, and implement complex projects
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with a variety of staff in a rapidly changing environment
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Knowledge of history and culture of the African Diaspora
• Experience working with digital content management systems

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with research and reference services in an archives or manuscript repositoryExperience working with born digital and digitized archival recordsExperience working with ArchivesSpace
• Certifications, Licenses, Restrictions None

Physical Demands

• Ability to lift boxes weighing up to 40 lbs.
• Sitting, walking, assisting researchers in the reading room

Shift Days

Travel Required

1% - 25%

Full Time/Part Time

Full-time

Work Location/Schedule

This position requires onsite work and is not eligible for remote work.

Number of Vacancies

1