PROJECT ARCHIVES ASSISTANT (PART-TIME)

Cooper; New York (NY); On-site; USD 36,000 - 52,000; Part time

Job summary

The Cooper Union is seeking a Project Archives Assistant to support the CUASC by rehousing and organizing archival materials related to the history of The Cooper Union. The role is 20 hours per week onsite during standard hours, with supervision from the College Archivist and reporting to the Library Director.

Qualifications include an MLIS (or current MLIS student), completion of archival coursework, familiarity with archival standards, and strong organizational and collaborative skills.

Qualifications

• MLIS holder or currently enrolled MLIS student.
• Completed at least one graduate course on archives.
• Familiarity with archival standards and best practices.
• Well-organized, detail-oriented, able to work independently and collaboratively.

Responsibilities

• Rehousing materials and physically arranging collections following archival principles.
• Assess materials and apply basic preservation interventions as needed (e.g., remove paper clips, separate newspapers).
• Work under the direction of the College Archivist; report to the Director of the Library.

Education

MLIS (Master of Library & Information Science)

Job description

The Project Archives Assistant will work 20 hours a week onsite during normal business hours (9am-5pm) under the direction of the College Archivist.

They will rehouse a group of collections related to free education and held in The Cooper Union Archive and Special Collections (CUASC). The CUASC maintains approximately 1000 linear feet of archival material comprised of manuscripts, objects, publications, color slides, film, video, audio, and photographs that document the development of The Cooper Union, as well as the continued contributions and achievements of our founders, faculty, staff, and alumni.

This is a grant-funded temporary six-month position reporting to the Director of the Library.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Project Archives Assistant's primary responsibility will be rehousing materials. This entails handling and physically arranging collections in accordance with archival principles and best practice. While rehousing, they will also be expected to assess materials and apply basic preservation interventions (e.g. removing paper clips, separating newspapers from letter paper, etc.) as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

• MLIS holder, or currently enrolled MLIS student
• Completed at least one graduate course on archives
• Familiarity with archival standards and best practices
• Well-organized, detail-oriented, able to work independently and collaboratively

SALARY

$32.00/hour

DATES

February 2027 - July 2027

This is a non-union position.

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony .