PT Archives Processing Assistant (on-site)

DePaul University; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 31,685,000 - 32,622,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Part-Time benefits

Stable university

Job summary

DePaul University in Chicago is seeking an Archives Processing Assistant to apply archival principles to arrange, describe, and provide access to collections. You will support on-site and remote researchers, supervise the reading room, and train student staff in basic processing tasks.

The role focuses on accessioning, processing, and collections management within a collaborative, inclusive library environment that aligns with the university’s mission and diversity goals.

Qualifications

• Minimum: Bachelor's degree
• Experience with processing archival collections
• Familiarity with DACS, EAD, and collection management software
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to read and comprehend handwritten and printed text, and to create accurate structured and narrative descriptions with minimal oversight
• Ability to think critically to create effective arrangements and descriptions
• Ability to adapt to change with flexibility and sound judgment
• Ability to learn new skills through research and self-study
• Experience working independently and in a team
• Excellent planning, project management and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work with diverse constituencies
• Knowledge of information resources (IT, print, web) required

Responsibilities

• Archives Accessioning: create accurate accession records
• Archives Processing: describe materials per archival principles
• Manage physical collections and shelving
• Assist in researching and describing materials for finding aids
• Support researchers (in person and remote) with identified materials
• Supervise reading room during desk shifts
• Train student employees on processing projects

Skills

Archival processing

Reference assistance

Handwritten/text comprehension

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

DACS

EAD

Collection management software

Job description

The Highlights:

The Archives Processing Assistant is primarily responsible for applying standard archival principles and practices to arrange, describe and provide access to archival collections. The Archives Processing Assistant provides reference support to remote and on-site researchers, including paging and reshelving books and archival collections, as well as registering researchers and monitoring the Reading Room. The Archives Processing Assistant will work in a highly supportive, collegial culture that encourages active participation in meaningful and valuable skills training and professional development. This includes training workshops, committee memberships, and engagement in programs that support the Library's mission and its Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access goals, while building connections and partnerships across DePaul's wider academic and user community.

What You'll Do:

• Archives Accessioning
  
  
  
  • Creates accurate archival accession records.
  
  
  • Conducts preliminary surveys and preservation assessments.
  
  
  • Rehouses incoming collections.
  
  
  
  


• Archives Processing
  
  
  
  • Evaluates, sorts, arranges, and describes materials according to archival principles.
  
  
  • Maintains a record describing the collection and the activities performed upon it.
  
  
  • Performs rehousing, reformatting, and other preservation measures as needed.
  
  
  • Creates structured, detailed descriptions for narrative finding aids and database entries.
  
  
  
  


• Collections Management
  
  
  
  • Manages the physical collections as needed, including shelving, shifting, and moving as required.
  
  
  • Updates department records for the intellectual control and description of archival materials.
  
  
  
  


• Researcher Assistance
  
  
  
  • Assists in-person and remote researchers by identifying materials of interest and supplying requested information.
  
  
  • Supervises the reading room during scheduled desk shifts and as-needed substitute coverage.
  
  
  
  


• Assists in training student employees to perform basic processing projects; may proof, edit, and correct archival descriptions created by others.

What You'll Need:

• Minimum: Bachelor's degree


• Preferred: Experience with processing archival collections


• Preferred: Familiarity with DACS, EAD, and collection management software


• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills


• Ability to read and comprehend handwritten and printed text, and to create accurate structured and narrative descriptions with minimal oversight or intervention


• Ability to think critically and shift perspective in order to create effective arrangements and descriptions of archival collections


• Ability to adapt to change with flexibility, creativity, and sound judgment


• Ability to learn new skills through research and self-study


• Experience working both independently and collaboratively in a collegial, team-based environment and maintaining positive working relationships


• Excellent planning, project management, and problem-solving skills


• Ability to work with diverse constituencies


• Knowledge of information technology resources, print information resources, and web-based information resources required

The anticipated hiring range for this position is: $23.45 to $23.68/hr.

The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including departmental budget.

Perks:

• Working for a stable and well-known University.


• Paid time off


• Part-Time Benefits

Vincentian Mission:

Guided by an ethic of Vincentian personalism and professionalism, DePaul compassionately upholds the dignity of all members of its diverse, multi-faith, and inclusive community. We seek to hire collaborative, open-minded, and dedicated professionals who are committed to advancing our university mission to making education accessible to all, with special attention to including underserved and underrepresented communities. Successful candidates thrive in an environment where ideas and perspectives representing a wide variety of cultures, backgrounds and experiences are welcome and supported.

Required Background Check:

Employment at DePaul University is contingent on passing a background check. Only final candidates who are extended an offer of employment will undergo a background check.

DePaul University is an Equal Opportunity employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information or any other legally protected status, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local EEO laws.