Public Archives Research Assistant (Part-Time)

Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 36,000; Part time

Job summary

Baker Library Special Collections and Archives at Harvard Business School seeks an Archives and Records Management Assistant to support reference, research, and public services with a focus on the HBS Archives. This part-time, onsite role works 14 hours weekly under the Senior HBS Archivist, assisting with reading room duties and archival control activities.

The position emphasizes research support, material handling, and collaboration with Special Collections staff to ensure access and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Strong research skills and demonstrated ability to locate, evaluate, and synthesize information from multiple sources.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills, accuracy, and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently on assigned research and reference tasks while knowing when to seek guidance or consultation.
• Ability to exercise discretion when working with confidential, restricted, or sensitive records and information.
• Commitment to the proper care and handling of rare and archival materials.
• Current enrollment in an ALA-accredited master's degree program in library and information science or a related field; coursework in archives, special collections, or reference services is a plus.
• One year of relevant reference, research, library, or archives experience, preferably in a special collections or archival environment.
• Experience providing reference or public services in a library, archives, museum, or research environment.
• Familiarity with special collections Reading Room policies and procedures.
• Familiarity with archival finding aids, library catalogs, databases, and other research and discovery tools.
• Familiarity with basic preservation practices and the proper handling, housing, and storage of archival materials.
• Previous experience working with confidential and/or restricted records.

Responsibilities

• Provide reference and research support for Special Collections, with a particular focus on the HBS Archives.
• Respond to assigned research and reference inquiries by identifying and locating relevant archival and published materials.
• Retrieve and reshelve archival and published materials needed for reference requests and research projects.
• Recognize when research questions require additional consultation or referral to the Senior HBS Archivist or other Special Collections staff.
• Handle confidential, restricted, and potentially sensitive information with discretion and in accordance with established access policies.
• Staff the de Gaspé Beaubien Reading Room as a member of the Special Collections Reference Team.
• Welcome researchers and provide orientation to Special Collections resources and Reading Room policies and procedures.
• Monitor the use of Special Collections materials and help ensure their proper care, handling, safety, and security.
• Maintain accurate records of collection use and assist with routine Reading Room procedures.
• Assist with projects that improve administrative, physical, and intellectual control of HBS archival collections.
• Complete and update box-level inventories and collection documentation.
• Create and apply box labels, barcodes, and other collection-control information.
• Assist with tracking and maintaining the physical organization of archival collections.

Skills

Strong research skills

Excellent communication skills

Organizational skills

Discretion with confidential info

Independent work

Education

BA/BS

Master's in library science (ALA-accredited) - preferred

Job description

Baker Library Special Collections and Archives at Harvard Business School seeks an Archives and Records Management Assistant to support reference, research, and public services with a focus on the HBS Archives. This part-time, onsite role works 14 hours weekly under the Senior HBS Archivist, assisting with reading room duties and archival control activities.

The position emphasizes research support, material handling, and collaboration with Special Collections staff to ensure access and