Temporary Archivist

Join our community and experience Emerson College!

Reporting to the Assistant Director for Archives & Special Collections, the Temporary Archivist plays a dual role in digital initiatives and public engagement. This position leads the end-to-end digitization process and other digital initiatives, such as the growth of the institutional repository. As a core member of the public services team, the Archivist provides expert reference and research support to internal and external patrons across both physical and remote platforms. Furthermore, they serve as a campus liaison by collaborating on outreach activities. The archivist works both independently as well as collaboratively with individuals throughout the College and beyond.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

• Provide in-person and remote reference and research services to both internal and external patrons. Log all activities in the department’s interaction tracking database.

• Manage digital initiatives projects, such as overseeing the College’s institutional repository and updating/adding to the department’s digital collections systems. Log appropriate activities in the department’s interaction tracking database. 

• Lead digitization projects for archival and special collections, with sample tasks including processing collections, creating metadata, and overseeing shipping and receiving. Collaborate with external partners as needed. Maintain and manage all digitization lab equipment.

• Work with the Assistant Director for Archives & Special Collections to collaborate with staff, faculty, and campus partners on the creation, planning, marketing, and implementing outreach teaching activities, such as exhibits and social media posts.

• Assist other staff with overseeing the work of student employees on the digitization of collections and metadata creation, using department technology and procedures.

• Comply with all College policies and procedures, state and federal laws, and archival best practices and ethics.

• Provide guidance and training to other staff as required.

• All other duties as assigned.

 QUALIFICATIONS – Qualifications are deemed required or preferred and represent what is needed to effectively perform the job. 

• ALA accredited master’s degree in library/information science or a related field with coursework in archival reference/outreach and digital projects/initiatives required.  2 years of full-time professional experience may be substituted for this requirement.

• In addition to the education requirement, 2 or more years providing complex reference and research services to all levels of staff, faculty, management and/or external researchers are required. 

• In addition to the education requirement, 3 or more years of experience in curating digital initiatives, digital collections, and digital asset management projects required.

• Experience in using such metadata schemas as Dublin Core, METS, MODS, PREMIS, RDA Core, MARC, and TEI required. 

• Experience with one or more of the following platforms/technologies preferred:  Omeka, JSTOR Digital Stewardship, or Digital Commons. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES – May be representative, but not all-inclusive, of those knowledge, skills, and abilities commonly associated with the job.

• Comprehensive knowledge of the theory, standards/best practices, and technologies related to reference/research services, digital projects/initiatives, and access to digital collections.

• Knowledge of HTML/CSS/Javascript/other coding languages. 

• Requires long periods of mental and visual concentration.

• Requires the ability to effectively communicate in-person and through communication media.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES – Activities commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job. The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Requires the ability to lift and move heavy boxes and objects.

• Requires infrequent travel around campus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT – Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job.

• Requires working in an office space with no windows.

The compensation range for this position is $28.25 - $34.70 an hour.

Grade of Position: T01N

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 36.25

In addition to a competitive salary, Emerson College is committed to the health and well-being of our employees and family members. We offer a generous benefits package to regular staff scheduled to work 20+ hours per week. 

Benefits include outstanding health plans with limited out-of-pocket expenses, dental plans, generous time-off programs, and a 403(b) retirement benefit with a 9% employer contribution once eligible. Additional benefits such as life and disability coverage as well as commuter offerings are available.

Please refer to our benefits website for a full list of benefits and eligibility requirements.