Job Description

Description

ABOUT THE POSITION:

The Claremont Colleges Library Special Collections and Archives (SCA), a unit within the Distinctive Collections and Digital Scholarship Division (DCDS) seeks an archivist who is passionate about research and teaching with primary sources to fill the role of Instruction and Reference Archivist (IRA).

Reporting to the Head of SCA, the Instruction and Reference Archivist is responsible for primary source reference, instruction, and outreach programs and services to Claremont students, faculty, and staff, and the wider community of scholars. The IRA will contribute to an active program of instruction that advances SCA as not only a repository of unique and rare collections, but as a lively center for research, teaching, and learning. They will be focused on enhancing student academic success and increasing the visibility and use of SCA services and collections. Committed to providing excellent user-centered service, and to developing effective and efficient instruction, research, and reference services, the ideal candidate will ensure that SCA meets the research, teaching, and learning needs of The Claremont Colleges.

• Priority Deadline: The deadline for first consideration is May 23, 2025. Please note that a cover letter and CV/resume are required along with the application.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Instruction

• Leads general primary source instruction sessions that orient students to SCA and/or archives in general.
• Contributes to the design, delivery, and assessment of teaching with special collections for undergraduate and graduate students as well as a variety of community learners.
• Collaborates with library colleagues, faculty, and departments to integrate Special Collections materials into the curricula, to provide a hands-on learning experience for students in the use of primary sources.
• Provides overall instruction for current students, faculty and staff on the use of collections and the connection to teaching and learning at TCCL.

Reference Services

• Manages, coordinates, and delegates reference inquiries to relevant staff, conducts research consultations and in-depth reference interviews, responds to inquiries, and creates/updates reference tools and guides.
• Contributes to staffing the reading room desk, providing reference and research support to users. Communicate policies and procedures to users on the nature and proper handling of collection materials. Ensure the security of Special Collections materials in the reading room.
• Assist users in-person and by chat, email, and telephone.
• Carry out research within the collections as requested.

Strategic Assessment and Improvement

• Contributes to the overall assessment of SCA public services, with a particular focus on the reading rooms and reference services.
• Recommends changes to create a more welcoming environment for SCA visitors and researchers.

Professional Development

• Pursues professional development activities to improve knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Maintains current knowledge of developments in archives and special collections, and other aspects of evolving strategies for researcher services.

SCA team

• Participates as an active and engaged team member by attending SCA meetings to discuss priorities and assist with solutions.
• Contributes to SCA planning and goal setting in support of the library’s strategic initiatives.
• Facilitates collaboration by welcoming and valuing everyone’s perspectives and demonstrates a commitment to fairness and equal access to information.
• Participates in the Claremont Center for Engagement with Primary Sources (CCEPS).
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Unless otherwise stated, the following qualifications are required to perform the essential functions of this position, or the individual must demonstrate how the essential functions will be performed (with or without reasonable accommodation) using other qualifications not listed below.

Education/Training:

• Master’s degree in library and information science, or archival studies, from an ALA accredited program or the equivalent in a combination of relevant education, training and additional experience beyond the minimum required.
• Formal coursework or training in rare books, archives, and/or special collections librarianship.

Experience:

• Familiarity with instruction in a special collections environment, including class sessions and developing & maintaining content for research guides & tutorials.
• Experience processing archival materials, such as projects, internships, or coursework.

Competencies:

• Knowledge of information systems for researcher discovery.
• Training in archival/special collections theory and practice.
• Demonstrated knowledge of public services best practices in a special collections environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to customer service in a special collections environment.
• Strong organization, time management, and planning skills.
• Effective at meeting deadlines, adjusting priorities, and working on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues and researchers from many different communities.
• Demonstrated ability to make decisions independently in a rapidly changing environment.
• Willingness to learn new technologies related to Special Collections exhibits.
• Strong commitment to supporting diversity and inclusivity within the library, as both a place of work and as an educational partner.

Preferred Experience:

• Master’s degree in a subject area relevant to SCA collecting areas
• Experience using Aeon, ArchivesSpace, WMS or other ILS, SpringShare, Google suite, Microsoft suite, Adobe Photoshop.
• Teaching experience in a special collections environment, including leading class sessions and developing & maintaining content for research guides & tutorials.
• Language skills reflecting one or more strengths of SCA collections: Spanish, French, German, or Russian
• Experience creating metadata and using digital content management systems.

Work Schedule: The regular hours for this full-time position are 40 hours scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday for 12 months annually. May be required to work holiday, weekend, and/or evening hours. Regular hours may vary due to the needs of the organization or business unit.

Union: This position is represented by The Claremont Colleges Services Library Staff Federation AFT Local 6735. The employee in this position will be bound by the collective bargaining agreement.

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