Denison
University Archivist & Special Collections Librarian
Position Type Administrative Staff
Classification Title Administrative Staff
Position Title University Archivist & Special Collections Librarian
Position Number A00090
Pay Grade Level AD 01
Salary $70-75,000
Department Library
Posting Number S 121301303
Full or Part Time Full Time
Number of Months 12
Position End Date
FTE 1
Work Schedule
Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm. Occasional evening and weekend hours. This is an on-site position.
Basic Function
Preserves, protects, and promotes Denison’s history in alignment with the Libraries’ mission and the University’s strategic plans. Leads, develops, and manages University Archives’ collections, Special Collections and Denisoniana, all of which include physical and digital materials. Oversees day-to-day research and collection operations. Provides long-term strategic visioning and departmental reports. Evaluates and assesses workflows and procedures to stay current with best practices, including records management. Collaborates with key offices on campus. Provides information literacy instruction for primary source and archival literacy learning. Supervises assigned staff.
Essential Job Functions
1. Manages and performs all aspects of A&SC public services for walk-in visitors, scheduled appointments, and public-facing digital software platforms, such as exhibit sites, LibGuides, and social media. Provides information literacy instruction; maintains working relationships with faculty, staff, and administrative offices; provides decision making and access for materials; provides reference requests and research assistance.
2. Provides instruction for University Archives collection, primary source instruction, and research and scholarship consultation. Serves as primary outreach liaison and workforce training for faculty, administration, and student groups, including collection development, digital file management, event coordination, displays, exhibits, and student organizational files. Specifically works with Alumni, Development/Advancement, Lisska Center, Student Life, AAAs, Office of the President, University Communications, and Registrar.
3. Directs and implements A&SC Digital Curation and Preservation program and software, such as website harvesting, faculty and student distinguished scholarship, born digital administrative files, technical troubleshooting, and administrating and monitoring fixity checks and repairs.
4. Leads and executes A&SC technical services for physical, hybrid, and digital archival and special collections and Denisoniana, including appraisal, selection, accession, acquisition, collection management, collection development, processing and cataloging, software tech and user administration, and final disposition for records management.
5. Oversees administration of archives and special collections; writes policies and procedures, supervises staff, ensures environmental safety and security measures, maintains inventories and procedures for insurance and collection disaster recovery, stays current with trends, creates goals and priorities, writes annual reports, and coordinates external benchmarking and reviews as needed.
6. Provides leadership within the Denison library and the professional field such as the Ohio 5 consortia and broader professional development network. Mentors undergraduates and alumni interested in pursuing a career in archives and special collections.
Minimum Qualifications
Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited program, in Library Science, or equivalent, with an emphasis in archival studies. 3-5 years’ work experience in archives, special collections, records management, or historical collections. Expert level analytical and critical thinking, written and oral communication skills. Ability to coordinate and administer programs/project activities and protocols. Solid technical, computer, and software skills.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree (additional) in a related field. Digital Archives Specialist (DAS, SAA); Certified Archivist (ACA). 2-3 years’ experience with decision-making position for archival or special collections policies, procedures, and management. Experience with digital collections and third-party software platforms for management and preservation. Ability to apply knowledge of standard archival theory and practice, preservation methods, local research tools and finding aids. Ability to use born-digital archival preservation best practices.
Physical Demands
Must be able to sustain extended periods of time at a computer workstation. Must be able to move about the office/campus with the capability of lifting, pushing, shelving, and transporting objects and boxes up to and sometimes over 30 lbs.
Contact(s) Human Resources
Contact Phone/Extension
Contact Email hr@denison.edu
Open Date 04/01/2024
Close Date
Open Until Filled Yes
Special Instructions to Applicants
Applications received by April 30, 2024 will be assured full consideration; the position is open until filled. Please ensure that your cover letter addresses the essential duties and responsibilities of the role, and addresses your commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and anti-racism. This is a full-time, 12-month, exempt, salaried position working on campus Monday through Friday, with occasional evening and weekend hours.
Additional Information
Denison University Background Check Statement
The final candidate will undergo a background check as a conditional offer of employment.
Denison University EEO Statement
Denison University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
To achieve our mission as a liberal arts college, we continually strive to attract and hire candidates with diverse backgrounds, experiences and identities. Denison fosters a campus community that recognizes the value of all
persons regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender expression and identity, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socio-economic background. For additional information and resources about diversity at Denison, please see our commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity and antiracism (IDEA) at Denison Forward.
If you require a reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (740)587-6299 or by email at HR@denison.edu.