Archives & Manuscripts Accessions Specialist

Requisition Number: 091442
Title: Archives & Manuscripts Accessions Specialist
Division: Special Collections Research Center
Department: Archives and Manuscripts
Work Schedule: Full-time

General Summary:

Under the direction of the Assistant University Archivist, and working closely with the Director and University Archivist, the Archives and Manuscripts Accessions Specialist establishes physical and intellectual control over newly received collections; maintains an effective system of collections management; manages preparation of collections for storage areas including the Mansueto Library automated storage facility; interacts with University administrators, donors, and researchers; and supervises student support staff.

As a part of the Special Collections Research Center's program to increase access to archives and manuscripts collections, the Accessions Specialist will participate in the Tiered Processing Program by identifying preliminary inventories for unprocessed collections that can be made available for researcher via the SCRC Finding Aids Database.

Essenation Functions:

Acquisitions, Donor Relations, and Administrative Support        40%

• Manages acquisition relationships with University offices, divisions, departments, faculty members, organizations, and Library donors
• Solicits University publications, serials, and other institutional materials from University divisions, departments, offices, student groups, and other University-related organizations
• Arranges and manages the orderly and systematic transfer of records and files from University offices and donors to SCRC
• Acknowledges receipt of gifts for all new acquisitions
• As appropriate, arranges for loan, and return to the Archives, of unprocessed or restricted files requested by University administrators

Tiered Processing Program    20%

•  Participates in the SCRC's Tiered Processing Program by identifying preliminary inventories for unprocessed collections that can be made available for researcher via the SCRC Finding Aids Database.
• Refines and develops procedures for accessioning and describing materials, revising workflows, and streamlining electronic tools to facilitate access
• Evaluates content of unprocessed collections with special focus on identifying sensitive and restricted materials
• Identifies duplicate and extraneous material in unprocessed collections and refers for disposition decisions

 Collection Management                   15%

• Maintains physical and intellectual control over all archival and manuscript collections held by SCRC
• Creates, maintains and ensures accuracy of all accession records, inventories, files, databases, and other collection management access tools
• Participates in designing and implementing archival and manuscript collection management workflows for the Mansueto Library automated storage facility
• Works closely with other collection management staff in planning and coordinating shifts of archival and manuscript collections in SCRC storage areas
• Evaluates and makes recommendations for shelving, storage, and management of archival and manuscript collections
• Responds to staff questions about status, content, and storage location of archival and manuscript collections
• Participates in developing and refining procedures for physical management of SCRC holdings
• Maintains statistics on archives and manuscripts holdings, incoming collections, files requests, and other data required for fiscal reporting

Supervision                   20%

• Supervises student support staff, including hiring, training, scheduling, assigning, monitoring, and evaluating work

Other Responsibilities  5%

• Serves on appropriate SCRC and Library committees
• Supports and participates in other work of SCRC as assigned

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree requiredMinimum of 1 year relevant library or archival experience required; Graduate work in library science, history, or related field preferred; Prior supervisory or management experience preferred; Familiarity with word processing, spreadsheet, and database management programs and online library information systems required; Excellent writing and organizational skills required; Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and shifts in priority required; Ability to conceptualize and manage large collections in diverse formats required; Sound judgment and discretion required; Excellent problem solving skills required; Ability to work effectively and collegially with University staff, administrators, faculty, and donors required

Mental Demands:

Must possess tact and diplomacy; ability to work effectively and collegially with supervisors, peers, and other staff; Ability to work well independently required

Physical Demands: 

Ability to lift and move up to 50 lbs; ability to handle the physical aspects of the position including lifting and carrying archival storage cartons

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

To apply for this position, submit a profile and resume to https://jobopportunities.uchicago.edu/

Resumes sent via mail, fax or email will not be considered

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