Archives and Special Collections Public Services Fellow

Amherst College•Amherst, NY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Amherst College invites applications for the Archives and Special Collections Public Services Fellow position. This is a part-time (20 hours per week), one-year term position. The Amherst College Library is seeking a part-time Public Services Fellow to support researchers and librarians in the Archives & Special Collections reading room. This is an excellent opportunity to gain reference and special collections experience for someone who is interested in pursuing a career in archives, library science, or other knowledge communities. Reporting to the College Archivist and working closely with the Archives & Special Collections team, the individual in this position will manage the reading room and provide support for specific special collections projects and tasks as assigned. The Public Services Fellow will work with special collections librarians in providing public services to on-site researchers and in monitoring the operations of the special collections reference desk. This is a 20-hour per week, year-round, in-person, benefitted position. Hours will be scheduled Monday-Friday, 8:45-4:15; four-hour shifts of 8:45-12:45 and 12:15-4:15. This position is not eligible for remote or hybrid work. This is a one-year term-limited position with the possibility of renewal for an additional year.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree with coursework in relevant fields such as history, English, or a related area (in lieu of degree - 5-6 years of directly related experience)
Proven library experience and/or customer service experience
Excellent communication, organizational skills, and attention to detail
Experience juggling multiple tasks and working towards deadlines
Sensitivity to the proper care and security of collection materials, including confidentiality of patron and institutional records
Commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment
Successful completion of a pre-employment physical and lift test
Successful completion of required reference and background checks

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience working in archives and/or special collections
Experience supporting researchers or knowledge of the research process
Enrolled in an ALA-accredited graduate degree program in library science or related field

Responsibilities

Oversee Archives & Special Collections reading room operations
Open and/or close the reading room
Monitor researchers working in the reading room
Provide reference and public services to researchers in the reading room
Assist researchers in navigating public-facing library systems (including ArchivesSpace, Amherst College Digital Collections, Discovery, Aeon, and FOLIO)
Provide guidance in the handling of rare books, archival, and manuscript collections
Work with student assistants and staff to locate, retrieve, and re-shelve collection materials from closed stacks and from off-site storage
Assist librarians and archivists in special collections instruction (setting up collection materials, facilitating use, etc.)
Support projects related to rare books, archives, and manuscripts (including outreach, digitization, cataloging, and archival processing)