Community Archive Application

University of Illinois • Champaign, IL

4d

About The Position

The Education Justice Project Community Archive is a participatory community archive that collects, preserves, and provides ethical access to records documenting EJP’s history and supports members in documenting and describing their own experiences. The archive maintains a closed physical collection on campus and is currently focused on developing its digital archive. This work includes creating digitized preservation copies of analog materials, establishing a sustainable preservation system for digitized and born-digital materials, and building an engaging public platform that supports meaningful access and engagement.

Member projects may include digitizing materials, cataloging, conducting oral history interviews, assisting with platform design, or facilitating community outreach events. Some tasks are shared among all members, and roles may be shaped around members’ interests and skills. Members must attend regular meetings and required EJP training sessions. Depending on the project, work may be hybrid or in person, with flexible hours during YMCA building hours, typically weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Some roles may involve going to Danville Correctional Center. Members are not compensated.

Requirements

• Excellent teamwork, communication, and organizational skills.
• Proven dependability and reliability.
• Understanding of the social and historical contexts of EJP’s work.
• Thoughtfulness about the ethical complexities of documenting the lives and experiences of incarcerated people.
• Ability to attend regular meetings and required EJP training sessions.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in a library, museum, or archive.
• Current or completed coursework in archives, digital humanities, photography, media design, or computer science.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the Community Archive’s collection, preservation, and ethical access work.
• Help develop the digital archive, including digitizing analog materials and supporting preservation of digitized and born-digital materials.
• Participate in project work such as cataloging, oral history interviews, platform design, or community outreach events.
• Attend regular meetings and required EJP training sessions.

What This Job Offers

• Education Level: No Education Listed