Special Collections and Archives Public Services Assistant

University of New Hampshire

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Milne Special Collections and Archives (SCA) houses more than 20,000 linear feet of books and manuscript materials documenting the history of the University of New Hampshire and the Seacoast Region. The SCA Public Services Assistant provides preservation and patron-centered day-to-day support for public service, outreach, and reference activities within Milne Special Collections and Archives. The employee will work under the supervision of the Public Services Coordinator, with the Library Manager serving as the Workday Approver. Additional direction may be provided by other SCA staff, particularly the Photographic Services Curator and the University Archivist and the Special Collections Librarian in the case of photographic reference and instructional support respectively. Successful candidates will be professional, conscientious, detail-oriented, and able to work independently with minimal supervision. The ability to follow instructions, ask clarifying questions when appropriate, and apply critical thinking skills is essential. This is a 28 hour per week position at $18/hour. Employment will not commence until August 2026, and runs through FY27 with the possibility of extension.

Requirements

Ability and willingness to foster a healthy work environment.
Possess basic computer skills and proficient with the Microsoft Office platform.
Ability to learn new software programs such as Alma, ArchivesSpace, and BePress.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work independently but ask for guidance when appropriate.
Strong attention to detail and ability to stay focused on project work.
Comfort with answering basic patron questions by telephone, email, or in-person.
Ability to prioritize tasks amidst multiple simultaneous projects.
Ability to be punctual with arrivals and appointments.
Flexibility to help other staff with urgent requests as needed.
Ability to handle archival materials with care.
Ability to perform computer work at a desk for several hours at a time.
Ability to lift boxes up to 45 lbs.
Ability to climb short ladders.
Ability to read call numbers on boxes or books.
Ability to push and pull fully loaded book trucks and flatbed carts.
Valid driver’s License required.

Responsibilities

Provide frontline reference and Reading Room support and back-up for the Public Services Coordinator during remote days or other staffing circumstances. This includes assisting with scheduling and checking in patrons for in-person appointments in the Reading Room and explaining policies and materials handling guidelines; and monitoring Reading Room activity for security and proper use of collections.
Assist with answering remote reference questions and conducting photographic collection research support.
Page, retrieve, and reshelve materials needed for reference, teaching, and collection management work.
Assisting with materials move between the Library Storage Building and Dimond Library.
Conduct bulk scanning and reproduction work across a variety of formats, including documents and photographs.
Support reference and reproduction documentation processes, assist with maintenance of statistics that track all reference activities in SCA.
Maintain organization and cleanliness of SCA public spaces, including the Reading Room and Classroom 103.
Assist with preparation for tours and other types of essential campus outreach.
Provide support with retrieving materials for instruction, exhibit, or outreach use.
Edit finding aids in ArchivesSpace for spelling, grammar, and clarity.
With the support of faculty and the Public Services Coordinator, identify materials for digitization, exhibit, or outreach use.
Monitor patron-facing equipment and supplies, notify staff of need to restock any needed supplies.
Maintain a well-organized portfolio of digitized archival surrogates and conduct basic digital asset management for SCA’s public service needs. This includes backing up hard drives, naming, organizing, and moving files within SharePoint, and conducting basic surveys of digitized material.