Special Collections Specialist

University of Arkansas Fayetteville • Fayetteville, AR

4d • Onsite

About The Position

Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas is a land grant institution, classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the nation’s top 2 percent of universities with the highest level of research activity. The University of Arkansas works to advance the state and build a better world through education, research, and outreach by providing transformational opportunities and skills, fostering a welcoming climate, and nurturing creativity, discovery, and the spread of new ideas and innovations. The University of Arkansas campus is located in Fayetteville, a welcoming community ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. The growing region surrounding Fayetteville is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and one of the nation’s strongest economies. Northwest Arkansas is also quickly gaining a national reputation for its focus on the arts and overall quality of life. As an employer, the University of Arkansas offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance. The benefits package includes university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance, tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary. Under the supervision of the Research Services Coordinator, the Special Collections Specialist is responsible for assisting with the daily operations of the Special Collections Division. Duties include but are not limited to assisting researchers in their use of Special Collections materials, both on-site and virtually, maintaining Reading Room security when staffing the research services desk, retrieving and shelving requested archival and print materials, and responding to researcher inquiries in-person and virtually. This position will also assist with fulfilling patron duplication requests by utilizing multiple in-house scanners. Additionally, this person will accession containers, rare books, and Arkansas Collection materials into the container management system, update location information in Archives Space and the ILS, and integrate new materials into the Vertical File. The Special Collections Specialist will assist in maintaining the on-site storage and compact shelving areas. This person may periodically assist the other Special Collections and library departments with additional projects as needed. Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.

Requirements

• High School Diploma
• Applicable equivalencies may be considered on the above qualifications.
• Two years of experience in library services
• Familiarity with computer keyboarding
• Effective organizational, interpersonal, and oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work in teams and independently without direct supervision
• Ability to follow instructions and perform detailed work with a high degree of accuracy
• Ability to use good judgment in carrying out assigned duties

Nice To Haves

• Relevant archives, special collections, museum, or library work experience
• Academic research experience
• Experience using web-based content management or inventory control systems

Responsibilities

• Assisting researchers in their use of Special Collections materials, both on-site and virtually
• Maintaining Reading Room security when staffing the research services desk
• Retrieving and shelving requested archival and print materials
• Responding to researcher inquiries in-person and virtually
• Assisting with fulfilling patron duplication requests by utilizing multiple in-house scanners
• Accession containers, rare books, and Arkansas Collection materials into the container management system
• Update location information in Archives Space and the ILS
• Integrate new materials into the Vertical File
• Assist in maintaining the on-site storage and compact shelving areas
• Periodically assist the other Special Collections and library departments with additional projects as needed
• Maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others

Benefits

• university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance
• tuition waivers for employees and their families
• 12 official holidays
• immediate leave accrual
• a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED