AY Student Assistant for Archival Support (WS-ST2)

St. Olaf College • Northfield, MN

16h • Onsite

About The Position

Student assistants engage in a variety of archives-related tasks, both behind-the-scenes (for example, researching inquiries, pulling and reshelving materials, scanning, etc.) and front-of-house (meeting and orienting patrons, and proctoring patron use of archival materials). The main goal of this position is to reduce the workload that would otherwise be placed on the archivist. All Distinctive Collections and College Archives student staff may be trained in and asked to assist with the duties of their student colleagues. This position also offers the possibility of full-time employment during the summer.

Requirements

• Commitment to continue to serve in the position through graduation
• 6-8 hours each week
• Crouching, kneeling/crawling, stooping, twisting/pivoting, climbing/balancing, reaching overhead, grasping/handling, and lifting and carrying objects up to 20 lbs.
• Rare exposure to respiratory factors and chemicals
• Ability to safely perform the physical work required of all duties with or without reasonable accommodation.

Nice To Haves

• Can commit to two or three years in this position
• Interest in how college records are preserved
• Desire to help patrons access the materials they need for research
• Excellent customer service skills and a positive attitude
• Attention to detail
• Creative and persistent problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently, and with minimal oversight
• Research skills, including critically considering alternative routes for locating information, knowing when to ask questions, and knowing when to stop
• Time management skills, including the ability to balance multiple requests and tasks
• Ability to juggle multiple projects and competing priorities
• Strong interpersonal and listening skills
• Ability to work with sensitive and confidential information
• Good decision-making skills
• Careful, but timely follow-through on processes and procedures.
• Comfortable learning and using multiple technologies, systems, and data management tools
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including phone skills
• Impeccable organization skills
• The ability to improve upon established processes
• Ability to work efficiently and supportively on a team of student staff
• Communication with peers and your supervisor in a professional setting
• Enjoy helping others
• Enjoy researching historical events
• Strong interest in archives and/or library science
• Good at working independently
• Know when to ask for help and when to research a problem
• Flexible, creative, innovative, and willing to learn
• Want a dynamic job

Responsibilities

• Act as one of the main voices researchers encounter when engaging with the College Archives
• Work with archival materials and use them to answer requests from patrons, as well as assist the Lead Archivist in the management of the collections
• Proctor in-person researchers
• Help accession materials and prepare them for archival processing
• Help at Distinctive Collections and College Archives outreach events
• Assist with special projects and research
• In your final year, you will play a leading role in training your successor

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed