Archivist for Collections Librarian

Michigan State University Libraries seeks a motivated, experienced, and collaborative archivist who has a dedication to and a passion for archival arrangement and description to serve as the Archivist for the Collections. Archival collections at the MSU Libraries can be found in the Stephen O. Murray and Keelung Hong Special Collections, University Archives, and the Turfgrass Information Center. Our diverse archival collections range in subject and include university history, Cookery and Foodways, Michigan writers, Africana, Latino/Chicano activism, LGBTQ+ and Radicalism. Our collection encompasses archival materials in all formats, digital and physical.

As a member of the Stephen O. Murray and Keelung Hong Special Collections, the Archivist for the Collections will collaborate with curators in the unit, University Archives and Historical Collections, and the Turfgrass Information Center to develop and implement innovative and comprehensive accessioning, arrangement, and description programs, and establish processing priorities for all archival collections. The successful candidate will cultivate relationships among the archivist, librarian, and professional staff teams to further strengthen and provide access to more than 800 archival collections., ranging in subject from university history, Cookery and Foodways, Michigan writers, Africana, Latino/Chicano activism, LGBTQ+ and Radicalism, among others, and in all formats.

Reporting to the Head of the Stephen O. Murray and Keelung Hong Special Collections, the successful candidate may have a secondary assignment based on the needs of the library and candidate interests. Some evening and weekend hours and/or travel may be required.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Oversees archival collections including appraisal, accessioning, arranging and processing of materials in many different formats (paper documents, photographs, audio-visual materials, electronic resources)
• Provides support and guidance for curatorial team.
• Develops and manages resources for large scale projects and for on-going processing needs
• Creates archival finding aids in compliance with current standards such as DACS
• Ensures continuity of finding aids and corresponding metadata across all three collection repositories.
• Facilitates access to collections for students, faculty, and the community of scholars.
• Provides reference and research assistance, including time on a public service desk, working with students, faculty and scholars as well as external visitors, and for both onsite and remote users.
• Oversees student workers.
• Travels to acquire, transport, accession, and store collections as needed.

We welcome candidates who meet the minimum requirements to apply and will support their professional development to grow in this position.

Librarians are appointed as regular faculty in the continuing appointment system. Faculty are expected to independently apply judgment; have excellent oral and communication skills; and demonstrate attention to detail; flexibility; collegiality; the capacity for collaboration; and a commitment to diversity and inclusion in performance of their duties. As faculty, they develop a self-directed program of professional development and scholarly activities related to their position; and serve on library and university committees as elected or assigned.

The librarian will work to advance the initiatives in the MSU Strategic Plan and in the MSU Libraries Strategic Plan. In support of these initiatives, the Libraries serve as a center of activity and engagement on campus, with librarians empowered to support both student development and transformative research activities.

The MSU Libraries Strategic Plan guides our current and future work. The candidate will partner with our diverse campus to grow our welcoming multicultural environment. More information on MSU and the MSU Libraries' dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion is available at:

Michigan State University Libraries serve more than 4,900 faculty, 40,000 undergraduates, and 11,000 graduate and professional students on a park-like campus of over 5,000 acres.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in information or library science from a program accredited by the American Library Association.
• Experience with and knowledge of archival standards and best practices (DACS, EAD).
• Experience arranging and describing archival collections of varying size and scope.
• Three to five years' experience overseeing and/or contributing to daily operations of an archive or similar materials-oriented service.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to build relationships, communicate effectively, and collaborate with diverse internal and external stakeholders
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and an intention to work in and foster a collaborative, respectful culture.
• Capacity and commitment to engage independently in continuing professional development.

Desired Qualifications

• Knowledge of emerging archival trends
• Experience with web archiving tolls and born-digital material access and preservation
• Proficiency in archival management systems such as ArchivesSpace or another collection management system