Employment Opportunities with Special Collections
Faculty | Staff | Graduate Assistant | OtherFaculty Positions
Head of Special Collections - Assistant, Associate or Full Librarian
General Librarian - Manuscripts Processing Archivist
Head of Special Collections - Assistant, Associate or Full Librarian
The LSU Libraries seeks an experienced and energetic leader to head its Special Collections. The Head of Special Collections will provide leadership, vision, and strategic direction for the division, which is staffed by 25FTE. The successful candidate will have a thorough understanding of trends and issues, standards, and best practices in special collections and archives; a collaborative management style empowering others to excel; excellent interpersonal and communication skills; strong analytical and decision making skills; an intense commitment to providing outstanding user services; and a successful record of grant writing, development, and donor relations. Special Collections is housed in historic Hill Memorial Library at the heart of the LSU campus and includes the Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, University Archives, Rare Book Collection, E. A. McIlhenny Natural History Collection, and the T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History. The division provides instruction and reference services, exhibitions and public programming, and has active programs of digitization and microfilming, as well as cataloging and processing. The position reports to the Assistant Dean of Libraries. Appointment may be made at the rank of Assistant, Associate or full Librarian.
Summary of Duties:
50% Leadership, development and management of the Special Collections division of the LSU Libraries. Providing leadership, vision, and strategic direction for the division, the incumbent is responsible for administrative oversight of the division’s operations, services, programs, and resources. He/she supervises and coordinates the work of three unit heads (faculty) who manage the Manuscripts & University Archives, Reformatting & Digital Services, and Public Services units. In addition to these unit heads, the incumbent directly supervises 3 faculty and 6 staff engaged in facilities management; exhibitions; curating, cataloging and processing of published materials; and collecting oral histories. In conjunction with the Assistant Dean of Libraries and the Dean of Libraries, the incumbent manages the financial operations of Special Collections and is primarily responsible for management of a 60,000 square foot historic building. She/he fosters collaboration and a collegial work environment. She/he is also responsible for developing and implementing assessments to guide enhancement of the division’s collections, services, and programs.
15% Collection development. The Curator of Manuscripts and the Assistant Curator of Books report directly to the Head of Special Collections. The incumbent works cooperatively with curators to acquire by purchase and donation appropriate materials for the collections, to keep collection development policies current, and to assist donors.
15% Professional and university service and scholarship. The incumbent works to meet tenure and/or post-tenure research and service requirements through professional service, research and publication.
10% Public service and outreach. The incumbent plays a leadership role in planning and carrying out public events, developing and coordinating publicity, providing reference service and instruction to teach and promote use of collections. In consultation with Libraries faculty and staff and the Libraries’ user community, she/he promotes research opportunities to students, scholars and other researchers.
10% Grant writing and administration and development activities. The incumbent prepares grant applications to local, state, federal and private organizations and administers grants awarded in conjunction with the Assistant Dean of Libraries and the LSU Office of Sponsored Projects. She/he works with donors and private foundations to acquire funds to support Special Collections activities and collections.
Required Qualifications:
Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited library school program. Minimum of 5 years professional experience, including supervisory responsibilities, in a research library, special collections, rare book, or archives setting. Ability to meet tenure and promotion requirements as evidenced by a record of research, publication, and professional service.
Preferred Qualifications:
Knowledge and understanding of significant trends and issues, standards, and best practices in special collections and archival institutions. Demonstrated understanding of emerging technologies. Demonstrated commitment to providing outstanding user services. A successful record of grant writing, development, fundraising, and donor relations. Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills. Strong analytical and decision making skills. Record of research, publication, and scholarly achievement. Record of participation in relevant professional associations. Advanced degree in a field related to Special Collections’ strengths.
The review of applications will begin December 7, 2012 and will continue until a suitable candidate is found. An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.
To apply, go to https://lsusystemcareers.lsu.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=55408
Position # 006614.
General Librarian - Manuscripts Processing Archivist
Reporting to the Head of Manuscripts Processing, the Manuscripts Processing Archivist arranges and describes archival material that is a part of the Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections. The incumbent uses advanced technical knowledge and skills for independent decision making to analyze collections, develop processing plans, arrange and describe manuscript collections and create DACS-compliant finding aids and original MARC records for those collections. The Manuscripts Processing Archivist assists in the implementation of EAD and archival management software and participates in projects to revise, edit, correct, and digitally publish legacy finding aids. He or she provides public services at Special Collections service points and participates in outreach efforts, digitization projects, and exhibition preparation as appropriate.
Required Qualifications:
Master's degree from an ALA-accredited library school program with a concentration in archival studies or management (equivalent work experience may substitute for concentration); experience processing, arranging, and describing archival and manuscript materials; knowledge of archival theory, practice, and national and international standards and best practices that govern the arrangement and description of primary source materials, including Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS), EAD, MARC , LCSH, LNAF, and other appropriate thesauri and authority lists used for indexing archival descriptions; familiarity with online and print research tools and methodologies, and ability to use common library and office productivity software applications; strong commitment to technical services in support of public services; excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication, and organizational skills.
Additional Qualifications Desired:
Knowledge of archive management software; experience creating EAD finding aids; experience providing reference assistance in an archives, historical society, special collections, or academic setting; knowledge of Louisiana and American history, particularly the American South, and related disciplines and research methodologies; reading knowledge of French or Spanish; basic knowledge of preservation techniques.
Special Requirements:
Able to work in a dusty environment and to lift and move 30 pound boxes.
An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check. Application deadline is January 11, 2013 or until a candidate is selected. Apply online and view a more detailed ad at www.lsusystemcareers.lsu.edu, Position #000966
Staff Positions
Library Associate 3 - Head, Microfilming Unit
Job Reference #000837
This Library Associate 3 position requires independent decision making and the application of technical knowledge, including knowledge of library databases and reservation microfilming of newspapers and other formats. The position requires extensive management and supervisory skills, as well as technical expertise in filming, photo processing, and the maintenance of cameras and film processors.
Under the general supervision of the Digital Services and Reformatting Librarian, the incumbent:
50% produces microfilm of approximately 90 current Louisiana newspapers for preservation purposes, reviews microfilm to meet Special Collections standards, and carries out other duties related to microfilm production, inspection, and preservation;
15% communicates with Louisiana newspaper publishers to coordinate the regular receipt of currently produced newspapers in paper or digital format and converts born-digital papers to microfilm;
15% updates microfilm holdings in the Libraries catalog, keeps appropriate records, maintains databases, and produces statistical reports as necessary for the microfilming operation;
10% trains and supervises student workers who prepare and process materials for microfilming;
10% provides public service support at the Special Collections reference and information desks.
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Three years library or related experience.
To apply for this position, go to:
http://lsusystemcareers.lsu.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=55303
Deadline: November 5, 2012 or until suitable candidate is selected.
Graduate Student Positions
Graduate Assistant, T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History
Under the general supervision of the Director of the T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History in the LSU Libraries’ Special Collections, this Graduate Assistant will process interviews created as part of the Louisiana Sea Grant Coastal Changes Oral History Project to make them publicly available as part of the Libraries’ Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections.
The Graduate Assistant will edit interview transcripts, prepare metadata, and organize the associated interview files for uploading into the LOUISiana Digital Library. The Graduate Assistant will research historical and biographical information relevant to each interview and analyze subject content to select appropriate subject terms and create a written finding aid that provides intellectual access to researchers.
Required qualifications: Proficiency in using common office software applications (Word, Excel, Access, Adobe); experience with online and print research tools; excellent writing and analytical skills.
Preferred qualifications: Undergraduate degree in History, English, Library Science, Mass Communications/Journalism or Geography/Anthropology. Experience with conducting and editing oral histories. Editorial experience. Knowledge of Louisiana history, environmental history, and/or coastal geography. Experience with audio editing software programs such as Audacity and Soundforge.
This position is funded by a grant awarded to Louisiana Sea Grant by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Hours: 20 hours per week, beginning January 2013
Salary: $1,000/month plus standard benefits associated with an LSU Graduate Assistantship.
To apply: complete a graduate assistant application online at http://www.lib.lsu.edu/admin/gradasst/gradapplication.pdf. Indicate interest in “Oral History GA” on the application.
Review of applications will begin December 1 and continue until the position is filled.
Other Opportunities
