Bethel University Library seeks Archivist/Research Liaison

Text courtesy of David R. Stewart, Director of Libraries, Bethel University

Bethel University Library invites applications for a new position of Archivist/Research Liaison, as part of the University Library staff. This employee will coordinate the resources and services of Bethel’s History Center and Archives (HCA), serving as its liaison and advocate to the Bethel community and external constituencies.

Responsibilities

• Collection management for HCA: Solicit and select additions to the HCA, in accordance
• with Bethel University Library and HCA policies, priorities, and capacities; accession,
• arrange and describe archival materials added to the HCA;
• Processing: Acquire, process, organize, catalog, preserve and provide access to archival
• materials according to current archival best practices; Collaborate with Digital Initiatives
• Manager to select and process items for digital collections.
• University Library Research and Instruction: provide reference and research assistance in person, via email, chat, phone, etc.
• Services and outreach:
• Provide liaison services for the HCA, including:
  • research assistance related to heritage resources
  • instruction sessions and in-depth research consultations related to HCA resources
  • design and produce suitable finding aids for HCA resources
• Stewardship: Developing appropriate priorities, policies and procedures for HCA collecting
• Preservation and liaison with Friends of the History Center

Required Skills

• Familiarity with archival digital projects, creating descriptive finding aids, MARC21 cataloging records and EAD documents; familiarity with digital and archival content management software programs.
• Knowledge of archives administration; knowledge of national cataloging and metadata standards applicable to archival and rare book collections; knowledge of current issues related to special collections and reference librarianship.
• In keeping with Bethel’s commitment to diversity, experience working with diverse populations is desired, as is verbal facility in a language other than English

Required Experience

• Minimum two years; experience in an archival setting; familiarity with Baptist
• General Conference/Converge heritage is highly desirable.

Required Education

• MLIS from an American Library Association (ALA) accredited program or a graduate degree in archival studies is required.

Additional Information

• This position is at the Associate Librarian level, in accordance with the university’s designation of modified faculty status for professional librarians.
• At present it is expected that some of the position duties can be fulfilled working from home, while others will require time on campus.
• Position works evening and weekend shifts at the research
• Assistance desk and scheduled instruction classes.

To learn more about this position and to apply, please visit the Bethel University careers website.