Archivist and Librarian for Special Collections
Summary of the Position:
Preserve, organize, and promote Lake Forest College’s historical records and special collections, digitally and physically. Facilitate research opportunities for the College community and external constituents. Collaborate to create a records retention policy for the College. Provide instruction and opportunities for classes to engage with primary sources in the Archives and Special Collections. This is a cross-functional role both within the library and with offices across campus, including Advancement, Alumni Relations, Communications and Marketing, Additionally, 25% of this position provides archivist support for the Krebs Center for the Humanities.
Responsibilities:
Instruction
- Provide opportunities for classes to visit the archives and experience research using primary documents to engage with Lake Forest College’s history. Collaborate with faculty to incorporate the Archives & Special Collections into the College’s liberal arts curriculum
- As part of the library team, provide library instruction as needed
Research
- Respond to and directly support research needs of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and researchers from around the worldregarding materials in the Archives & Special Collections
- As needed, answer general reference questions as part of the library team
Collection Management
- Identify, preserve, and provide access to materials with lasting historical significance for the College, as well as primary sources that connect to the College’s curriculum
- In collaboration with others, create a records retention policy for the College
- Prepare finding aids and metadata to facilitate access by researchers
Day-to-Day Operations
- Manage student workers, budget, and facilities supporting the department’s academic and collection objectives
Digital Collections
- Collaborate with Systems Librarian and ITS to find a new digital platform for our finding aids
- In collaboration with Systems Librarian, explore a potential institutional repository and its implementation
Collaboration
- Provide archivist support for alumni relations, fundraising and grants
- Promote the rich history of Lake Forest College through exhibits, events and publications
- Additional responsibilities in support of the Krebs Center for the Humanities encompass 25% of the job and are listed separately below
Responsibilities in support of the Krebs Center for the Humanities:
Collection Management and Documentation:
- Maintain and improve digital records of the Krebs Center art collection
- Assist in preservation planning for artworks and historical objects
- Document key Krebs Center activities and conservation efforts
HUMAN AI Project Support and Digital Initiatives:
- Contribute historical and contextual information about artworks for Cosimo, the HUMAN AI docent system under development
- Develop metadata and tagging systems for digital initiatives
Research and Programming Support:
- Assist faculty and students in accessing Krebs Center resources
- Provide archival materials and context for events, exhibitions, and grant applications
Requirements:
- Master’s degree from an ALA-Accredited program in library and information science
- Minimum of 4 years of relevant professional experience
- Ability to engage with students, faculty, staff and others in a friendly and professional manner
- Ability to work cooperatively with colleagues
- Knowledge of and familiarity with basic archives skills, including processing, access and use, provenance and donor relations, and preservation
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Strong interest in understanding the College’s history, traditions, and culture to effectively manage and preserve its records and collections.
- Value cultural diversity
- Experience facilitating research questions and consultations
- Instructional experience at the college-level is highly desirable; instructional experience in other environments considered
- Knowledge of trends in archives/special collections, liberal arts education, and higher education in general
Preferred Requirements:
- Experience working with a diverse population
- Supervisory experience (student worker supervisory experience acceptable)
- Interest in Italian Renaissance
To apply please submit a cover letter and resume to: hazlett@lakeforest.edu
Lake Forest College embraces diversity and encourages applications from women, members of historically underrepresented groups, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. For more information about Lake Forest College, visit www.lakeforest.edu.