Archivist

The University of California, Irvine Libraries seeks a skilled, innovative, and knowledgeable professional for the position of Archivist in the Department of Special Collections & Archives.   

Responsibilities

The Archivist plays a leading role in the processing and management of all archival and manuscript collections, including appraisal, accessioning, preparation of processing plans, arrangement and description, and preservation of materials in all formats and collecting areas. 

Reporting to the Head of Special Collections & Archives and University Archivist, the Archivist works collaboratively within the department to set priorities and determine appropriate approaches to accessioning collections and preparing them for use. The Archivist develops and implements uniform arrangement and description standards and ensures that materials are efficiently and effectively processed.  The Archivist has responsibility for encoding finding aids using Encoded Archival Description (EAD) for contribution to the Online Archive of California.  The Archivist supervises processing assistants including paraprofessional archival processors and part-time students.  The Archivist serves on the Department's reference desk.  The successful candidate may also participate in instruction and outreach activities, digitization projects, preparation of exhibits, acquisition of manuscript and archival collections, donor relations, and grant proposals as appropriate.

Qualifications

Required:

• A graduate degree in library science from an ALA-accredited institution, or a graduate degree in archival studies, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Formal coursework or training in archival management and theory.
• Two or more years of professional archival processing experience.
• Understanding of and commitment to nationally-accepted standards, tools, and best practices for archival processing and description, including Describing Archives: a Content Standard.
• Advanced skill in using the Archivist’s Toolkit and encoding finding aids using Encoded Archival Description.
• In-depth knowledge of efficient processing procedures, such as those outlined in Greene and Meissner's "More Product, Less Process."
• Ability to learn new technologies quickly and effectively.
• Ability to successfully train and supervise the work of archival processing assistants.
• Ability to provide effective reference service in an academic library.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team-based library organization within a culturally diverse academic community.

Preferred:

• Experience providing reference service in a research or academic library.
• Experience supervising archival processing assistants.
• Experience working with electronic records.
• Experience working with donors.
• Familiarity with basic records management principles and current trends.
• Familiarity with copyright issues relevant to archives.

Special Collections and Archives

Special Collections and Archives houses the UCI Libraries' collections of manuscripts and archives, rare books, and notable subject collections.  Archival collecting areas of particular strength and distinction include regional history (emphasizing Orange County and Southern California), the Southeast Asian Archive (documenting the post-1975 diaspora from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos), the Critical Theory Archive (including the papers of Jacques Derrida, Wolfgang Iser, Paul de Man, and others), the University Archives (documenting the UC Irvine campus), dance and the performing arts (including the papers of Robert Cohen and choreographers Donald McKayle and Eugene Loring), and distinguished UCI faculty (including Noble Laureates Frederick Reines and Sherwood Rowland).  The Department is also responsible for the curation of unique UCI digital scholarship.

The Libraries

The UCI Libraries are committed to innovation and excellence and are in a major period of change.  The Libraries consist of the Langson Library, the Ayala Science Library, the Library Gateway Study Center, and the Grunigen Medical Library.  These buildings contain over 3, 600 public seats for study and research and provide more than 600 public access computers.

 The UCI Libraries have a staff of approximately 150 FTE plus approximately 35 student assistant FTE.  The library collection consists of over 3.2 million volumes and over 78,000 journals and serial titles and an aggressively expanding electronic resources collection.  The UCI Libraries are a member of the:  Association of Research Libraries (ARL), California Digital Library (CDL), Coalition of Networked Information (CNI), Center for Research Libraries (CRL), Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR), International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and Scholarly Publishing & Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC).

University of California, Irvine

The University of California, Irvine, is nestled in over 1,500 acres of coastal foothills, five miles from the Pacific Ocean, between San Diego and Los Angeles.  Founded in 1965, UCI has more than 26,000 undergraduate and graduate students and about 1,500 faculty members.

Nearly 67% of UCI students identify themselves as Asian American, African American, Chicano/Latino, or Native American.  The University offers graduate degrees in more than 100 academic disciplines and interdisciplinary programs in addition to the M.D. and J.D.  UCI’s academic programs are ranked nationally among the top universities; several doctoral programs are ranked in the top ten.

Librarians at the University of California Irvine are academic appointees and receive potential career status at the time of their initial appointment.  Librarians periodically receive administrative and peer review for merit increases based on the following criteria: 1) professional competence and quality of service within the Library; 2) professional activity outside the Library; 3) university and public service; and 4) research and other creative activity.

Salary & Benefits:  Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.  Preferred appointment level:  $46,164 - $56,496 (Assistant Librarian I - Associate Librarian IV).

Librarians are entitled to two days per month of annual leave, thirteen paid holidays, and one day per month sick leave.  The University has an excellent retirement system and offers a variety of group health, life, and disability insurance plans.  Benefits, which may also include an attractive mortgage program, are equal to approximately 40% of salary.

Deadline for Applications:  Applications received by May 2, 2011 will receive first consideration, but applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.

To Apply:  Electronic applications are preferred.  Qualified applicants who wish to be considered for this position should send their letters of application, complete resumes, and the names, email addresses, and phone numbers of three references, with a statement of each reference’s professional relationship to the applicant, to:

Email: libhr@uci.edu

Library Human Resources

UC Irvine, P.O. Box 19557

Irvine, CA 92623-9557

Confidential fax (949) 824-3270

Upon application, candidates should be in possession of proof of their legal right to employment in the U.S.  In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, verification of legal right to work will be required between the time of final selection and hiring, and is absolutely essential in ultimately being hired.

This position description is listed on the UCI Libraries Web site at http://www.lib.uci.edu/about/jobs/librarian-vacancies.html, with links to additional Web sites featuring campus and community information.

The University of California, Irvine is an equal opportunity employer

committed to excellence through diversity