Archivist Librarian, Special Collections

Special Instructions to Applicants: In PDF form, applicants should attach a resume and cover letter in the Supporting Documents section of the application. 

About Rice

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lecture series, courses, and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff, and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in how we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence.

Position Summary

The Archivist Librarian will provide first-line reference service and search guidance in all special collections to on- and off-site researchers. He/she will work with the Head of Special Collections and the Assistant Head of Special Collections to identify materials appropriate for digitization and presentation on the web. The Archivist Librarian will process archival and manuscript materials managed by the Woodson Research Center and prepare finding aids, both electronic and paper, for those collections following established archival procedures. The Archivist Librarian will also take the departmental lead in the use of and training on the most technologically advanced scanning equipment, check-in cataloged books and periodicals, receive completed Rice theses/dissertations, perform preservation operations, and participate in user education, lectures, and tours. He/she will also train and supervise processing assistants.

The ideal candidate must have experience working in a team environment, managing multiple tasks, and prioritizing deadlines.

Workplace Requirements

This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. A one-day work-from-home schedule may be allowed pending completion of the six-month probationary period. Per Rice Policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range: 

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position, and the hiring range is $66,000 to $71,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience. Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree in Library Science, Information Studies, Archival Studies, or a closely related field
  • In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience above and beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
• 2 years of experience in archival processing, reference services, and special collections management, including experience with digitization, preservation, and the use of archival standards and technologies.
  • In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.

Skills:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service and remain calm and flexible in stressful situations.
• Ability to perform precise, detailed work quickly and accurately.

Preferences

• Certification by the Academy of Certified Archivists.
• Working knowledge of archival software such as ArchivesSpace and Archivematica, as well as digital asset management systems.
• Experience working in an academic or research library setting.

Essential Functions:

• Provides in‐depth collection interpretation for researchers and coordinates reference service/search guidance provided by support staff.
• Processes (appraises, preserves, organizes, arranges, describes) manuscript collections and archival record groups to provide intellectual access to these holdings through the preparation of collection-level descriptions using nationally accepted archival formats.
• Identifies manuscript and archival materials appropriate for digitization and placement on the web using nationally accepted archival formats.
• Provides reference service and search guidance in all special collections to on- and off‐site researchers.
• Identifies materials appropriate for digitization and presentation on the web.
• Processes archival and manuscript materials and prepares finding aids, both electronic and paper, for those collections following established archival procedures.
• Checks in cataloged books and periodicals.
• Performs preservation operations.
• Participates in user education, lectures, and tours for university users and outside groups.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Additional Functions:

• Ability to lift 30 lb boxes.
• Very limited travel to workshops and occasional evening or weekend talks.

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits 

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University’s Disability Resource Center at 713-348-5841 or adarice@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.

Salary : $66,000 - $71,000