Job Summary:

The Barnard Archives and Special Collections is seeking applications for fellowships working under the supervision of the Director of the Archives and Special Collections, in a two-person cohort. This year, the Archives Processing Fellows will gain hands-on experience in an academic institutional archives and special collections, with a focus on processing archival collections. Fellows are also encouraged in the latter half of their fellowship to develop independent projects; options for projects this year include reference work, rare books cataloging, digital collections (UX or metadata) work, outreach and teaching, and/or exhibition curation.

Job Description:

Duration: 500 hours; scheduled from mid-September 2023 - June 30, 2024; scheduling is flexible but typically 10 hours a week for 34 weeks during the academic year (September 2023-April 2024); 20 hours/week for 9 weeks in early summer 2024 (May-June 2024) and including some time off.

Compensation: $30/hr

About the positions:

The Barnard Archives and Special Collections is seeking applications for fellowships working under the supervision of the Director of the Archives and Special Collections, in a two-person cohort. This year, the Archives Processing Fellows will gain hands-on experience in an academic institutional archives and special collections, with a focus on processing archival collections. Fellows are also encouraged in the latter half of their fellowship to develop independent projects; options for projects this year include reference work, rare books cataloging, digital collections (UX or metadata) work, outreach and teaching, and/or exhibition curation.

Participants will start their time at Barnard by learning how to process collections and accruals using ArchivesSpace. We will then tailor the fellows' work together based on their interests in learning specific skills, working with specific types of materials, or focusing on topical areas. 

Collections management and processing work may include:

• Accessioning and processing (appraisal, basic conservation, arrangement, and description) of material in all formats (analog, paper, digital), including institutional papers, manuscript collections, photographs and A/V materials, and web archives

• Revision and creation of processing workflows and documentation

• Processing accruals and updating existing finding aids

After building a foundation in archival processing, participants in the fellowship may continue to process larger collections or are encouraged to conceive of and complete independent projects in other areas of archival work with the support of Director and other archives and library staff. 

Independent projects will be self-directed by fellowship participants and may include:

• Reference work and development of resources for researchers (such as research guides)

• Rare books cataloging

• Digital collections/UX or metadata work

• Outreach and teaching with archives

• Collaborative projects with the academic centers

• Archival exhibition development and curation

The overall goals of the fellowship will be determined by the participants in conjunction with the Director. Participants in the fellowship will plan and direct their own independent projects, or may also elect to continue with processing work (or build a project based around processing). 

The fellowship is intended to give fellows a foundation in processing and an introduction to other topics in archival work, including reference work, teaching, acquisitions and donor relations, outreach, budgets and advocacy, managing open source software, preservation, and project management.

About the collections, the Archives, and our office:

The Barnard Archives and Special Collections consist of over 450 distinct collections. We document the history of the College and collect special collections materials that relate to broader histories of feminism and dance and advance the mission of the College by collaborating in teaching and learning. Highlights of the collections include the Ntozake Shange Papers, the Sabra Moore NYC Women’s Art Movement Collection, the Kathryn Kolbert Planned Parenthood v. Casey records, Special Collections zines from the Barnard Zine Library, the records of the Barnard Dance Department, the records and collections of the Barnard Center for Research on Women, and many more.
 

The Barnard Archives commits to work that is equitable and anti-oppressive, and encourages and supports work which centers voices, knowledge, and memory-making practices historically excluded from the archival record. Our community agreements describe some of the ways in which we are committed to upholding values of inclusivity, privacy, and support.

The archives fellowship is primarily in-person, at the Barnard Archives and Special Collections on Barnard’s campus (at 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027), with opportunities for remote work as possible. Our offices are accessible to individuals with mobility disabilities. We have bathroom facilities available for all gender identities. We are open Monday-Friday, 10 AM - 6 PM. 

While employed at Barnard, you will be given access to the Library’s resources.

Skills, Qualifications & Requirements:

To Qualify:

Must be currently enrolled in a graduate-level program in archival management, library sciences, or related fields. 

Must be available to work weekdays.

Must make a commitment to work, on average, 10 hours of work a week, with time off for winter and spring vacation, and increased hours if desired in early summer or throughout the fellowship. Work schedules are flexible and can be adjusted as needed–for example, participants can choose to work more hours and complete the fellowship in a compressed time frame.

Preferred demonstrable skills include:

Desire to work both collaboratively and independently; excellent organizational, research, and communication skills; critical analysis of archives or the archives profession (e.g. bringing a critical race, feminist, disability justice, and/or queer theoretical lens to archival work); and strong attention to detail. We welcome applicants to discuss how these preferred skills have been utilized and honed in areas of their life outside of their professional or academic work. 

Applicants do not need to have prior experience processing collections or working in archives in order to apply.

The Barnard Archives especially encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ people, and individuals from other underrepresented groups. Barnard College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is actively committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community.

To Apply:

Apply via the Barnard College website: https://barnard.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/Staff

The site will require you to create an account, upload a cover letter and resume; finalists will also be asked to provide references. 

In your cover letter, please describe your professional interests, why you are interested in working with the Barnard Archives and Special Collections, and what you might like to accomplish or learn during the fellowship. 

Address your cover letter to Martha Tenney.

Priority date for applications: end of day on August 20th

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the College's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Apply online here