Graduate Assistant For Special Collections (Beg Fall 2026)

Job Summary

Special Collections is a part of the Learning and Research Services department of Ingram Library. A graduate research assistant will contribute to this department in the following ways.

Provide research support to students and faculty at UWG, as well as external scholars and community members, seeking to utilize primary sources in Special Collections. (75%)

• The graduate assistant will
  1. research and identify items from the physical and digital collections that meet the current information needs,
  2. pull and prepare materials from Special Collections for use as needed,
  3. assist researchers with access to physical materials, use of the research room, and digital scanning, and
  4. process items in collections for discoverability and preservation according to archival best practices and standards.

Support library's instructional and research support activities. (25%)

• The graduate assistant will
  1. assist in library workshops, programs, and tabling events by helping to set up and staff events, particularly those featuring Special Collections,
  2. contribute to LRS projects that highlight Special Collections in the library exhibit and online spaces by identifying, researching, and preparing materials,
  3. contribute to the development of library information tools to improve usability and maintain accuracy through careful reviews and feedback.

Required Qualifications

To be considered for a graduate assistantship at the University of West Georgia (UWG), students must meet the following criteria:

• Be fully admitted to a graduate degree program at UWG. Please note: Students admitted provisionally are not eligible for assistantship positions.
• Hold a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• Be enrolled full-time in a UWG graduate program during the assistantship period.
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all previous and current graduate coursework and remain in good academic standing.
• Meet eligibility requirements for employment in the United States.
• Strong customer service, computer, and communication skills
• Good organizational skills and attention to detail
• Comfortable working independently or as team

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or coursework in related field like history, political science, or education
• Experience with archival materials and programs
• Experience conducting academic research and/or using library resources
• Ability to read cursive

Proposed Salary

• A monthly stipend of $1000.00 per month
• A tuition waiver, reducing your graduate tuition to $25 per semester plus mandatory fees as long as you are employed in your assistantship.

Required Documents to Attach

• Resume
• Cover letter
• UWG Graduate School acceptance letter

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• This position requires frequent standing, walking, bending, and lifting.
• Must be able to lift boxes weighing up to forty pounds
• Some evening and occasional weekend availability may be required for events and programming.