"Outreach and Reference Archivist, Z. Smith Reynolds Library (R0008251)"

Job Details

Outreach and Reference Archivist, Z. Smith Reynolds Library (R0008251)

Location: Winston Salem, NC

Open Date: Sep 24, 2025

Close Date: Oct 27, 2025

Description:

The Z. Smith Reynolds Library seeks a library and archives professional to serve as Outreach and Reference Archivist for Special Collections & Archives (SCA). The successful candidate will provide leadership in outreach, reference, and programmatic initiatives that highlight and preserve Wake Forest University history, with a special focus on planning and implementation for the University’s Bicentennial in 2034.

In collaboration with the Director, Special Collections & Archives/Executive Director, Wake Forest Historical Museum, the Outreach and Reference Archivist will serve as an additional liaison between the University Archives, Wake Forest University, and the Town of Wake Forest (home of the University’s original campus) communities to prepare and plan for the 2034 bicentennial. Travel will be required between the locations, and funding will be provided for mileage reimbursement.

This is a full-time, twelve-month Librarian position with Library Faculty status. The Outreach and Reference Archivist reports to the Public Services Archivist and is a member of the Special Collections & Archives Team, one of six teams in the library. ZSR Library faculty are governed by the policies of the Librarians’ Assembly and are evaluated annually on Librarianship (70%), Scholarship and Professional Achievement (20%), and Service (10%).

Duties and Responsibilities

The Outreach and Reference Archivist will lead initiatives that connect the campus and broader community with University history and Special Collections resources. Bicentennial planning will be a major focus, but responsibilities will extend beyond 2034 to ensure sustained engagement and access.

• Bicentennial Planning & Outreach
  • Coordinate SCA’s contributions to the Wake Forest University Bicentennial.
  • Collaborate with the Wake Forest Historical Museum and other partners on exhibits, programs, and events.
  • Conduct and manage oral history interviews documenting Wake Forest history.
  • Serve on any relevant university committees.
• Access & Engagement
  • Develop reference services, subject guides, exhibits, and instructional support related to WFU history.
  • Create and manage social media content and oversee the University Timeline.
  • Promote archival resources to Wake Forest communities through ongoing outreach programs.
• Digitization & Collections Prioritization
  • Collaborate with SCA Collections Archivist and Digital Collections Librarian to identify and select high-priority collections for processing and digitization.
• Supervision
  • May supervise student assistants and volunteers.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited library school or equivalent master’s degree.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse constituencies in a team-based environment.
• Excellent communication, research, and writing skills.
• Demonstrated potential to meet promotion requirements within a ranked, non-tenure track library faculty appointment.

Preferred Qualifications

• One to two years of experience in an archives and/or special collections environment.
• Experience conducting and managing oral history projects, including metadata creation.
• Familiarity with metadata schema such as DACS and Dublin Core, and with other library and archival descriptive and content standards.
• Demonstrated skills in project management.

Salary and Rank

Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. The anticipated rank is Assistant Librarian, with a minimum starting salary of $60,000 annually plus a comprehensive benefits package including professional development support. Librarians appointed at the Assistant rank are expected to achieve promotion to Associate within the time frame defined by the ZSR Librarians’ Assembly Governing Document.

About ZSR Library and Wake Forest University

The Z. Smith Reynolds Library, with a collection of over 1.9 million volumes, materials expenditures of over $6 million, and an operating budget of over $14 million, serves over 5,500 undergraduates and more than 2,800 graduate and professional students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, School of Medicine, School of Law, School of Business, School of Divinity, and the School of Professional Studies.

Wake Forest University is a private liberal arts institution consistently ranked among the nation’s top universities. Wake Forest combines the resources of a research university with the intimacy of a smaller college, offering small classes, strong faculty-student engagement, and Division I athletics. The University is deeply committed to public service and engagement with the world, as reflected in its motto, “Pro Humanitate.”

The campus is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, ideally situated between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Atlantic coast. To ensure a safe learning and working community, Wake Forest University conducts background checks on the final candidate. Wake Forest seeks to recruit and retain a diverse faculty and staff to enhance the excellence of the University and to offer students a wide variety of perspectives and ways of learning.

Application Instructions:

Interested applicants should submit the following materials through Interfolio at https://apply.interfolio.com/174591: a cover letter addressing required and preferred qualifications (typically no more than two pages), curriculum vitae, and contact information for three professional references. Questions may be directed to Rebecca May, search committee chair, at petersrb@wfu.edu. For full consideration, applications should be received by October 27, 2025, when review will begin. Review will continue until the position is filled.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified candidates to apply without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and military or veteran status.

Accommodations for Applicants

If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact AskHR@wfu.edu or (336) 758-4700.