"Head of Special Collections & College Archives"

R0000833

The Position:

Head of Special Collections & College ArchivesJob Summary:

The Head of Special Collections and College Archives serves as an innovative and collaborative library leader providing strategic direction for the collections, programs, services, and initiatives with the unique collections and college archives of Trexler Library. Primary responsibilities include forging strong collaborations across the campus community to provide a rich array of library instruction, research services, digital scholarship, creative projects, and exhibits. They will oversee and integrate our College Archives, digital scholarship, Special Collections, Rare Books, and local digital collections with the teaching, learning, and community engagement mission of Muhlenberg College. This position will work closely with a talented and resourceful team of librarians, faculty, staff, and students to enhance access to these resources.  Additionally, this position will develop intentional collaborations and partnerships with alumni, donors, and community leaders for collection development, infrastructure, programming, and broader access and integration of special collections materials.

Schedule & Benefits: At Muhlenberg, we value your work/life balance and are pleased to offer this full-time, year-round opportunity. This position qualifies for the campus work/life balance policies for flexible schedules and remote work, where feasible. Muhlenberg offers a highly competitive benefits package, including but not limited to, generous holidays (including three days off for Thanksgiving and an extended winter break between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day), vacation (22 days per year), sick leave, eight weeks paid parental leave, Life Sports Center membership, tuition opportunities at the undergraduate and graduate level, medical, dental and vision coverage, flexible spending plans, College-provided short-and long-term disability, life insurance, and retirement. Waiting periods may apply. Relocation assistance is available for this position. In addition, as a 501(c)(3) non-profit institution, Muhlenberg is a qualifying employer under the federal government’s Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

The College & Surrounding Area: Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg College is a private, residential, liberal arts college offering baccalaureate and graduate programs. At Muhlenberg, we are committed to a campus community that ensures students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel welcome, respected, valued and included. Muhlenberg College is dedicated to shaping creative, compassionate, collaborative leaders through rigorous academic programs in the arts, humanities, business, natural sciences and social sciences; as well as pre-professional programs in law, health and theology; and progressive workforce-focused post-baccalaureate certificates and master’s degrees. As part of eastern Pennsylvania’s scenic Lehigh Valley, Allentown is a diverse city of 125,000, located just 60 miles north of Philadelphia and 90 miles west of New York City. As the third largest city in the state, and along with neighboring Bethlehem and Easton, the region is home to a vibrant arts scene, extensive parks and recreational opportunities, and a rich blend of diverse cuisine. For more information, visit Life in the Lehigh Valley | Muhlenberg College and check out Allentown here.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:

Leadership and Strategic Direction:

• Provide strategic leadership for Special Collections and College Archives including collection development, management, digitization projects, reference and research services, instruction, exhibits, and programs.
• Develop and implement policies, procedures, and best practices relevant to distinctive collections development, materials management, access, and use.
• Supervisory responsibilities for Special Collections and College Archives assistants, work-study students, and interns.

Education, Engagement and Outreach:

• Build collections and projects that support the curriculum and faculty interests.
• Advance reference, instruction and outreach activities that foster opportunities for diversity, equity, and inclusion in local collections by focusing on diverse collecting of underrepresented voices.
• Utilize Special Collections and College Archives materials and praxis to enhance students’ primary source literacy.
• Through one-shot and embedded library instruction, provide students with foundational skill-building in the use of primary sources for research.
• Provide opportunities for research or internships across disciplines.
• Foster existing and new partnerships across the library, campus, the local community, and the larger scholarly community to strengthen and promote greater awareness of and engagement with Special Collections and College Archives materials.
• Identify opportunities and write grants to augment the collections, develop digital projects, and provide innovative services.

Digital and Strategic Initiatives:

• Enhance the College's digital collections through collaboration with faculty and students to support digital scholarship projects and research.
• Develop digital records practices for archiving, preserving, and providing access to primary source digital materials, including hybrid, born-digital material, and digital content created on campus.
• Work collaboratively with librarians, faculty, students, staff, and other partners to further enhance the college repository and other digital collections.
• Plan and execute engaging and relevant exhibitions of Special Collection and College Archives materials.

The Head of Special Collections and Archives also participates in other generally assigned duties and professional activities to advance the library’s and the college’s mission and strategic initiatives.    

While no one person may possess all the qualifications listed below, the ideal candidate will have many of the following professional experiences and characteristics:

Qualifications:

• An ALA-accredited master’s degree in library or information science, or an equivalent level of education and related professional experience.
• Experience with managing Special Collections and College Archives, with increasing responsibility and leadership.
• Teaching experience that includes an awareness of digital and traditional modes of scholarship and instruction that employ primary source materials.
• Well-rounded knowledge of the Special Collections and College Archives practices and technologies, strategic planning, and working effectively with diverse, multicultural communities.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
• Understanding of collection management practices and preservation metadata standards, such as Dublin Core, METS, EAD, etc. Basic knowledge of German or willingness to further language skills is also helpful.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a collegial, team-based environment and foster positive and inclusive working relationships.
• Ability to plan, manage, and oversee projects, meet deadlines, and prioritize work in alignment with the strategic goals of the Library and the College.
• Strong collaboration, communication and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Commitment to an outstanding public services culture in a learner-centered environment.
• Successful completion of satisfactory background checks.

To apply, upload your complete application package as a single PDF document. A complete application package includes: 1) cover letter; 2) resume; 3) separate diversity statement summarizing professional experiences and capacities that prepare you to contribute to our diversity, equity, and inclusion goals; and 4) names/contact information for three professional references. Application review will continue until the position is filled. To initiate your application, use the APPLY button.

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An equal opportunity employer, Muhlenberg College is committed to recruiting and retaining outstanding faculty and staff from racial and ethnic groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in higher education. Please visit our Diversity & Inclusion page for additional information about Muhlenberg's commitment to supporting a diverse and inclusive community.

Legal Notice

Muhlenberg College Annual Crime Reporting- As provided by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998, prospective employees of Muhlenberg College are entitled to request and receive a copy of the College Annual Security Report (ASR). The ASR can be accessed at http://www.muhlenberg.edu/annualsecurityreport . This report includes crime statistics on certain reportable crimes, as well as Muhlenberg College Safety Policies. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus safety and police, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault and other matters. Anyone wishing a paper copy of the ASR may contact the Campus Safety Office at 484-664-3112.