Position Overview
Are you interested in the past? Do you like solving puzzles? Do you like seeing projects through from beginning to end? If so, consider applying for a student manuscripts processing position with the Kenneth Spencer Research Library! Students on the Manuscripts Processing Team physically arrange and describe historical collections to make them accessible to staff and library patrons. This requires handling and organizing primary sources, typically unpublished material (letters, photographs,…
documents, etc.), and describing the records in an inventory. If you're good at following complex directions, can handle repetitive tasks, don't mind getting your hands a little dirty, and enjoy working independently, this might be the job for you!
This position requires working a minimum of 9 hours a week between 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Monday - Friday in 2-hour or more shifts.
Job Description
70% - Housing and inventorying manuscript collections.
20% - Special projects supporting the work of the Manuscripts Processing Team such as recycling, archival supply management, and other duties as assigned.
10% - Gaining library and archives experience through professional development opportunities.
Required Qualifications
- Professional experience which required excellent organizational skills, accuracy, and attention to detail, as evidenced by application materials.
- Work experience demonstrating ability to communicate effectively, as evidenced by application materials.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain a schedule under minimal supervision, as evidenced by application materials.
- Experience with Microsoft Office applications and the demonstrated ability to learn new technology without formal training, as evidenced by application materials.
- Ability to work a minimum of 9 hours a week between 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Monday - Friday in 2-hour or more shifts, as evidenced by application materials.
Preferred Qualifications
- Previous experience in handling and preserving manuscript, archival, and photographic materials, as evidenced by application materials.
- Previous experience working or volunteering in a library, archives, and/or museum, as evidenced by application materials.
- Previous experience working with databases and data entry, as evidenced by application materials.
- Demonstrated ability to read in another language, as evidenced by application materials.
Position Requirements
During the semester term of the appointment, the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours. For summer periods the student hourly must: (1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or (2) be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or (3) be enrolled in summer session or (4) be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester. Student Hourlies may be undergraduate or graduate students. (Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments DO NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments).
Must be able to work a minimum of 9 hours a week between 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Monday - Friday in 2-hour or more shifts.
Employment Conditions
(1) Student employees are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by the unit leadership and HR.
(2) This is an hourly/non-exempt position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly/non-exempt position and a salaried/exempt graduate or undergraduate position (GRA/GTA/GA/RUA/RGA) concurrently.
Additional Candidate Instructions
In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:
- Resume
- Cover letter
- Three professional references
Application deadline is Thursday, 10/8/2026, by 11:59PM Central Standard Time.
Contact Information to Applicants
Molly Bauer
mollyjames@ku.edu
Advertised Salary Range
$12.00 per hour
Anticipated Start Date
Wednesday October 21, 2026