Terms of Employment: Full time (40 hours/week) on site
Date Available: July 1, 2025
Rosenberg Library, located on Galveston Island, Texas, seeks an engaged and customer-service oriented Archivist to work in the library’s Galveston and Texas History Center (GTHC), which consists of archives, rare books, and a museum. The GTHC, one of the main repositories for Texana in the United States, collects materials about Galveston from its 1839 incorporation to the present, and documents Texas from the Spanish period through the Civil War. Our collection consists of more than 13,000 linear feet of written, visual, and oral materials.
The Archivist is responsible for assisting customers and researchers with reference questions; processing and cataloging manuscripts, maps, photographs, and other materials; digitizing and cataloging items; and assisting the Special Collections Manager with public programs, exhibits, and outreach. Position reports to the Special Collections Manager.
Duties for this position include but are not limited to the following:
- Provides archival reference for users needing archival materials and genealogists needing help with databases and archival materials.
- Explains research policies and procedures, demonstrates research methods, explains the use of reference materials/equipment and explains fees to customers.
- Provides technical support for the digitization process and digitizes while also creating metadata, and providing quality control and maintenance of the digital collections’ infrastructure.
- Assists with the development and implementation of new workflows and procedures for efficient digitization.
- Organizes, processes, describes, and preserves records according to archival standards and practices.
- Compiles and creates finding aids and reference guides according to current archival standards (EAD, DACS, etc.).
- Supports social media efforts, creates exhibits in person or online, and gives tours of the GTHC and the Museum.
Key Qualifications:
- Work experience in an archive, research library, or manuscript repository.
- Evidence of strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work in a team environment with people of diverse backgrounds.
- Knowledge of reference tools, the reference process and has the ability to oversee onsite researchers and answer requests for information from internal and external sources.
- Knowledge of archival and Encoded Archival Description standards, issues, practices, and trends.
- Skill in processing manuscript materials in accordance with archival standards.
- Experience with digitization and knowledge of current trends and practices in digital management of collection materials.
- Ability to perform physical tasks, including climbing a ladder and lifting fifty (50) pounds.
- Skill in using computers and related software, including Microsoft Office products.
- Skill in prioritizing work assignments.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in library/information science, or history or related subject with at least 15 semester hours completed in archival administration.
- Work experience can include intern, capstone, or volunteer experience equal to at least 6 months in the arrangement and description of archives and manuscripts.
- Experience digitizing materials and creating metadata.
- Familiarity with Adobe tools and Microsoft software.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience processing and describing archival collections of more than 5 linear feet.
- Experience using a digital asset management system.
- Knowledge of Galveston and/or Texas History.
- Experience encoding archival finding aids using Encoded Archival Description (EAD).
- Knowledge and use of Texas Archival Resources Online (TARO).
- Certification from the Academy of Certified Archivists.
Terms of Employment
Full time on site. Schedule is Tuesday through Saturday 9 am to 6 pm. Benefits include health, dental, vision, and life insurance, an employer-sponsored 401(k), 12 vacation days (increases to 15 days after three years), 12 paid holidays, and 12 sick days per year.
Employment is contingent on passing a background check.
The physical demands consist of sitting or standing at a workstation for extended periods of time, walking, bending, stooping, pushing, pulling, reaching, and climbing ladders. Operates archival and library equipment on an ongoing basis. May be required to lift objects weighing up to 50 pounds and push loaded book trucks weighing up to 300 pounds. Mold and dust are present.
Rosenberg Library does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or based on an individual’s status in any group or class protected by applicable federal, state or local law. Rosenberg Library encourages applications from minorities, women, the disabled, protected veterans and all other qualified applicants.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:
The below documents are required with your application.
- Resume
- Cover letter
- Graduate School Transcript. Transcripts do not need to be official, but must state your name, the school’s name, classes taken, grades received, type of degree, and date degree was conferred.
Review of applications will begin June 18, 2025. The position is open until it is filled.
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Volunteer Application
We appreciate your interest in becoming a volunteer. The Rosenberg Library is not accepting volunteers at this time. Thank you.