JOB ANNOUNCEMENT AND POSITION DESCRIPTION
Organizational Background: Hennepin History Museum’s mission is to collect, preserve, and share Hennepin County history to educate, enlighten, and inspire. Today, our historic mansion is home to three exhibition galleries, a multi-use grand salon used for programs such as
presentations and performances, a reading room, archives, and object collections storage. In recognition that Hennepin County’s past, present, and future have been and will be shaped by people from all backgrounds, our organization lives into the values of inclusive, innovative, intimate, relevant, and responsible for stewarding all that is entrusted to us. Our tagline is “Your History. Your Museum,” and we consider it essential that all Hennepin County residents find their history reflected in our programming, exhibitions, and collections.
Title: Processing Archivist
Salary range: $15 per hour
Hours: up to 30/hours/week for 12 months; Flexible scheduling
Summary
HHM is looking for up to three Processing Archivists to support a grant-funded project for a 12-month period. Their focus will be on properly processing, describing, and arranging collections that have been determined to be historically significant and valuable to HHM’s collection. The Processing Archivists will be responsible for processing, describing and arrangement designated archive collections. They will work with the Archivist to determine a work plan for processing and arrangement of designated collections.
General Expectations
• Adheres to museum’s policies and procedures
• Performs duties as workload necessitates
• Maintains a positive and respectful attitude
• Communicates regularly with supervisor and other staff as needed
• Demonstrates flexible and efficient time management and ability to prioritize workload
• Supports and follows the museum’s agreed-up values
Main Responsibilities
1. Develops an archival processing plan for designed collections that are currently not processed and arranged
2. Contributes to development of strategies for streamlining workflow
3. Create finding aid with appropriate level of description and composes biographical/historical notes
4. Follows DACS for creating of finding aid
5. Assesses physical conditions of collections working with and identifies conservation concerns and informs the Archivist
6. Discuss any questions or concerns about arrangement and description with Archivist
7. Submits regular reports on processing of designated collections to the Archivist
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Knowledge on professional standards established by the Society of American Archivist and International Council of Archives
• Knowledge of DACS
• Knowledge of professional best practices and norms, including both legal and ethical guidelines related to the archives
• Knowledge on how to handle and maintain archival material
• Knowledge of proper archival arrangement and description processes
• Ability to work under pressure and deadlines
• Interpersonal skills: ability to communicate effectively via writing and in person
• Ability to lift boxes and other objects up to 40lbs
• Ability to work in sometimes dusty and dirty conditions
Desired Qualifications:
Master’s in Library and Information Science with additional training in archives or enrolled in an MLIS program. Prior experience working in archival, with archival collections or historical setting maybe substituted for lack of MLIS. Knowledge and interest in history and some
awareness of local and Hennepin County history is beneficial. Knowledge using Office365, Word, Excel, and Past Perfect.
Application Process:
Please submit a cover letter and resume by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 22, 2019 to the Hennepin History Museum, Attn: Processing Archivist Position, 2303 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404, or via email to [email protected] with “Processing Archivist Position” in the subject line. For further information, questions can be directed to Amber Espitia, Museum Archivist, at [email protected]