AY Student Assistant for Archival Support (WS-ST2)

Job Title: Student Assistant for Archival Support (WS-ST2)

Classification: Student Employee (non-exempt) 

Name and Address of Employer: St. Olaf College, 1520 St. Olaf Ave, Northfield, MN 55057

If the position requires the student to work off campus, provide the name and address here: N/A

Department Name: Rolvaag Library, Distinctive Collections & College Archives

Unit Number (5 digits): 14001

Length of Position: See Employment Authorization 

Contact Person/Supervisor: Lead Archivist

Wage Range: $12.00-13.00/hour 

Description/Purpose of the Position:  

Student assistants engage in a variety of archives-related tasks, both behind-the-scenes (for example, researching inquiries, pulling and reshelving materials, scanning, etc.) and front-of-house (meeting and orienting patrons, and proctoring patron use of archival materials). The main goal of this position is to reduce the workload that would otherwise be placed on the archivist. All Distinctive Collections and College Archives student staff may be trained in and asked to assist with the duties of their student colleagues. This position also offers the possibility of full-time employment during the summer.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Act as one of the main voices researchers encounter when engaging with the College Archives

• Work with archival materials and use them to answer requests from patrons, as well as assist the Lead Archivist in the management of the collections 

• Proctor in-person researchers

• Help accession materials and prepare them for archival processing

• Help at Distinctive Collections and College Archives outreach events

• Assist with special projects and research 

• In your final year, you will play a leading role in training your successor

Transferable Skills:

• Customer service skills

• Leadership, teamwork, and conflict resolution skills 

• Ability to evaluate information and their sources

• Critical thinking and problem solving skills

• Written and verbal communication skills

• Time management and organizational skills

• Ability to prioritize objectives 

Work Schedule: 

Term: Full Year

Shift: Flexible work schedule based on availability 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Preference will be given to students who can commit to two or three years in this position

• Interest in how college records are preserved

• Desire to help patrons access the materials they need for research

• Excellent customer service skills and a positive attitude

• Attention to detail

• Creative and persistent problem-solving skills

• Ability to work independently, and with minimal oversight

• Research skills, including critically considering alternative routes for locating information, knowing when to ask questions, and knowing when to stop

• Time management skills, including the ability to balance multiple requests and tasks

• Ability to juggle multiple projects and competing priorities

• Strong interpersonal and listening skills

• Ability to work with sensitive and confidential information

• Good decision-making skills

• Careful, but timely follow-through on processes and procedures.

• Comfortable learning and using multiple technologies, systems, and data management tools

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including phone skills

• Impeccable organization skills

• The ability to improve upon established processes

• Ability to work efficiently and supportively on a team of student staff

• Communication with peers and your supervisor in a professional setting

Reasons you should apply:

• You enjoy helping others

• You enjoy researching historical events

• You have a strong interest in archives and/or library science

• You are good at working independently

• You know when to ask for help and when to research a problem

• You are flexible, creative, innovative, and willing to learn

• You want a dynamic job

This position requires a commitment to continue to serve in the position through graduation. It requires 6-8 hours each week, and with supervisor approval, can accommodate a flexible schedule that can include evenings and weekends. 

Physical and Environmental Factors:

This position requires crouching, kneeling/crawling, stooping, twisting/pivoting, climbing/balancing, reaching overhead, grasping/handling, and lifting and carrying objects up to 20 lbs. to perform the essential functions. It also requires rare exposure to respiratory factors and chemicals to perform the essential functions. Candidates must possess the ability to safely perform the physical work required of all duties with or without reasonable accommodation.

This job description is for general information purposes.  It is not intended to list all duties and responsibilities of the position.  This job description is subject to change at any time by St. Olaf College, with or without prior notice.