Employment

Position Summary
Lilly Library at Wabash College seeks an innovative, collaborative, and forward-thinking Digital Archivist.  Reporting to the Library Director, this grant-funded position will work in partnership with the College Archivist to provide expertise and guidance on the acquisition, digitization, curation, and dissemination of the collections and digital projects of the Robert T. Ramsay Archival Center and Wabash College. 

The Digital Archivist will collaborate with faculty to use our digital collections in classroom projects and community engagement and work to expand the collection to more fully document the minoritized experiences of Wabash’s history, including support for the Malcolm X Institute of Black Studies archive, the Escuchando oral history project which focuses on Latino/a/e alumni and employees, and other projects that tell the story of our community.  Candidates with a commitment to working with diverse students, communities, and collections are invited to apply.

Wabash College has begun a strategic transformation to advance the success of its first-generation students, students of color, and students from low-income families.  To support this work, the Lilly Endowment Inc., awarded Wabash a Charting the Future grant titled “Restoring Hope, Restoring Trust.”  Using funds from this grant, Wabash supports an array of programs, partnerships, and strategies ranging from cultural and artistic programming, community engagement, and research support for students, faculty, staff, and the greater community.  The Digital Archivist position is funded through this grant and plays an important role in supporting this transformative work.

The Digital Archivist is a full-time, 12-month in-person position supported for three years by grant funding.  Potential reappointment will be determined based on the needs of the archives and the College.  Rank, salary, and potential associated faculty status are dependent upon qualifications and experience. 

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage the planning and operation of the Robert T. Ramsay Archival Center’s digital assets, systems, and initiatives, including Wabash College’s Institutional Repository.
• Assist the College Archivist to determine collection strategies, policies and procedures, priorities for digitization, and modes of access for the digital collections of the Robert T. Ramsay Archival Center.
• Provide support for the needs of the “Restoring Hope, Restoring Trust” grant and community partners, including collection development in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Cultivate strong working relationships across the campus to promote digital archives, digital humanities, and library resources.
• Participate in related professional development activities.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in library and information science, or graduate degree in a relevant field (History, Public History, Museum Studies, etc.), or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least one year of supervised experience working in an archives, library, or historically focused institution managing digital archival collections, digital humanities projects, digital scholarship, or an institutional repository (may include service as a graduate student or intern).

• Outstanding presentation, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a collegial environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience or familiarity working with one or more of the following:
• Collections management systems (CONTENTdm, HYKU, OMEKA, Archives Space, Past Perfect, Digital Commons, D-Space, or equivalent)
• Technical and descriptive metadata standards (Encoded Archival Description (EAD), Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS), or Dublin Core (DCMI))
• Adobe Creative Cloud suite of products (Photoshop, Audition, Premier Pro, etc.)

About Lilly Library

Built in 1959, Lilly Library was renovated and expanded in 1992.  Our collections include 230,000+ print volumes plus access to 1.7+ million ebooks and 125,000 ejournals.   The Robert T. Ramsay Archival Center in Lilly Library serves the Wabash Community by collecting and preserving the history of Wabash College and our local community.  In addition to our archival collections, we also have a substantial special collection of rare volumes. 

Our small staff functions as a team to provide exceptional service to the Wabash community. Our library provides a place for research, learning, and reflection as well as collaboration in a warm and inviting setting.  The library serves as the hub for research, writing, and media services; the place to browse and discover books and media; the online access point for digital resources; and the starting point for partnerships with faculty in teaching information literacy and building the library collection.  As a founding member of PALNI, we enjoy strong collaboration with our peers in two dozen private academic libraries across Indiana.

About Wabash College

Wabash College is a private liberal arts college for men located in Crawfordsville, Indiana.  Founded in 1832, its mission is to “educate men to think critically, act responsibly, lead effectively, and live humanely,” and it accomplishes its mission in a residential community in which faculty are highly engaged with their students, in and out of the classroom.

Approximately 25% of our students are federal Pell Grant recipients, one-third are first-generation college students, and 20% identify as domestic students of color.  Home to the Malcolm X Institute of Black Studies for more than fifty years and a newly launched Latino Community Center, Wabash is a top-60 Liberal Arts College according to U.S. News, and a member of Colleges That Change Lives.  Many students, staff, and faculty find the close-knit community of the residential college one of the most rewarding aspects of their time here.

Application Process

To apply, go to www.wabash.edu/employment and click the “Apply Now” button. The application dossier should consist of:

1. Cover letter that highlights relevant experience with digital projects
2. Curriculum vita
3. Contact information for three references

Inquiries about the position may be sent to Jeffrey Beck, Library Director, at beckj@wabash.edu.  Review of applications will begin on August 14 and will continue until the position is filled.  This position is available on September 16, 2024, and the start date is negotiable.  We provide generous benefits plus robust research and travel funding for faculty development. 

Wabash College, a liberal arts college for men, seeks faculty and staff who are committed to providing quality engagement with students, high levels of academic challenge and support, and meaningful experiences that prepare students for life and leadership among diverse populations around the globe.  Wabash is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from persons of all backgrounds.