Archives & Special Collections Research Services Librarian

Davidson College seeks an Archives & Special Collections Research Services Librarian to shape the researcher experience, ensure equitable access to collections, and foster engagement with departmental materials. Serving as a collaborative member of the Archives & Special Collections team, this position will play a pivotal role in connecting learners with collections in Davidson's new George Lawrence Abernethy Library by managing the reading room, conducting research consultations, developing and implementing access policies, mentoring student employees, and creating in-person and online outreach programs that expand access to rare and unique materials across campus and in the community.

Reporting to the Assistant Director for Archives and Special Collections, the Research Services Librarian will:

• Coordinate the research services and outreach program of the Archives & Special Collections;
• Respond to reference requests and conduct research consultations for students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community members;
• Manage the Archives & Special Collections reading room to ensure a welcoming and accessible space for all researchers;
• Develop and supervise a program of student employees who support the department's research services, including reading room staffing, peer-to-peer research support, reference digitization, and material shelving and retrieval;
• Maintain the Archives & Special Collections website and develop social media content to facilitate access to materials and encourage awareness of collections, services, and programs;
• Work with faculty, staff, and students to connect research and outreach services with the college's Reconciliation and Education initiatives;
• Design and deliver co-curricular and community workshops and programs;
• Lead tours of departmental spaces and collections;
• Create, update, and implement reference, access, and digitization policies and procedures;
• Ensure effective retrieval and transport of departmental materials via workflows, policies, and systems;
• Collect and share statistics to inform departmental services and collection development;
• Provide support for colleagues creating exhibits and researching collections and potential donations;
• Curate the college and local Davidsoniana file collections;
• Serve on assigned library and campus committees, steering groups, and project groups;
• Monitor national trends, advances, and best practices in research services, archival access and outreach, and student training; evaluate the potential application of these strategies to the Davidson College Archives & Special Collections; and
• Other duties as assigned.

For this job, we require:

• Master's Degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited program
• Experience answering and managing reference requests from a wide variety of learners with varying levels of research experience
• Familiarity with library and archival access systems such as Primo and ArchivesSpace
• Experience supervising, mentoring, or coaching young adults in academic, professional, or co-curricular contexts
• Demonstrated interest in connecting learners with library and archival resources through creative outreach programs

Qualities that will help you flourish in this role:

• You are enthusiastic about connecting undergraduate learners with materials from the Archives & Special Collections
• You are a thoughtful, open-minded, collaborative colleague with strong interpersonal and communication skills
• You are motivated, adaptable, resilient, and able to change direction as the library landscape evolves
• You cultivate an optimistic mindset
• You are able to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment
• You are highly organized with strong project management skills
• You are committed to creating an inclusive environment that values and celebrates difference

This position is full-time with a competitive compensation package.

About Us

In Fall 2027, the college's new George Lawrence Abernethy Library will transform how our campus community learns, creates, and connects. Guided by our organizational values, we work to advance the college's purpose in developing disciplined and creative minds for lives of leadership and service. We do this by offering expertise, space, resources, and services that facilitate research, provide access to, and foster the creation of knowledge.

Our library staff play a critical role in expanding the global reach of traditional scholarship, preserving born-digital materials, supporting digital scholarship, and championing equitable and sustainable access to information. As Davidson embarks on a transformative campus-wide strategic plan, we are excited to explore how our expertise, programs, and resources will advance the college's key priorities. We take pride in our collaborations with campus partners such as the John Crosland Jr. Center for Teaching and Learning, the Jay Hurt Hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and the D.G. and Harriet Wall Martin Institute for Public Good- strategic alliances that highlight the library's central role in the teaching and learning mission.

We are inspired by the college's public commitment to education and reconciliation. To create an inclusive learning community and to reflect the diversity of Davidson experiences, we collaborate on projects that tell the full history of our college, develop collections in partnership with students and faculty, and create meaningful community connections. We seek a thoughtful colleague who joins us in embracing a special set of responsibilities as we articulate the college's relationship to the past, confront our present moment, and chart a hopeful future.

Davidson is a highly selective, nationally ranked, residential liberal arts college located in Davidson, North Carolina, near Charlotte. We seek to hire talented faculty and staff who are committed to achieving excellence within an inclusive community where diverse backgrounds and perspectives are valued.

As a part of your application materials, a resume and cover letter are required. Information about how to submit the application documents can be found at https://employment.davidson.edu.