Scott Early Career Special Collections Librarian

The St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri-St. Louis

The St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri-St. Louis is seeking an outstanding emerging scholar for a full-time, donor-funded, term position Early Career Library Fellow. The position provides an invaluable professional development opportunity to a scholar interested in pursuing a library career. The selected fellow will develop practical skills in all areas of library and archival practice including collections cataloguing, digitization, management and planning, and public service, while participating fully in the intellectual life of the library. The fellow will work alongside an ensemble of dedicated professionals to perform duties related to the physical care, documentation, and preservation of archival and manuscript collections and to advance digital access to the vast holdings of this 178-year-old rare book and special collections library.

The St. Louis Mercantile Library holds historic archival, rare book and manuscript collections in the areas of transnational as well as local Missouri and regional histories, Native Americana, African Americana, westward expansion, American business history, exemplary transportation holdings in river and rail history, as well as a growing collection of Missouri and American art and artists' archives. The Mercantile's collections overall form a prestigious historical research center for a wide variety of users and is a bibliographical laboratory for deep historical research and investigation. The Mercantile Library is affiliated with the University of Missouri - St. Louis, a distinguished public land-grant university that is part of the University of Missouri system and is eastern Missouri's premier public research university. Its 470-acre north St. Louis County campus is home to one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse student bodies in Missouri, comprised of nearly 16,000 students from 49 states and over 70 countries.

Responsibilities of this position include, under the supervision of curatorial and cataloging staff;

1. Accessioning, processing, and cataloging new acquisitions and backlog holdings.
2. Participating in the facilitation of scholarly access to, and ensuring long-term preservation of, the special collections.
3. Collaborating with colleagues to enhance discovery of Library holdings through online access and digitization projects.
4. Overseeing the care and handling of special collections material while being digitized.
5. Preparing online and print finding aids, catalogs, or other resources to provide access to collections in accordance with the standards and best practices of the profession.
6. Providing administrative support related to collections use, storage, and research.
7. Participating in special events and programs which include evenings and weekends.
8. Additional duties as necessary and required.
9. Adherence to the Collected Rules and Regulations of the University of Missouri System.
Additional details:
This is a full-time, benefits-eligible, non-tenure track faculty term position at the level of Librarian I. This is a one (1) year appointment with option for renewal for one (1) additional year. This position carries a two (2) year maximum.

Requirements:

• Must have graduated from an ALA-accredited institution with a Master's degree in Library Information Science within the 18 months preceding the application deadline.
• Outstanding research, organizational, and writing skills, with attention to detail.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Excel, and SharePoint /Teams, Adobe Photoshop, and Acrobat Pro.
• Ability to handle several projects simultaneously and work well as a member of a team.
• Commitment to supporting and working with diverse populations.
• Ability to communicate effectively, efficiently, and sensitively with students, peers, staff, patrons, other members of the university community, and with Library donors and board members.

Must be eligible to work in the United States and pass standard University of Missouri System screenings and background checks.

Preferred:

• Experience in an academic or special collections library setting.
• Experience working with rare books and special collections materials, including cataloging experience.
• Knowledge of preservation and metadata standards for media and electronic records.
• Familiarity with the descriptive standards for archival and manuscript materials such as DACS or EAD.
• Knowledge of U.S. History and/or American Studies; St. Louis and Missouri history a plus.

Applications should include cover letter describing your interest in the position as well as how your interests and experience align with the UM Values Statement (below), resume, and list of three professional references including name, address, email address and telephone number. Applications accepted only through the UMSL Human Resources application system https://www.umsl.edu/services/hrs/careers/faculty.html For questions about the application process, please email employment@umsl.edu.

Applications will be reviewed beginning September 16, 2024, but will be accepted until the position is filled.

Visa Sponsorship Information:
Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The University will not sponsor applicants for this position for employment visas.

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Values Commitment

We value the uniqueness of every individual and strive to ensure each person's success. Contributions from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives promote intellectual pluralism and enable us to achieve the excellence that we seek in learning, research and engagement. This commitment makes our university a better place to work, learn and innovate.

In your application materials, please discuss your experiences and expertise that support these values and enrich our missions of teaching, research, and engagement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy applies to all employment decisions including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, promotions, pay practices, benefits, disciplinary actions and terminations. For more information, visit https://www.umsystem.edu/ums/hr/eeo or call the Director of Employee and Labor Relations at 573-882-2146.

To request ADA accommodations, please email the Office of Human Resources at umslhr@umsl.edu.