Scott Early Career Special Collections Librarian at St. Louis Mercantile Library at UMSL in Bel Nor, Missouri

Job Description:

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;

• Accessioning, processing, and cataloging new acquisitions and backlog holdings.
• Participating in the facilitation of scholarly access to, and ensuring long-term preservation of, the special collections.
• Collaborating with colleagues to enhance discovery of Library holdings through online access and digitization projects.
• Overseeing the care and handling of special collections material while being digitized.
• 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.
• Providing administrative support related to collections use, storage, and research.
• Participating in special events and programs which include evenings and weekends.
• Additional duties as necessary and required.
• Adherence to the Collected Rules and Regulations of the University of Missouri System.

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.

Additional details:
This is a one (1) year appointment with option for renewal for one (1) additional year. This position carries a two (2) year maximum.
Base salary Librarian I: $47,476. This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position.

Applications must include cover letter, Curriculum Vitae or resume, and list of three professional references including name, address, email address and telephone number.

Application review begins September 16, 2024, but position is open until filled.

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.

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