Employment Opportunities Reference Librarian/Archivist Position Summary The New Hampshire Historical Society seeks a part-time or full-time reference librarian/archivist to provide on-site and remote reference services for the Society’s library and archival collections, and to create and edit digital catalog records, inventories, and finding aids. The reference librarian/archivist reports to the library director and collaborates with the collections stewardship team. About the New Hampshire Historical Society Founded in 1823, the New Hampshire Historical Society is the fifth-oldest historical society in the nation. It is the only institution devoted to saving, preserving, and sharing all aspects of New Hampshire’s history. The Society’s mission is to educate a diverse public about the significance of New Hampshire’s past and its relationship to our lives today. In support of this mission the Society collects, preserves, and interprets materials pertaining to New Hampshire history. It is an independent nonprofit organization that receives no financial support from the state government. The Society’s collections offer the most complete picture of the social, economic, political, and cultural history of over four centuries of life in New Hampshire. The collections include 32,000 objects, 50,000 bound volumes and pamphlets, 800,000 pages of 18th- and 19th-century newspapers, 500,000 pages of manuscripts, 15,000 ephemera items, 3,000 broadsides, 2,300 maps, and 200,000 photographs. The Society is located in Concord, the state’s capital city, and uses its collections and resources to serve thousands of adults and children each year through its research library, museum exhibitions, educational programs, and publications. Our school programs reach an average of 18,000 students annually, both on-site and in classrooms across the state. The Society publishes a semi-annual journal, Historical New Hampshire, and a variety of books for both general and specialized audiences. The Society’s annual operating budget of about $1.8 million is supported by 4,000 members and donors; an endowment of approximately $12 million, and earned income. The Society recently launched a comprehensive campaign to raise a total of $10.7 million, including $9.2 million in capital funds, with the dual objectives of expanding access to our collections and resources, while strengthening our financial position in both operations and capitalization. The Society is governed by a representative citizen board of 22 trustees. The Society’s staff of 12 full- and 27 part-time employees is supplemented by 80 volunteers. The Society has been accredited by the American Association of Museums since 1986. Responsibilities Provide on-site reference services to library users. Ensure established security and procedures for the library reading room are followed. Respond to remote inquiries and research requests. Create and edit digital catalog records for the Society’s library and archival collections. Create inventories and finding aids for the Society’s archival collections. Gather and record descriptive, technical, preservation, structural, and rights-related metadata. Standardize the application of subject headings, personal names, and place names within digital catalog. Maintain quality, consistency, and application of metadata standards by following established guidelines. Arrange, process, preserve, and describe specific collections within the Society’s manuscript, photograph, map, broadside, ephemera, and rare book collections. Collaborate with other project staff and the collections stewardship team. Other duties as assigned. Required Qualifications MLS or MLIS from an ALA-accredited program. Excellent research, writing, and oral communication skills. Experience providing reference and research services to a diverse public. Broad understanding of library and archival collections management principles. Broad understanding of best practices and standards for digital collections creation and preservation. Experience creating original catalog records using professional metadata standards, including AACR2, MARC, RDA, EAD, DACS, and Dublin Core. Competence with Microsoft Office and Microsoft Outlook. Experience working at a historical society or other institution with archival, library, and museum collections. Strong planning and organization skills with the ability to prioritize and multi-task. Ability to function as a contributing team member in a project-oriented and shared decision-making environment. Energetic, hands-on, friendly, and flexible. Ability to lift boxes weighing up to forty pounds Preferred Qualifications Familiarity with New England history and culture. Interest in and knowledge of U.S. history.Familiarity with MINT/MINISIS Integrated Archives, Library, Museum System; PastPerfect; and Archivist Toolkit. Application Process The New Hampshire Historical Society is an equal opportunity employer. Review of applications will begin immediately and the position will remain open until filled. To apply, please send cover letter, including salary expectations, and resume in PDF, to Joan Desmarais, Assistant Executive Director, at jdesmarais@nhhistory.org. Subject line of the e-mail should read: Reference Librarian/Archivist Application [your last name]. PDF Version of Position Description About Us - Visit - Library - Museum - Education - Publications - Programs & Events Museum Store - Join & Support - Contact Us - Home New Hampshire Historical Society Library | 30 Park Street, Concord, NH 03301 Museum | 6 Eagle Square, Concord, NH 03301 603/228-6688 | Contact Us © 1998-2013 New Hampshire Historical Society | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use