Music & Recorded Sound Archivist/ Assistant Director of the American Music Research Center
University of Colorado Boulder Libraries
Job Announcement
Music & Recorded Sound Archivist/ Assistant Director of the American Music Research Center
Are you an innovative and collaborative person? The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) Libraries invite candidates to apply for the position of Music & Recorded Sound Archivist/Assistant Director of the American Music Research Center, a non-tenure-track faculty position in the Collections of Distinction (CoD) Team. The University Libraries’ Archives were established in 1918 and hold internationally renowned manuscript, photograph, records and media collections relating to the history of CU Boulder, the state of Colorado, the Rocky Mountain West, and transnational subjects, including American popular and classical music.
The Music & Recorded Sound Archivist/Assistant Director of the American Music Research Center reports to the Head of Archives in the highly-collaborative Collections of Distinction Team. The individual is responsible for: actively participating in building a diverse and inclusive campus environment by prioritizing, in all areas of work, the acquisition and processing of, access to, and engagement with archival music and recorded sound collections, as well as music special collections, that document Asian, Black, Indigenous, Latinx/Chicanx, and other under-represented communities; processing and making available new and legacy archival music and recorded sound-related materials in the American Music Research Center collections and other Archives collections, via finding aids created in ArchivesSpace; coordinating cataloging of archival and special music collections and sound recordings; acting as the Assistant Director of the American Music Research Center (AMRC); identifying new acquisitions and managing donor relations for archival music and recorded-sound related collections; supervising AMRC graduate teaching assistants and other student employees, interns, and volunteers; leading or participating in primary-source instruction for archival music and recorded sound collections; participating in CoD research and reference services; contributing to strategic planning, events, social media, exhibits, tours, and other activities for CoD team; and maintaining a consistent record of contributions in the areas of professional service, research, and/or scholarly activity.
This is a renewable, non-tenure-track faculty position. Successful candidates will be expected to engage in research and professional service activities.
Requirements:
- ALA-accredited Master’s degree in Library and Information Science, Archival Studies, or Public History with a focus or concentration in archives management;
- Minimum of 1 year of experience in accessioning, arrangement, processing, description, and preservation of archives, manuscripts, and multi-format collections;
- Demonstrated ability to cultivate and champion an environment of diversity and inclusion;
- Demonstrated understanding of and experience with archival theory and practice, national standards, relevant legal and ethical regulations, and best practices that govern the accessioning, arrangement, description, and use of archival materials, including DACS and MPLP;
- Demonstrated experience using archival descriptive systems such as ArchivesSpace;
- Demonstrated comprehension of current and emerging practices for preserving archival materials in all formats;
- Experience managing donor relations and managing various aspects of the acquisition of collections, including appraisal and gift agreements;
- Demonstrated knowledge of confidentiality, U.S. copyright law, and other policy, legal, and ethical aspects of managing and providing access to archival materials;
- Demonstrated capability to communicate collegially, advocate for collections and resource needs, and contribute constructively to team efforts; and
- Potential for research, scholarly work, and professional service.
Desirable Qualifications:
Evidence of any of the following will enhance a candidacy:
- Experience managing archival music or recorded sound collections;
- Experience addressing preservations issues for recorded sound collections;
- Experience with grant-writing;
- Experience providing outreach for library or archival collections;
- Experience providing reference services using library or archival collections;
- Experience with instruction; and
- Supervisory experience.
The CU Boulder Libraries encourage applications from veterans, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and women. We are most interested in finding the best person for the job, and that person may be one who comes from a less traditional background. In reviewing the qualifications, please think about how your qualifications are transferable if (at first) they do not seem directly related. Share how those skills translate in the cover letter. We encourage you to apply, even if it seems that every one of our preferred qualifications described is not met.
Appointment and Salary:
The successful individual will be appointed as full-time (12 month) non-tenure stream faculty member. Depending on professional experience, appointment will be at the Instructor or Senior Instructor level. The minimum starting salary is $66,000. Benefits include 22 working days of vacation, ten paid holidays, sick leave, university group health care plans, group life insurance, TIAA administered retirement/annuity, and support for scholarly/professional activities.
Application Process:
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. It is recommended that applications be submitted by October 25th in order to receive full consideration. Application must be made online at CU Boulder Jobs (posting number 27168) and must include the following:
- A cover letter of application specifically addressing the qualifications.
- CV/Resume
- Diversity Statement:
- This should be a brief (1-2 pages) discussion of your vision for diversity, equity, and inclusion relating to the responsibilities of this position and within the University of Colorado Boulder Libraries in general. (The Libraries’ Commitment to Diversity and Inclusive Excellence is available online here. The CU Boulder Campus Definition of Inclusive Excellence is here.) This statement could include a statement of values, relevant information about one’s background and experiences, ideas for serving a diverse campus community, particularly in libraries, or plans for bringing new points of view to your librarianship, research and service. Be as specific as possible.
Questions may be sent to George Karpoff, Search Coordinator, at George.Karpoff@Colorado.EDU.
The University of Colorado Boulder is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building and retaining a diverse workforce to offer students richly varied fields, perspectives, and ways of developing and learning. We encourage applications from women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans. Alternative formats of this ad can be provided upon request for individuals with disabilities by contacting the ADA Coordinator at hr-ada@colorado.edu.
The candidate selected for this position is required to meet eligibility requirements to work in the United States at the time the appointment is scheduled to begin. The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community. To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include reference checks, a criminal history record check, and, when appropriate, a financial and/or motor vehicle history.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
About the University, Libraries and Collections of Distinction:
As the flagship University of a multi-campus system in Colorado, CU Boulder is a dynamic community of scholars and learners situated on one of the most breathtaking college campuses in the country! As one of 34 U.S. public institutions belonging to the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU)—and the only member in the Rocky Mountain region—we have a proud tradition of academic excellence, with five Nobel laureates and more than 50 members of prestigious academic academies.
CU Boulder is committed to Colorado communities through collaborative research, innovation and entrepreneurship. Our faculty, staff and students work with the broader community to establish unique connections that have lasting outcomes—both across Colorado and around the world. Today, with our sights set on becoming the standard for the great comprehensive public research universities of the new century, we strive to serve the people of Colorado and to engage with the world through excellence in our teaching, research, creative work, and service. The University Libraries faculty and staff are diverse, hardworking, and dedicated people who share this vision and mission. Librarians participate at all levels of the campus and hold full faculty status and rank. The Libraries, a member of the Association of Research Libraries, holds the largest collection in the Rocky Mountain region with over 12 million books, periodicals, government publications, audiovisual materials, microforms, maps, manuscripts, papers and computer-based resources. All library faculty are encouraged to partake in our formal mentoring program. We collaborate internally, with colleagues beyond the campus, and with our clients to advance information literacy, intellectual freedom, lifelong learning, the disciplinary growth of information, and the amplification of knowledge.
The University of Colorado Boulder Collections of Distinction hold more than 1,800 collections and 50,000 linear feet of materials. This includes manuscripts, correspondence, files, diaries, photographs, posters, newspapers and published works! Selected collecting foci include the Atomic West, Post-Holocaust American Judaism, labor in the Rocky Mountain West, the history of natural science and the environment, film studies, and of University of Colorado Boulder campus and its faculty and students.