News

Link to job posting: https://recruiting.ultipro.com/CRA1003CRANB/JobBoard/d031dbc9-fb09-4316-a299-e8521be88019/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=43a66fb6-1e64-4e59-8e65-63277d38759a

Associate Archivist - Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research

Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research seeks a collaborative and creative Associate Archivist to join the Archives Team. Reporting to the Head Archivist, the Associate Archivist will engage in a variety of activities centered on sustainability and access of analog and digital archival collections. The successful candidate is committed to pursuing best practices and innovative ideas for the accessioning, arrangement, description, and preservation of materials in all formats, including a substantial holding of architectural drawings. This position plays a crucial role in safeguarding the enduring institutional heritage of Cranbrook Educational Community.

Cranbrook Archives is the primary research center for the documentation and study of Cranbrook Educational Community, comprised of a graduate Academy of Art, contemporary Art Museum, Center for Collections and Research, House and Gardens, Institute of Science, and Pre-K through 12 independent college preparatory Schools. Archival holdings range from the papers of Cranbrook’s founding family to the ongoing records of each institution and include affiliated cultural organizational records and individual artist archives. Work with the collections is guided by both the user needs of the Community and scholarly researchers

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Accession, arrange, describe, and preserve analog, born-digital, and hybrid collections according to professional archival standards.
• Assist with the administration of collections management, digital asset management, and digital preservation systems, ensuring appropriate organization, security, integrity, and continued accessibility of collections.
• Contribute to the development of workflows for processing and storage of the Archives’ collections.
• Lead the creation, revision, and maintenance of descriptive practices associated with finding aids and digital object metadata, staying abreast of current best practices.
• Implement and maintain digital preservation tools related to accessioning, processing, email, and web archiving.
• Support Archives staff and patrons in navigation of the digital records environment, advising on processing and searching digital collections.
• Assist with research services, training and supervision of archival volunteers and student interns, and day-to-day operations.
• Assist Center staff with the development of public programming and social media outreach related to Cranbrook’s archival and manuscript holdings.
• Maintain attendance, punctuality, and performance standards set forth in Cranbrook’s employee handbook.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in library or information science from an ALA-accredited institution
• Two years of processing experience at an archives or special collections
• Demonstrated knowledge of archival practices and methodology, including collection management, digital asset management, and digital preservation systems
• Knowledge of strategies and professional standards for ingest, management, preservation, and discovery of born-digital archival material
• Fundamental understanding of descriptive standards, digital file parameters, and intellectual property best practices as applied to cultural heritage institutions
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communications skills
• Demonstrated analytical and critical thinking skills
• Proven ability to set, track, and meet goals and deadlines
• A valid Michigan driver’s license with satisfactory driving record

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience applying standards and best practices to digital surrogates and born digital records
• Experience with ArchivesSpace, CONTENTdm, Preservica, and Archive-It
• Understanding of cloud-based content management systems such as Microsoft SharePoint

Cranbrook offers competitive compensation and benefits that include medical, dental, life insurance, long-term and short-term disability, and retirement programs with employer contribution. We also offer generous paid time off, 11 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays, employee discounts, and a unique environment in an educational setting that values collaboration.

For consideration, please submit your resume, cover letter and a writing sample. Your application will be considered incomplete without these materials. Please be sure these documents are uploaded at the same time your application is submitted.

Link to job posting: https://careers.umich.edu/job_detail/270030/manuscripts-division-processor

The William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan is seeking a qualified Manuscripts Division Processor for a 2-year term appointment. This position in the Manuscripts Division is responsible for initial arrangement, preliminary description, and implementation of semi-automated processes for creating basic finding aids for a wide variety of 18th- to early 20th-century manuscripts and other archival materials. The primary focus of this position is the production of minimal EAD records for the Clements Library's more recent acquisitions using descriptive content exported from ArchivesSpace; the revision of existing finding aids and MARC records; and the incorporation of digital object references into EAD and MARC records.

The William L. Clements Library is a University of Michigan library that houses original resources for the study of U.S. history and culture from the fifteenth through the nineteenth century. Its mission is to collect and preserve primary source materials, to make them available for research, and to create an environment that supports and encourages scholarly investigation of our nation's past.

Responsibilities*

Note, the responsibilities and associated percentage of time spent on the specific functions below are what are anticipated for this position. The associated percentage of effort may shift and change slightly, depending on the metadata needs for digitization projects at a given time. 

Preliminary Processing and Semi-Automated Creation of Archival Descriptions (95%)

• Address pre-processing needs, such as initial arrangements and housing of a variety of material types
• Conduct basic research
• Write basic descriptions of archival materials
• Produce EAD records for Manuscripts Division collections using semi-automated methods
• Revise previously-created EAD and MARC records
• Incorporate references to digital objects into EAD and MARC records

Other duties as assigned (5%)

• Collaboration and coordination with colleagues in the different divisions of the Clements Library
• Documentation and attention to changing best practices

Required Qualifications*

• Undergraduate degree in a related field with classroom or hands-on experience working with historical archival materials and/or archival description.
• Knowledge of applications and tools relevant to spreadsheets and word processing.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Strong attention to detail and a high degree of accuracy.
• Knowledge of, or capacity to learn, aspects of American history and culture of the 18th-early 20th centuries.

Please note:  This is a 2-year term-limited position with the possibility of renewal depending on funding.

The mode of work for this position is On-site. 

Excellent benefits are available; for details, see http://benefits.umich.edu/

The salary for this position is $44,000 annually. Candidates can expect to be paid a competitive and equitable salary. Factors used to determine salary include education level, experience, knowledge and skills for the position, and internal equity within the unit. 

Job Posting URL: https://careers.msu.edu/jobs/digital-archivist-librarian-i-or-ii-east-lansing-michigan-united-states

Working/Functional Title

Digital Archivist, Librarian I or II

Position Summary

Michigan State University (MSU) Libraries invites applications for the position of Digital Archivist. Reporting to the Head of the Stephen O. Murray and Keelung Hong Special Collections and University Archives, the successful candidate will foster the discovery, access, and preservation of born-digital and digital surrogate materials through various activities including the implementation and maintenance of digital delivery systems including but not limited to Archive-It and Preservica. The Digital Archivist will be broadly focused and collaborative with an in-depth knowledge of computing habits, varieties of digital material both hardware/software for all formats (PC, Mac, devices, cloud). Michigan State University Libraries (MSUL) is the center of academic life on campus; it employs a knowledgeable staff and an exemplary team of librarians working in a large central library. The libraries support a diverse community of users through more than 7 million print volumes; millions of pages of archival and manuscript collections, and millions more electronic resources.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Prepares technical metadata and coordinates with the Metadata, Digital Repository team, and Special Collections Digital Curation Working Group and other stakeholders whose work is a part of the digital asset lifecycle.
• Processes, arranges, and describes digital archival material in accordance with professional best standards, including all levels and forms of description.
• Collaborates with others to design digital preservation workflows for existing and future born-digital and digitized collections.
• Provides guidance and collaborates on the topic of digital preservation and how we care for and provide access to abstract content
• Creates and performs quality control on processed born-digital archives.
• Creates collaborative workflows with library stakeholders to ensure digital collections are compliant with current accessibility standards.
• Leads the development of a collections-centered approach with respect to the ethical and privacy needs of digital collections; collaborates with library colleagues to conduct reparative description work for digital collection metadata to ensure accurate representation, and incorporate inclusive, non-discriminatory descriptions that do not perpetuate harm.
• Participates in donor engagement and exhibit creation in collaboration with fellow archivists and librarians.
• Provides reference and research assistance, including time on a public service desk, working with students, faculty and scholars as well as external visitors, and for both onsite and remote users. 

MSU Librarians may have a quarter-time secondary assignment (position dependent) based on the needs of the library and candidate interests. We welcome candidates who meet the minimum requirements to apply and will support their professional development to grow in this position. Archivists are appointed as regular faculty in the Librarian continuing appointment system. Faculty are expected to independently apply judgment; have excellent oral and communication skills; and demonstrate attention to detail; flexibility; collegiality; the capacity for collaboration; and a commitment to diversity and inclusion in performance of their duties. As faculty, they develop a self-directed program of professional development and scholarly activities related to their position; and serve on library and university committees as elected or assigned.

The archivist will work to advance the initiatives in the MSU Strategic Plan and in the MSU Libraries Strategic Plan. In support of these initiatives, the Libraries serve as a center of activity and engagement on campus, with librarians empowered to support both student development and transformative research activities.

The MSU Libraries Strategic Plan guides our current and future work. The candidate will collaborate with campus partners to help develop a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Michigan State University Libraries serve more than 4,900 faculty, 40,000 undergraduates, and 11,000 graduate and professional students on a park-like campus of over 5,000 acres.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Masters -Information and Library Sciences

Minimum Requirements

• Masters degree in information or library science from a program accredited by the American Library Association or an equivalent accreditation from an international institution.
• Experience with archival theory and practice
• Knowledge of delivery systems such as Archive-It, Preservica
• Knowledge of archival description in an archival information management system (e.g., ArchivesSpace), digital asset management, digital preservation systems, web archiving, and working with data structure standards relevant to digital collections in a special collections context (including DACS, EAD, EAC-CPF)
• Working knowledge of tools and software used to capture, manage, transfer and deliver born-digital records, including web archiving activities and tools
• Excellent interpersonal, problem solving, and analytical skills, as well as the ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical users
• Preparation and commitment to conducting independent scholarship consistent with a library faculty appointment
• Values varied perspectives and experience and actively fosters a collaborative and respectful culture.

Desired Qualifications

• Continuing education coursework or certification in digital archives, or digital asset management.
• Hands-on experience with relevant digital preservation tools and systems.
• Experience with digital preservation and web-archiving tools such as Preservica, Bitcurator, and Archive-It.
• Experience with scripting or programming languages to automate workflows and processes; tools for data cleaning and/or manipulation (e.g., OpenRefine); specialized forensics tools (e.g., hardware writeblockers, utilities found in the BitCurator environment).

Required Application Materials

Interested applicants should provide:

• A letter of application,
• CV/resume, and
• Names, addresses and email addresses of three references (2 must be present/past supervisors).

Special Instructions

Minimum $64,000. Salary is negotiable. MSU provides generous fringe benefits including health care, dental care, professional development funding, 22 paid vacation days, 9 University holidays, 2 personal observance days, paid sick days, tuition discounts, and relocation reimbursement.

For questions, please contact Jacquelyn Hansen, aholajac@msu.edu, at MSU Libraries' Human Resources Department.

As an institution of higher learning, Michigan State University is committed to providing a safe environment for its students, faculty, and staff in support of its educational mission. With this commitment, the University conducts criminal background checks and professional misconduct reviews of all applicants for employment in faculty, academic staff, and executive management searches. 

Professional Misconduct Review

A professional misconduct review is a prerequisite for a candidate to be selected for this position. Applicants will be asked to disclose whether they are subject to any pending investigation, findings or sanctions related to professional misconduct. Professional misconduct includes misconduct related to a person’s employment, including, but not limited to, theft, embezzlement, research integrity, discrimination, or harassment under civil rights laws and policies, including protected identity harassment, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct (sexual assault, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, etc.), and retaliation. All applicants will be asked to sign an authorization and release, which authorizes the University to contact the candidate’s current and former employers, for a period of 7 years prior to the date of application, related to any pending investigations, findings of responsibility and/or sanctions related to professional misconduct. Nothing will be sent to current or former employers unless the candidate reaches the semi-finalist stage.

The existence of professional misconduct history does not automatically exclude a candidate from employment. The University will assess the history, including any information provided by the candidate, in determining whether it is compatible with the position. The University may decline to hire a candidate based on the professional misconduct review. All records obtained from external employers will be kept in a secure location, separate from personnel files. If an applicant fails to sign the authorization and release, the application will be deemed incomplete and will be withdrawn.

Job Opening URL: https://careers.umich.edu/job_detail/269343/archivist-community-collections

The Bentley Historical Library seeks a dynamic, collaborative, and service-oriented Archivist for Community Collections to expand the Library's engagement with communities and organizations across the state of Michigan. The position will build and strengthen relationships with collections donors, community groups, and partner institutions to ensure that the historical records of diverse communities are preserved and accessible.

As part of the Bentley's Michigan Historical Collections team, the Archivist for Community Collections will serve as the Library's primary point of contact for community-based collecting initiatives. This includes outreach to organizations and individuals, onsite fieldwork to identify and appraise historically significant materials, and stewardship of collections.

This position will serve as a cornerstone of the Bentley's commitment to inclusive collecting and reparative archival practices, facilitating partnerships where the Library is sometimes the steward, and at other times an advisor and collaborator in community-based preservation efforts.

Responsibilities*

Community Engagement and Fieldwork (50%)

Build relationships with individuals, organizations, and communities across Michigan whose records reflect the state's cultural, social, and political history.
Travel throughout Michigan to meet with potential donors, assess collections, and guide preservation and transfer.
Act as liaison for communities traditionally underrepresented in archives, supporting inclusive and equitable collecting practices.
Collaborate with local historical societies, libraries, and community archives on shared stewardship models.
Develop and implement collecting strategies that expand the representation of under-documented communities in the archives.
Organize and facilitate community-driven events (e.g., History Harvests).
Serve as liaison for reparative description efforts in collaboration with communities.
Raise awareness among source communities of Bentley holdings and research opportunities.

Collection Development and Stewardship (20%)

Identify, appraise, and recommend acquisition of collections with enduring historical significance to Michigan.
Oversee transfer, accessioning, and initial preservation of archival collections, including both physical and born-digital materials.
Contribute to the creation of collection development strategies that align with Bentley priorities and statewide needs.
Collaborate with processing archivists and digital curation staff to integrate field-collected materials into Bentley's archival systems.
Collaborate with Michigan repositories and grassroots archives to coordinate collecting efforts, avoiding duplication and ensuring holistic preservation.
Contribute to statewide efforts documenting marginalized histories through shared stewardship and post-custodial models.

Outreach and Public Programming (15%)

Design and deliver presentations, workshops, and consultations to community partners on archival practices, documentation, and preservation.
Provide capacity-building workshops for community groups on archival practices, digital tools, and grant-seeking.
Adapt and distribute toolkits (e.g., Archivist in a Backpack) to empower local history keepers.
Support oral history initiatives and other documentation projects in collaboration with communities.
Participate in Bentley public programs and exhibitions to highlight new and diverse collections.
Participate in the reference rotation, including occasional Saturday shifts.

Professional development and service (10%)

Actively participating in professional development and service at the library, university, and within regional, national, and international professional organizations.
Monitor industry developments and best practices to support ongoing activities and foster innovation.

Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

Engage in presentations, committee work, and library-wide or university-wide initiatives. 
 

Required Qualifications*

Master's degree from an ALA-accredited institution (completed, or in progress with 50% of credit hours earned). An advanced degree in a related discipline, combined with relevant experience, may be substituted.

Demonstrated commitment to community engagement, outreach, or public service.

Experience working with archival principles, practices, and descriptive standards.

Experience working with born-digital materials and digital preservation practices.

Strong communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse communities and organizations.

Familiarity with post-custodial archiving models and community-based participatory practices.

Knowledge of, or capacity to learn, Michigan history and culture.

Willingness to travel frequently throughout Michigan.

Additional Information

The general salary range for this position is $61,000 - $64,000. Candidates can expect to be paid a competitive and equitable salary. Factors used to determine salary include education level, experience, knowledge and skills for the position, and internal equity within the unit. All candidates are encouraged to discuss salary questions to honor alignment and transparency throughout the recruiting process.

The salary for this position will be based on the selected candidate's education and experience.

The mode of work for this position is Hybrid. 

The Detroit Institute of Arts is hiring a Digital Archivist.

JOB TITLE: Digital Archivist  

DEPARTMENT: Research Library, Archives & Collections Information 

REPORTS TO: Director, Research Library, Archives & Collections Information 

CLASSIFICATION: Temporary, Full-Time 

REMOTE WORK ELIGIBILITY: Museum-Based 

SALARY RANGE: $60,026.00 to $72,031.00 Annually

GENERAL SUMMARY  

Under the supervision of the Director, Research Library, Archives & Collections Information, the Project Digital Archivist is responsible for coordinating efforts in support of a grant-funded digitization project to produce, manage and preserve digital surrogates of archival materials from the first 60 years of DIA history, 1885-1945.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS  

• Implement plan to convert archival materials into digital formats and to ensure proper metadata creation, access and long-term preservation.
• Coordinate efforts with Research Library, Archives & Collections Information team to facilitate access and discoverability of digitized assets through internal and external platforms.
• Develop and maintain documentation on workflows and progress of the project.
• Refine workflows via quality control, process, and feedback from team members.
• Administer project tasks to graduate interns and practicum students.
• Apply DIA values to interactions to support a culture of belonging among internal and external stakeholders.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

To see the full job description and to apply, please visit: https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=3534d107-4279-4063-bb17-6ddf2cc1bcda&ccId=19000101_000001&jobId=598540&lang=en_US

Please check out our latest IMLS joint letter and past letters to our State and US Governments below:

Joint IMLS Letter to MI Congressional Leaders, August 2025, from:

• Michigan Archival Association 
• Michigan Library Association 
• Michigan Museums Association 
• Michigan Academic Library Association
• Michigan Association of School Librarians
• Library Cooperatives of Michigan
• Historical Society of Michigan

Read the Joint Statement on IMLS from Michigan Libraries, Museums, and Archives

New England Archivists release statement on US Government actions: Read Here

Hello, everyone!

The editors of Open Entry are now seeking submissions for our Fall 2025 issue. The deadline is Tuesday, September 30.

You don’t need to be a member of MAA to submit articles.

We are looking for the following:

• Michigan Repository news and announcements.
• Archivists in the News: the arrivals, departures, and achievements of Michigan archivists.
• Internship articles by Michigan students OR by interns working in Michigan.
• Articles related to archival work that you would like to write.
• “Mystery” Photo, a chance to highlight a photo from your Repository.

Submissions can be within your email message or as attachments.

Typical article length ranges from 200 to 1,200 words. If you have questions about what to write, or how to write it, we are happy to work with you.

Please email your articles and photos to openentry.editors@gmail.com.

Thank you so much!

Cynthia Read Miller
Troy Eller English
Leigh Rupinski
Editors, Open Entry
Michigan Archival Association

Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Archivist I/II, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) at its Detroit campus location.

Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Archivist I/II, Service Employees Union (SEIU) at its Detroit campus location. Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.

Position Purpose:

The Walter P. Reuther Library of Wayne State University seeks applicants for the position of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Archivist. Reporting to the Reuther Library Director, the successful candidate will develop and maintain the collections of the archives for SEIU.

The archives for SEIU document the evolution of the union from its origins in 1921 as the Building Service Employees International Union to the present. During its history, this union has organized service workers employed as custodians, healthcare workers, office workers, elevator operators, window cleaners, groundskeepers, doormen, and stadium employees, amongst others. The union currently organizes 2 million members in these and numerous other service industries.

The collaborative relationship between the Reuther Library and SEIU began in the early 1980s, and the Reuther Library became SEIU’s official repository in 1992. Since then, the Reuther has collected the records of the union’s international headquarters in Washington, D.C., union locals, and the personal papers of associated individuals.

This position is a full-time, externally-funded, 12-month, benefits-eligible appointment as Academic Staff, and an AAUP-AFT represented position with eligibility for promotion.

The successful candidate will be hired at the rank of Archivist I or II with a salary range from $60,000-$68,000 according to qualifications and experience. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, employee/dependent life and long-term disability insurance, retirement savings plans, tuition assistance, wellness program, and generous paid time off. This is a majority in-person position based at the Walter P. Reuther Library.

Essential Functions:

Identify, select, and acquire SEIU archival collections, papers, and institutional records, in digital and physical formats;

Arrange and describe SEIU collections and create finding aids using ArchivesSpace;

Proactively collaborate with SEIU to advance the management of SEIU records, advise on records retention scheduling, preservation, and transfer, and serve as their main contact for reference.

May include occasional travel to SEIU’s international and affiliate offices regarding their records program and related projects;

Provide reference services and serve as primary contact for inquiries from the general public regarding SEIU archival materials; 

Coordinate promotion and access of SEIU collections, and develop resources to support research;

Opportunity to supervise student and intern work in support of SEIU projects;

Participate in shared decision-making for Library planning, resource management, and program and policy development;

Represent the Library through active participation in professional associations and University committees;

Participate in Reading Room services; 

Meet the physical demands of the position, e.g. lift heavy storage boxes (40lbs), climb stair ladders, work in a sedentary position for long durations;

Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions;

Perform other duties as assigned by the Director.

Minimum Qualifications:

Master's degree from an accredited institution in library/information science, archival administration, or a related field with graduate study in archival theory and methods and/or experience leading to demonstrated proficiency with the methods and theories of archival administration;

Demonstrated experience collecting and processing physical and born-digital content;

Experience using archival collection management software such as ArchivesSpace;

One to two years of experience working with archives or special collections;

Excellent interpersonal, organizational, written, and oral communication skills;

Demonstrated ability to collaborate and work effectively within and across organizational boundaries in a diverse organization and with a wide variety of users;

Demonstrated ability to work independently to manage projects and initiatives and set priorities;

Demonstrated commitment to advancing professional knowledge through formal training, continuing education, or professional certification;

Ability and motivation to meet expectations for promotion as part of the Reuther Library academic staff.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with donor relations, customer service, or in public facing roles; Records management experience; Familiarity with American labor and/or social history.

School/College/Division:

H01 - University Libraries

Primary Department:

H6640 - Labor History/Archiv

Employment type:

• Regular Employee
• Job type: Full Time
• Job category: Academic/Faculty

Funding/salary information:

• Compensation type: Annual Salary
  
• Salary minimum: $60,000
• Salary hire maximum: $68,000

Working Conditions:

Normal office environment.

Job openings:

• Number of openings: 1
• Reposted position: No

Background check requirements:

University policy requires certain persons who are offered employment to undergo a background check, including a criminal history check, before starting work. If you are offered employment, the university will inform you if a background check is required.

Taught by Kristina Mullenix, this is 4-week asynchronous course that offers a certificate and 1 CEU. This course comes with 3 months of access, and there is an option for participants to complete the course during that timeframe instead of 4 weeks if necessary.

More details are can be found at https://preservethis.org/p/genealogy-fall

Kristina's personal website can be found here: Https://historyhousestudio.com 

Grand Valley State University invites applications for a one-year Visiting Archivist and Digital Collections Librarian position. Reporting to the Head of Collections and Digital Scholarship, the Visiting Archivist and Digital Collections Librarian supports the operations of the Lemmen Library and Archives, with a focus on the management and preservation of digital collections. They will acquire, process, and maintain archival and special collections material in a variety of formats, in order to support the curriculum and research needs of the Grand Valley State University community.

Salary & Benefits: Starting salary of $50,000

For more information and to apply please visit: https://gvsu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/careers/details/XMLNAME-12-Month--Visiting-Librarian-University-Libraries_R103420