Artists' Books Archive Assistant

Employee Group: Temp and Casual

Percent Time: 35% (<14 hours/week)

Artists' books and Minnesota artist archives are significant and growing collections within the Francis V. Gorman Rare Art Books, Media, and Artist's Archives an endowed special collection at the University of Minnesota Libraries. The Gorman collection functions in complement to museums and art libraries throughout the region with acquisitions consistently secured from gifts and purchases. Among other local and regional artists' books in the collection, the U Libraries Gorman collection retains the complete artists' books collection of Minnesota's celebrated artist Harriet Bart, and recently became the repository for Bart's personal archive that preserves the evolution of her work, career, and creative process. Having received an award from the Society of American Archivists for the Catalyst Grant, the University of Minnesota Libraries Arts & Humanities department is seeking an individual to work with the Harriet Bart artists' books collection, personal archive and personal library within the greater Gorman Rare Art Books, Media and Artist's Archive located in Andersen Library. The appointment will focus on a full level processing of Bart's archive in line with the grant goals and in preparation for a Spring 2026 exhibition. The appointment will require the ability to place Bart's works and archive in relation to other works and artists in the Gorman collection.

Responsibilities

Archival Processing (40%)

• Organize and process the archive according to UMN archive protocol, thematic, conceptual and chronological order.
• Inventory the artist's personal library with attention to how the library informed the artist's creative process and final artworks as related to the artist's archive.
• Coordinate shelving of the Bart archive.
• Shift shelving within the Gorman Rare Art Books, Media and Artist's Archive as needed to accommodate the new collection.
• Create a detailed Finding Aid.

Research Services (15%)

• Assist the Arts Librarian and Gorman Curator as needed on reference questions related to the Bart collection and the related Gorman artists' books collection that come from students and faculty and non-campus scholars or the interested community.
• Manage research requests that require assembling materials from the archive and the artists' books collection. This could include handling requests for individual researchers, museums, and for classes.
• Communicate via email, phone, and in-person to answer reference inquiries.
• Prepare materials for research requests - identify needed materials, pull from shelves, schedule appointments.

Required

• BA/BS or a high school diploma/GED and at least two years of related experience.
• At least one year of library experience with processing, organizing, cataloging and/or handling archival materials.
• Excellent time management, organizational and communications skills.

Preferred

• Previous archival processing experience with art-related materials.
• Previous experience with exhibition installation.
• Master of Library and Information Studies
• Demonstrated knowledge of artists' books and artist archives.
• Demonstrated knowledge of local art history and artists' books history including prominent book artists, museums and galleries, and art libraries.

Physical Requirements (if applicable)

• Must be able to frequently lift, move, and shelve multiple boxes weighing up to 20 pounds, up to once a week.

Pay Range: $22.00/hour; depending on education/qualifications/experience.

Retirement plan options are available for Civil Service, Faculty, Labor-Represented, Professional & Administrative, and Temp Casual classifications. Learn more about retirement plans.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

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The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

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