Job Description

Job Title: Student Assistant for Collection & Donor Support (WS-ST2)

Classification: Student Employee (non-exempt)

Name and Address of Employer: St. Olaf College, 1520 St. Olaf Ave, Northfield, MN 55057

If the position requires the student to work off campus, provide the name and address here: N/A

Department Name: Rolvaag Library, Distinctive Collections & College Archives

Unit Number (5 digits): 14001

Length of Position: See Employment Authorization

Contact Person/Supervisor: Lead Archivist

Wage Range: $12.00-13.00/hour

Description/Purpose of the Position:

We are looking for a detail-oriented and dynamic individual to conduct all processes related to the intake and management of donated or transferred materials to the St. Olaf Distinctive Collections and College Archives. The primary duties of the Student Assistant for Collection and Donor Support include communicating with prospective donors, researching provenance, developing intake workflows, and documenting accepted donations. Furthermore, this employee will learn about the long-term preservation, handling, organization, and tracking of historical materials. All Distinctive Collections and College Archives student staff may be trained in and asked to assist with the duties of their student colleagues. This position also offers the possibility of full-time employment during the summers.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Developing and maintaining an inventory of donations and donation inquiries;
• Communicating and meeting with donors (students, faculty, staff, community members) by phone, email, physical mail, and in person;
• Managing multiple donations requests;
• Reviewing, assessing, and documenting received materials;
• Communicating with the Lead Archivist regarding donations or transfers to the College Archives;
• Communicating with the Distinctive Collections Engagement Librarian regarding donations to Distinctive Collections
• Aid with outreach events
• Training the student who will take over this position when you graduate.

Transferable Skills:

• Customer service skills
• Leadership, teamwork, and conflict resolution skills
• Ability to evaluate information and their sources
• Critical thinking and problem solving skills
• Written and verbal communication skills
• Time management and organizational skills
• Ability to prioritize objectives

Work Schedule:

Term: Full Year

Shift: Flexible work schedule based on availability

Preferred Qualifications

• Preference will be given to students who can commit to two or three years in this position
• Adept at community outreach and public relations;
• Strong communication skills including but not limited to listening, speaking, writing, observing, and empathizing
• Comfortable working independently with minimal oversight;
• Detail-oriented and organized;
• Comfortable with flexibility and innovation;
• Willing to accommodate others;
• Excellent time management skills;
• Familiar with Excel and other data-manipulation tools;
• Capable of learning and using multiple technologies, systems, and data-management tools;
• Willing to conduct research or investigate new routes;
• Able to improve upon established processes
• Work efficiently and supportively on a team of student staff

Reasons to Apply:

• Interested in the St. Olaf Distinctive Collections and College Archives
• Interested in donor relations
• Considering a career in archival or library science, arts management, or records management
• Interest in hearing stories and conversing
• Interested in working independently
• Desiring a flexible and creative work environment

This position requires a commitment to continue to serve in the position through graduation. It requires 6-8 hours each week, and with supervisor approval, can accommodate a flexible schedule that can include evenings and weekends.

Physical and Environmental Factors:

This position requires crouching, kneeling/crawling, stooping, twisting/pivoting, climbing/balancing, reaching overhead, grasping/handling, and lifting and carrying objects up to 20 lbs. to perform the essential functions. It also requires rare exposure to respiratory factors and chemicals to perform the essential functions. Candidates must possess the ability to safely perform the physical work required of all duties with or without reasonable accommodation.

This job description is for general information purposes. It is not intended to list all duties and responsibilities of the position. This job description is subject to change at any time by St. Olaf College, with or without prior notice.