Instruction Assistant Special Collections Research Services

The Boston University Libraries seek an Archives Instruction Assistant for a 3-year grant-funded instruction program in the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center within Boston University Libraries. This position’s responsibilities include assisting Research and Instruction Archivists with planning, preparation, and hosting undergraduate class visits to the archives. It also includes providing day-of support (during Registrar scheduled class times which can be outside of the centers operational hours which are 8-5) for instruction sessions with faculty, including moving and tracking material to and from collection storage. Additionally, this position provides research support by seeking examples of material in collections that might be useful to highlight in a teaching and learning context, helping faculty build class assignments, and light collection description to aid research. A successful candidate will also work with Instruction Archivists to support the creation of Learning Resources Repository objects for future classroom use.

The grant is focused on increasing undergraduate student engagement with the archives of select civil and human rights leaders at BU.

Reporting to the Research and Instruction Archives, the assistant will be a key collaborator supporting the archival instruction program and research initiatives. The incumbant will manage the logistics of class visits, including coordinating with archivists on bookings, scheduling, collections requests, and room setup, while helping faculty and students navigate our collections and reading room policies. Responsibilities include assisting with instruction assessment, tracking class visits and trends to inform program development. Occasional evening and weekend availability may be required.

Beyond classroom support, the assistant will work closely with graduate research assistants, faculty, and our research and instruction teams to identify collection materials that align with course objectives. Using finding aids and research guides, the assistant will identify relevant materials and maintain topical resource lists for future classes. The role contributes to creating engaging learning objects, including worksheets, videos, tutorials, and other instructional materials and ensure these tools are discoverable across our course management systems, website, and other platforms. This role offers an excellent opportunity to support student learning and faculty research while deepening your knowledge of archival work.

Required Skills

• Bachelor’s degree.
• One to three years of relevant experience.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

This is a grant-funded 3-year position.

For consideration, please submit a cover letter, CV, and list of professional references. The position will remain open until filled.

Working at Boston University Libraries

Boston University Libraries is a learning organization that supports BU librarians, archivists, and information and subject specialists seeking and sharing knowledge, practices, and perspectives that advance library collections services, and their own professional development. In a collaborative, supportive, and engaging work environment, BU Libraries expert staff assist multidisciplinary research and exploration, build distinctive collections and archives of enduring research value, and empower users to thrive amid an ever-changing information environment.

Located in the heart of Boston, the BU Libraries are embedded in numerous vibrant regional and national library and information specialist networks. The BU Libraries are active members within the Boston Library Consortium (BLC), the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Northeast Research Libraries Consortium (NERL), HathiTrust, and the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI), and library staff at BU serve as engaged thought-leaders on a wide breadth of library management and service areas across diverse communities.

Boston University, a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), is one of the leading private research and teaching institutions in the world, with three primary campuses in the heart of Boston and programs around the globe. Chartered in 1869, the University is home to more than 33,000 students from more than 130 countries, 375,000 living alumni, 10,000 faculty and staff, and 17 schools and colleges.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

In accordance with the Local 2324 collective bargaining agreement, this job will be open to internal applicants only for the first week of posting. Current L2324 represented employees, click here for information on how to apply for this position .