Assistant Librarian: Digital Processing Archivist

Posting Details

Position Details


Title
Assistant Librarian: Digital Processing Archivist


Appointment Status
Tenure Track


Department
IU Northwest Library


Location
Northwest


Position Summary


The Assistant Librarian with the additional title as Digital ProcessingArchivist is a 12-month, tenure-track position, reporting to the Executive Director of Library Services. This position is responsible for advancing the mission of the IU Northwest Archives and Special Collections, leads and oversees archival processing and operations while spearheading digital stewardship initiatives that modernize workflows and expand access to the Archives' materials in support of sustainable preservation and accessibility. Working closely alongside the Public Services Archivist and library faculty, they will increase the availability of the Archives' holdings in both digital and physical formats, while managing operations and digital systems to support effective access for library staff, researchers, and the broader community. This position has liaison responsibilities to academic departments, teaches library instruction sessions, general library reference duties, and participates in collection development activities for the library.

Responsibilities

1. Serves as lead for archival processing projects and digital stewardship initiatives, including appraisal, arrangement, description, and preparation of physical and digital collections for access.
2. Develops, maintains, and documents repository and collection-level finding aids, descriptive standards, and workflows to ensure consistency, discoverability, and long-term sustainability.
3. Leads digitization and digital stewardship initiatives, optimizing workflows that support preservation, metadata creation, file management, quality control, and expanding access to archival materials.
4. Manages archival operations and digital systems that support access for library staff, researchers, and community users, ensuring reliable, accurate, and sustainable discovery of collections.
5. Directs large-scale backlog reduction efforts, establishing processing priorities that align with institutional needs, research demand, and community interest.
6. Identifies and addresses legal, ethical, and rights-related considerations including donor restrictions, copyright, and sensitive materials.
7. Works in tandem with the Public Services Archivist to align processing priorities to support reference, instruction, outreach, and public programming needs.
8. Works collaboratively with library faculty and staff to support strategic planning, digital initiatives, and coordinate archival operations across the library and IU system.
9. Provides joint supervision and mentorship of student workers and MLIS interns in collaboration with the Public Services Archivist, assisting with training in processing, digitization, description, and related project work.
10. Some evenings and weekends as required. Other duties as assigned.

ABOUT THE JOHN W. ANDERSON LIBRARY

The John W. Anderson Library serves a diverse population and is seeking applicants with excellent communication skills, previous reference experience and the ability to work well with various populations. The John W. Anderson Library serves undergraduate and graduate students and Indiana community residents.

The Library provides access to multiple information sources and services in support of student learning, faculty research, and community engagement. The library houses a collection of nearly half a million books and 200,000 government publications. The library has access to 350 online abstract or full-text journal databases, an online catalog of all IU libraries, online catalogs of local public and university libraries, 50,000 electronic journals, 230,000 e-books and audio books, online encyclopedias, and biography and statistical databases.

The Indiana University Northwest John W. Anderson Library is part of a nine-campus system. Through the Library, students have access to the 7 million volumes and 25 million other materials of the other IU libraries. Books and journal articles in Bloomington, Indianapolis and other regional campus libraries can be obtained quickly for students and faculty through the IU Northwest Library Interlibrary Loan Office.

ABOUT INDIANA UNIVERSITY NORTHWEST

One of nine campuses of Indiana University, IU Northwest is located in metropolitan Northwest Indiana, approximately 30 miles southeast of Chicago and 10 miles from the Indiana Dunes National Park. The campus has a student population of approximately 3,200 degree-seeking students and more than 30,000 alumni, most of whom remain in the Northwest Indiana region, and has been recognized by the Department of Education as a minority and Hispanic serving institution. The campus offers Associate, Baccalaureate, and Master's degrees from the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Health and Human Services, the School of Business and Economics, the School of the Arts, and the School of Education. The campus is also home to IU School of Medicine-Northwest-Gary, the region's only four-year medical doctorate program. As a student-centered campus, IU Northwest is committed to academic excellence characterized by a love of ideas and achievement in learning, discovery, creativity, research and community engagement.

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring .

Basic Qualifications

Required:

• Master of Library & Information Science (MLIS or comparable) from an ALA-accredited institution
• Experience leading or managing archival processing and digitization efforts, including work with both physical and digital materials
• Experience working in an archives, manuscripts repository, special collections, or comparable setting

Preferred:

• Knowledge of American history and historiography, with familiarity with Northwest Indiana and/or Calumet Region history
• Knowledge of current and emerging trends, standards, workflows, and best practices related to archival processing and digitization
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team-oriented environment
• Experience working with information systems, digital platforms, quality control, or technical troubleshooting
• Supervisory, instructional, mentorship, or leadership experience in academic, archival, or project-based settings, or comparable professional contexts
• Second master's degree

Department Contact for Questions


Questions regarding the position or application process can be directed to the search committee chair: Nicholas A. Casas, Assistant Librarian for Teaching & Learning, John W. Anderson Library
IU Northwest Library Services, 3400 Broadway, Gary, IN 46408, View email address on click.appcast.io

Additional Qualifications


All candidates must be eligible to work in the United States as of the position start date. The department is unable to sponsor visas for this position. For questions about work eligibility, the search committee can connect you with the IU Office of International Services.

Salary and Rank
Salary is commensurate with experience and education.


Special Instructions


Interested candidates should review and complete the online applications that require uploading: 1) curriculum vitae; 2) letter of application; 3) statement of librarianship philosophy (listed as other); and (4) list of three references with contact information to include mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone numbers at

Review date begins May 15, 2026: (Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee).

Final date, May 29, 2026: Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

For Best Consideration Date

Expected Start Date
07/01/2026


Posting Number
IU-101537-2026