Special Collections Library Lead for Archival Processing and Collection Strategies

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POSITION SPECIFICS

This role advances Penn State's strategic priorities by strengthening research infrastructure, expanding access to distinctive collections, and supporting student-centered learning through engagement with rare and unique materials.

Reporting to the Head of the Eberly Family Special Collections, the Lead for Archival Processing and Collection Strategies provides strategic and operational leadership for the full lifecycle stewardship of collections in all formats and mediums in the Eberly Family Special Collections Library (SCL). This tenure-line faculty position leads the planning, coordination, and execution of accessioning, processing, description, digitization coordination, and long-term stewardship to ensure collections are accessible, sustainable, and aligned with institutional priorities.

The Lead for Archival Processing and Collection Strategies supervises staff responsible for collections management and establishes clear, efficient workflows that support discovery, teaching, and research use.  The position serves as the primary liaison between SCL and the Preservation, Conservation, and Digitization (PCD) department, ensuring that stewardship decisions are coordinated across the Libraries and grounded in best practices.  This position will work closely with the Head of Cataloging and Metadata Services and the Special Collections Cataloging Team to establish policies for descriptive standards and set priorities.

Candidates for the rank of Assistant Librarian should possess a graduate degree in library or information studies or other appropriate degree; must have demonstrated potential ability as a librarian; and must have shown promise of growth in research and service. Candidate for the rank of Associate Librarian should possess the same qualifications as the Assistant Librarian, demonstrate excellence in librarianship, show evidence of an established reputation in research, and have a strong record of service to the University and the profession. Candidates for the rank of Librarian should possess the same qualifications as the Associate Librarian; demonstrate sustained excellence in librarianship; have achieved a distinguished reputation in research, scholarship, or librarianship accomplishment; and maintain a substantial record of service and leadership to the University, the profession, and/or the broader community.

The University expects regular onsite presence to fully participate in their university workspace or on-campus intellectual and educational community. Occasional hybrid work may be permissible upon approval of the supervisor.

Duties and Responsibilities
Collections Services Leadership.

• Leads strategy and operations for the full cycle of collections management in SCL, including accessioning, processing, arrangement and description, digitization coordination, rehousing, and collections maintenance
• Supervises and mentors collections services employees, building a stable and collaborative team culture grounded in transparency, accountability, and shared purpose
• Establishes and maintains policies, procedures, and documentation standards to ensure consistency, efficiency, and adherence to professional best practices
• Sets and manages processing priorities in alignment with SCL’s collection development plan, donor commitments, teaching and researcher demand, and institutional goals
• Oversees accessioning workflows, including documentation, donor agreements coordination, and integration of new acquisitions into collection management systems
• Ensures compliance with archival standards (e.g., DACS, EAD, ArchivesSpace practices) and promotes scalable, sustainable processing models
• Tracks and reports on collections access metrics, backlog reduction, and stewardship outcomes

Preservation, Conservation, and Digitization Coordination

• Serves as the primary liaison between Special Collections and Preservation, Conservation, and Digitization units
• Collaborates on prioritization of conservation treatments, rehousing initiatives, environmental monitoring, and preservation planning
• Coordinates digitization workflows for archival collections in alignment with access priorities and resource capacity
• Ensures that digitization initiatives are integrated into overall collections strategy rather than functioning as isolated projects
• Partners with Digital Collections colleagues to support responsible digital stewardship and long-term preservation planning
• Contributes to shared infrastructure planning for physical and digital collection care

Access and Stewardship Strategy
The Lead for Archival Processing and Collection Strategies advances access to collections while safeguarding their long-term preservation:

• Develops processing strategies that balance researcher access, preservation needs, and available staffing resources
• Collaborates with Research Services to align description and processing decisions with teaching and research use
• Supports the integration of newly processed collections into instruction, exhibitions, fellowships, and public programming
• Ensures ethical stewardship practices that reflect commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion, and responsible archival representation

Contributions to Special Collections Leadership
As a member of the SCL leadership team, this position:

• Advises the Head of Special Collections on collections stewardship strategy, space planning for processing and storage, and staffing needs
• Contributes to long-range planning related to facilities, environmental controls, and collections growth
• Participates in the Special Collections Curation Team and collaborates on prioritizing acquisitions and stewardship commitments
• Supports Penn State’s learning and teaching mission, faculty research, and land-grant commitment through accessible and well-stewarded collections
• Participates in donor stewardship efforts related to processing, preservation, and access outcomes
• Provides reference service to faculty, students, and researchers on a rotating basis.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
This position integrates inclusive and ethical practices into all aspects of collections stewardship, including accessing, description, prioritization, and access.  This includes attention to culturally responsive description and expanding access to collections that document historically underrepresented communities.

Research, Service, and Professional Development
As a tenure-track faculty member, the Lead for Archival Processing and Collection Strategies:

• Maintains an active research agenda appropriate to rank and tenure status (if applicable)
• Represents the Special Collections Library on relevant library and university committees and task forces
• Participates in the governance structure of the Libraries and advances the mission and values of the University
• Engages in service to the profession through scholarship, presentations, and professional organizations
• Pursues continuing education and professional development in archival stewardship, preservation strategy, and leadership

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in library and information scienc