A cover letter and resume are important submissions for the hiring team to get a sense of your experience. In the cover letter, in two pages or less, please let us know how this role aligns with your career aspirations and skill set. Submit both a cover letter and a resume as one PDF file (due to system limitations).
The Bentley Historical Library, a vital part of the University of Michigan, is dedicated to collecting and promoting the study of the histories of the State of Michigan and the University of Michigan. Open to the public without fee, the Library welcomes researchers of all backgrounds. With over 11,000 research collections, including the papers of Michigan governors, records of student and faculty life, and the complete historical archive of Michigan's intercollegiate athletics, the Bentley provides a rich resource for historical research. The Library features a state-of-the-art conservation lab where expert archivists and conservators teach and preserve materials such as books, maps, and architectural drawings. Additionally, the historic Detroit Observatory on the University's central campus is a division of the Library, further enhancing its resources and outreach.
For more information, please visit our website: bentley.umich.edu
The Bentley Historical Library seeks a dynamic, collaborative, and service-oriented Archivist for Community Collections to expand the Library's engagement with communities and organizations across the state of Michigan. The position will build and strengthen relationships with collections donors, community groups, and partner institutions to ensure that the historical records of diverse communities are preserved and accessible.
As part of the Bentley's Michigan Historical Collections team, Archivist for Community Collections will serve as the Library's primary point of contact for community-based collecting initiatives. This includes outreach to organizations and individuals, onsite fieldwork to identify and appraise historically significant materials, and stewardship of collections.
This position will serve as a cornerstone of the Bentley's commitment to inclusive collecting and reparative archival practices, facilitating partnerships where the Library is sometimes the steward, and at other times an advisor and collaborator in community-based preservation efforts.
Community Engagement and Fieldwork (50%)
- Build relationships with individuals, organizations, and communities across Michigan whose records reflect the state's cultural, social, and political history.
- Travel throughout Michigan to meet with potential donors, assess collections, and guide preservation and transfer.
- Act as liaison with communities traditionally underrepresented in archives, supporting inclusive and equitable collecting practices.
- Collaborate with historical societies, libraries, repositories, and community archives across Michigan to coordinate collecting efforts, develop shared stewardship models, avoid unnecessary duplication, and support holistic preservation.
- Organize and facilitate community-driven events (e.g., History Harvests).
- Collaborate with Curation staff and community partners on reparative description initiatives.
- Raise awareness among source communities of Bentley holdings and research opportunities.
Collection Development and Stewardship (20%)
- Identify, appraise, and recommend acquisition of collections with enduring historical significance to Michigan.
- Oversee transfer, accessioning, and initial preservation of archival collections, including both physical and born-digital materials.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of collecting strategies that align with Bentley priorities and statewide needs, with particular emphasis on expanding the representation of under-documented communities in the archives.
- Collaborate with processing archivists and digital curation staff to integrate field-collected materials into Bentley's archival systems.
- Contribute to statewide efforts documenting marginalized histories through shared stewardship and post-custodial models.
Outreach and Public Programming (15%)
- Design and deliver presentations, workshops, and consultations to community partners on archival practices, documentation, and preservation.
- Offer capacity-building workshops for community groups on archival practices, digital tools, and grant-seeking strategies.
- Adapt and distribute toolkits (e.g., Archivist in a Backpack) to empower local history keepers.
- Support oral history initiatives and other documentation projects in collaboration with communities.
- Participate in Bentley public programs and exhibitions to highlight new and diverse collections.
- Participate in the reference rotation, including in-person Saturday shifts throughout the year.
Professional development and service (10%)
- Participate actively in professional development and service at the library, university, and within regional, national, and international professional organizations.
- Monitor industry developments and best practices to support ongoing activities and foster innovation.
Other Duties as Assigned (5%)
- Engage in presentations, committee work, and library-wide or university-wide initiatives.
- Master's degree from an ALA-accredited institution, in hand or in process, or an advanced related degree, with relevant experience required.
- Demonstrated commitment to community engagement, outreach, or public service.
- Experience working with archival principles, practices, and descriptive standards.
- Experience working with born-digital materials and digital preservation practices.
- Strong communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse communities and organizations.
- Familiarity with post-custodial archiving models and community-based participatory practices.
- Knowledge of, or capacity to learn, Michigan history and culture.
- Willingness to travel frequently throughout Michigan.
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
The general salary range for this position is $61,000 - $64,000. Candidates can expect to be paid a competitive and equitable salary. Factors used to determine salary include education level, experience, knowledge and skills for the position, and internal equity within the unit. All candidates are encouraged to discuss salary questions to honor alignment and transparency throughout the recruiting process.
The mode of work for this position is Hybrid.
In-person Saturday Reference desk shifts are scheduled several times throughout the year.
Excellent benefits are available. For details, see http://benefits.umich.edu/
This faculty position is subject to the U-M/LEO-GLAM collective bargaining agreement. Appointment is anticipated at the Assistant Archivist level. The minimum salary for this position is $61,000 at the Assistant Archivist level. Salary and rank are dependent on the candidate's qualifications and experience. The salary range for this position is $61,000-$64,000 annually.
This position is covered under the collective bargaining agreement between the U-M and the Lecturers Employee Organization, AFL-CIO, on behalf of their Librarian, Archivists, and Curator bargaining unit (LEO-GLAM), which contains and settles all matters with respect to wages, benefits, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. Any questions on union membership should be directed to LEO-GLAM at [email protected].
The University of Michigan complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other applicable federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. The Administrative Designee, who is responsible for communicating with Employees about requests for reasonable accommodations for the Bentley Historical Library, is Camille Ulrich. They may be reached at [email protected].
Employees on the Ann Arbor or Dearborn Campuses may also contact the Disability Equity Office by email at [email protected], by phone at 734-763-0235, or by visiting their website.
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Job openings are posted for a minimum of ten calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eleventh day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled at any time after the minimum posting period has ended.
Applications will be reviewed as received throughout the posting period and will continue until the position is filled. The estimated beginning date for the appointment is anticipated in December 2026.
The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
