Acquisitions Archivist - Bancroft Library Job at University of California-Berkel

Position Overview

Position title: Associate Librarian, Status or Potential Career Status

Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and salary point at appointment. A reasonable estimate for this position is $80,349-$107,708. (See current salary scale: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2025-26/represented-july-2025-scales/t26-b.pdf)

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start: As soon as March 2026. Start date is flexible.

Position duration: Full-time potential career appointment.

Application Window

Open date: December 1, 2025

Next review date: Thursday, Jan 1, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Saturday, Feb 28, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

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.

Position Description

The University of California, Berkeley is seeking a creative, self-motivated, user-oriented, and collaborative Acquisitions Archivist to join the technical services team at The Bancroft Library. As a member of the Acquisitions and Collections Control team and reporting to the Head of Acquisitions and Collections Control, the Acquisitions Archivist serves as a key team member for coordinating, tracking, and stewarding incoming materials in all formats.

In the course of performing acquisitions work, the incumbent will collaborate closely and cross-functionally with various internal and external stakeholders, including other Acquisitions and Collections Control Unit staff, curators, accessioning and processing archivists, catalogers, the Digital Collections Unit, UC Berkeley Library's Scholarly Communication and Information Policy, and various library donors and vendors. This position will work with the Bancroft curatorial team as well as technical services and public services to build and implement a holistic and extensible collections management approach to the intake of special collections informed by an understanding of the resources needed to responsibly acquire and steward materials.

Responsibilities

• Collaboratively develop and implement acquisitions and collections control policies and procedures for materials acquired by the Acquisitions and Collections Control Unit within The Bancroft Library.
• Under supervision of the Head, coordinate and track the process of acquiring collections, including pre-custodial interventions, materials transfer and stabilization, and baseline intellectual control for all formats and sizes.
• Coordinate intake logistics for archival acquisitions of all formats, using efficient and extensible pathways to access.
• Develop processes and workflows to support extensible management of both archival and bibliographic collections in collaboration with curators and technical services.
• Contribute to the creation of baseline administrative, physical, and intellectual control over new and past acquisitions in accordance with The Bancroft Library's procedures and professional best practices.
• Build and maintain excellent working relationships with vendors, dealers, sellers, donors, depositors, curators, and SCIPli>
• Participate in standing committees, meetings, and working groups as appropriate.
• Collaborate with accessioning and processing archivists and Stacks Manager to manage acquisitions in stacks space onsite at The Bancroft Library and offsite at Regatta facility.
• Monitor current developments, trends, and emerging technologies in fields related to special collections acquisitions and engage with the professional community locally, statewide, and nationally.
• Collaborate with staff and leadership to implement the Total Cost of Stewardship Framework.
• Supervise the work of acquisitions students and interns.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Employment Context

The UC Berkeley Library is committed to supporting and encouraging respect and empathy, and nurturing a culture where all employees thrive. The Library seeks candidates who recognize and appreciate one another's contributions, expertise, and accomplishments, and will strive to provide equitable access to a diverse set of collections and services. For more information, see the UC Berkeley Library Statement of Values.

UC professional librarians are academic appointees and are represented by the University Council - American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT). This position is in the bargaining unit. Librarians are entitled to professional development leave, vacation leave, sick leave, and all other benefits granted to non-faculty academic personnel. The University offers a retirement system and a variety of group health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans, among other benefits.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications required at time of application:

• Advanced degree or current enrollment in an advanced degree program.

Additional qualifications required at time of start:

• Advanced degree.
• Two or more years of work experience with special collections materials.

Preferred qualifications:

• Master's degree from an ALA accredited institution or equivalent.
• Knowledge of accessioning, appraisal, arrangement, and description of a broad range of personal papers and organizational records.
• Knowledge of archival theory, principles, and practices.
• Knowledge of ethics in archival appraisal, acquisitions, and accessioning.
• Experience coordinating movement and transfer of special collections materials.
• Experience coordinating packing and movement of bibliographic collections.
• Experience with Alma or other integrated library systems and ArchivesSpace or similar systems.
• Experience appraising and acquiring born-digital archival materials.
• Understanding of intellectual property, copyright, privacy, and other access issues.
• Skill in dealing tactfully with donors and managing sensitive material.
• Support of user-centered services.
• Experience developing workflows and processes in library environments.
• Ability to work collegially across departments and manage projects with multiple stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, documentation, and communication skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
• High-level technical competency with continuous learning.
• Commitment to the Library's values.

The Bancroft Library is interested in finding the best overall candidate for the job and recognizes that not all relevant experience looks the same. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet all of the preferred qualifications.

Application Requirements

Document requirements:

• Curriculum Vitae – most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter

Reference requirements: 3-5 required (contact information only)

Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05166

Help contact: richard.brown@berkeley.edu

About UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our public mission of research, teaching, and service. The University of California Alumni Policy, APM and other policies ensure equal opportunity employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. For more information, refer to the University of California's affirmative action and nondiscrimination policies.

In searches where letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality before submitting their letter.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose any administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years that determine misconduct within the last seven years. Misconduct means any violation of policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination. Accordingly, references as per above will be reviewed per standard privacy practice.

Job Location

Berkeley, CA