The Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC) seeks a graduate student for 10 hours per week, effective August 16, 2024 – May 15, 2025.
The ACDC contains one of the largest existing collections of literature about agricultural communications, internationally. As a resource, the Center features over 47,000 documents involving agriculture-related communications from over 200 countries. The Center operates as a collaborative effort of the Funk ACES Library and the U of I College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. It collects materials and provides a variety of information services.
As part of a team under the head of Funk ACES Library and agricultural communications staff, the Graduate Hourly will catalog and process materials, create finding aids and tutorials, identify preservation needs, maintain the ACDC website, and manage ACDC promotion.
Responsibilities include:
- Identifying and processing documents to add to the Center’s collection of agricultural communications grey literature
- Utilizing our online database system, BibLeaves, including cataloging documents
- Maintaining and enhancing the website
- Interacting with patrons and conduct reference interviews via email and on-site visits
- Managing social media (i.e., Twitter)
- Other duties may include: creating search tutorials, promotional materials, and LibGuides; writing newsletter features; and other special projects as assigned
- Advise hourly employees of the Center
- Processing new archival collections from donors, including arrangement & description, creating finding aids and basic preservation
Qualifications:
Required:
- Enrollment in iSchool MS/LIS program
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office and electronic information systems
- Familiarity with archives and general conservation, editing and publishing, creation of web-based finding aids and other reference tools and use of social media for outreach
- Good oral and written communication and problem-solving skills are a must, as well as the ability to work independently
Preferred:
- Experience processing collections
- Familiarity with research techniques
- Successful completion of IS 581 (Administration and Use of Archival Materials)
- Familiarity with communications, agriculture, food, and related topics
- Demonstrated interest in diversity, inclusion, equity and accessibility
To apply: Please send a cover letter, resume and 3 references to Janis Shearer (jshearer@illinois.edu), Head ACDC, Funk ACES Library. Please submit materials by March 16, 2024.