Visual Materials Archivist Job Columbia South Carolina USA,Education / Teaching

Visual Materials Archivist Department: LI South Caroliniana Library

Part/Full Time:
Full Time Advertised Salary Range: 55,000 - Commensurate with Experience

About UofSC From the Upstate to the Low country, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor's degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning.

All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service - helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

Advertised

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Head of Processing, the Visual Materials Archivist will process visual materials and other archival collections; write, publish, and revise descriptive information for archival collections using Archives Space, Alma/Primo, and other library software; supervise the Hollingsworth Visual Materials Student Assistant(s); complete in-house preservation and conservation of archival materials; and complete other duties as assigned. This is a professional-track faculty position, and will not be eligible for tenure.

Required

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities/Competencies

Strong knowledge of information organization standards and practices, including current cataloging and archival processing standards.
Ability to plan and organize work activities to prioritize task completion according to schedules and goals.
Effective and clear communication skills.

Function:
Archival Collections Processing

Following professional standards and library procedures, process visual materials collections encompassing a variety of formats including photographs, negatives, slides, artwork, design drawings, etc.;
Process archival collections of manuscripts, organizational records, and published materials on an as-needed basis;
Research collection formats and materials to determine the best permanent housings for preservation;
Identify and assess needed preservation and conservation measures in archival collections;
Apply appropriate techniques per professional standards and library procedures;
Recommend items for professional conservation

Function:
Collections Finding Aids and Description

Create finding aids of collection contents and containers, using Archives Space.
Create item records for collections in Alma/Primo.
Update and revise Archives Space and Alma/Primo records to ensure information stays current.

Function:
Supervise Student Assistant

Supervise the Hollingsworth Visual Materials Student Assistant(s); plan and assign projects for the student assistant;
Review student assistant's work at appropriate intervals and recommend any needed corrections or adjustments;
Review and approve timesheets

Function:
Consultation and Collaboration

Consult with the Digital Collections department on collections for digitization and digital exhibits;
Consult and collaborate with the South Caroliniana Library Instruction and Outreach Librarian on the use of visual materials collections in exhibits and programming;
Provide guidance and assistance to other USC Special Collections libraries and colleagues on visual material projects.

Function:
Other Duties

Performs other duties as requested or required, whether specifically mentioned in this job description.

Required

Education and Experience

A Master's Degree in Library/Information Science from an ALA-accredited institution; a combination of another appropriate graduate degree, training, and experience will be given equal consideration.
At least three years of experience processing archival and/or unique historic collections.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience arranging, describing, and preserving a variety of visual materials formats.
Experience supervising student employees and/or interns.

Job Close Date 11/20/2026

We are only accepting applications submitted by November 20, 2026.

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities on the basis of race, sex, gender, gender identity, transgender status, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetics, protected veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions.