Archivist at the Institute for Studies on Latin American Art (ISLAA)

Job Title: Archivist

Job Status: Full-time

Location: New York, NY

Salary: $80,000

The Institute for Studies on Latin American Art (ISLAA) seeks a Archivist to oversee the Library and Archives, and to lead its continued efforts toward processing collections and facilitating access to researchers from our study center.

This job has enormous room for growth as we seek to expand the operations of our Library and Archives in order to have more materials available according to industry best practices. As such, the Archivist is encouraged to grow the team through hires of part-time processing archivists. This position is well suited to someone invested in expanding their management skills, as the Archivist is responsible for coordinating the activities of direct reports to meet well-defined priorities established in dialogue with department heads.

The Archivist will lead the development of ISLAA’s digital research access, including digitized collections and related web features. Reporting to the Executive Director, this position will frequently weigh in on related ISLAA programs in order to connect researchers, curators, and audiences to our unique offerings.

The ideal candidate is methodical, forward-thinking, and able to work efficiently on multiple projects. As a growing arts organization, we value the ability to toggle between immediate priorities and long-term vision. To reiterate, this an growing position with enormous room to advance the candidate’s professional development and gain additional responsibilities and expertise in a supportive environment. The ideal candidate will welcome the opportunity to significantly increase research engagement with a leading collection of Latin American rare books and archives.

Responsibilities 

  • Supervises operations for public services (including reviewing requests, scheduling appointments, coordinating research visits, managing registration procedures, staffing the reference desk, managing the reading room and reproduction requests.
  • Fields inbound research questions, information requests and makes recommendations
  • Oversees the processing of special collections with an emphasis on greater accessibility both internally and for researchers; establishes processing goals and plans project schedules.
  • Interfaces between ISLAA’s internal teams, reporting newly processed materials and suggesting new programming and initiatives related to incoming acquisitions
  • Advises Collections team on organization and information management, tracks research visits
  • Reconciles CRM and collection databases on a regular basis, working directly with developer to create code patches if necessary
  • Maintains consistency across metadata in website, CRM, collection databases, et al.
  • Works with Collections team to select database provider(s) and manage art collection and networked archives/library
  • Designs and implement a call system for ISLAA’s rare books and volumes
  • Coordinates with Collection Manager to coordinate physical storage of archives and library volumes
  • Works with Editorial Program Manager to develop archival curated selections for the website
  • Works with Exhibition and Curatorial Manager and visiting curators to develop archival components for ISLAA’s gallery space

Requirements

  • Completed MLIS degree
  • 5+ years cumulative full-time experience working with rare books and archives
  • Specialization in art history or artist-related materials is preferred
  • Advanced Spanish or higher (reading and spoken). Portuguese is helpful but not required.
  • Please note this position requires the ability to lift objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

How to Apply

CONTACT

To apply please send a resume and cover letter attn: Ostap Kin. We look forward to hearing from you!

Apply here

NOTE ON HIRING

ISLAA seeks team members who reflect the diverse communities we engage with. Positions are filled without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, HIV/AIDS status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. All are encouraged to apply.

ABOUT ISLAA

Founded in 2011 and based in New York City, the Institute for Studies on Latin American Art (ISLAA) expands scholarship, public engagement, and the international visibility of art from Latin America through our program of exhibitions, publishing, research, and partnerships. These programs frequently engage our collection of modern and contemporary Latin American art, which is in dialogue with the ISLAA Library and Archives.

ISLAA’s collection of twentieth- and twenty-first century Latin American art is reflective of our mission to expand scholarship, public engagement, and the international visibility of art from Latin America and by doing so, tell more expansive narratives of Latin American Art.

ISLAA’s research and scholarship initiatives—much of which are based in our Library and Archives—are central to our organization. We offer funding and support to emerging and established scholars, including access to physical and digitized materials from our Library and Archives via our Writer in Residence program. The Library and Archives are very much at the heart of our programming: As a research institute, we believe that archival access is necessary to holding incisive and expansive conversations, whether in the classroom or the gallery.