Library Archivist Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Position overview
Position title: Associate Librarian, Career Status or Potential Career Status
Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and salary point at appointment. See the following table(s) for the current salary scale(s) for this position: TABLE 26B REPRESENTED LIBRARIAN SERIES FISCAL YEAR SALARY SCALE . A reasonable full-time salary estimate for this position is $80,349 to $107,708.
Percent time: 100%
Anticipated start: As early as June 2026. Start date is flexible.
Position duration: This is a full-time potential career appointment.
Application Window
Open date: April 21, 2026
Most recent review date: Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.
Final date: Monday, Aug 24, 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 collaborative, innovative, and user-oriented Archivist to join the technical services team in The Bancroft Library. Reporting to the Head of Technical Services and working under the leadership of the Head of Archival Accessioning and Processing, the Archivist performs access-forward accessioning and processing for collections in a range of formats and sizes. The Archivist collaboratively explores innovative strategies for managing high-volume archival work and directs a small team of student assistants in the work of making the library's collections discoverable to researchers. The Archivist will work both independently and on team accessioning and processing projects. The Archivist will serve as a key member of a team of archivists that develops, drafts, and regularly revises policies and guidelines for archival work and shapes our local instance of ArchivesSpace at The Bancroft Library.
The Environment
The UC Berkeley Library is an internationally renowned research and teaching facility at one of the nation's premier public universities. A highly diverse and intellectually rich environment, Berkeley serves a campus community of 33,070 undergraduate students, 12,812 graduate students, and 1,525 faculty. The Library comprises 20 campus libraries, including the Doe/Moffitt Libraries, The Bancroft Library, The C.V. Starr East Asian Library, and numerous subject specialty libraries. With a collection of more than 12 million volumes and a collections budget of over $15 million, the Library offers extensive collections in all formats and robust services to connect users with the collections and build their research skills. Discover more about our collections and services at the UC Berkeley Library website.
The Bancroft Library of the University of California, Berkeley, is one of the largest and most heavily used libraries of rare materials in the West. Its holdings include more than 800,000 volumes, 210 million manuscript items, 9 million photographs and other pictorial materials, 86,000 microforms, 9.4 million digital files, and 25,000 maps, as well as numerous other categories of unique material. The two largest collections are the Bancroft Collection of Western and Latin Americana and the Rare Books Collection. The archival materials of the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life are also part of the Bancroft holdings. The Bancroft Library is home to three research groups: the Oral History Center (formerly the Regional Oral History Office), the Mark Twain Papers, and the Center for the Tebtunis Papyri. The Bancroft Library is an active center of teaching and research. Supporting the programs of about 30 campus departments annually, it mounts a regular series of public exhibitions, roundtable lectures, and open houses.
For additional information, please visit The Bancroft Library website.
Responsibilities Include:

• Accession and process new and existing archival collections in all formats (analog and born-digital) as assigned by the Head of Archival Accessioning and Processing and in accordance with national standards and best practices as well as local policies;
• Create collection-level MARC records in OCLC and Alma;
• Create online finding aids and publishing them on the Online Archive of California;
• Utilize relevant content and structural standards, including DACS, RDA, EAD, and MARC;
• Utilize tools used in special collections and archives (e.g., ArchivesSpace, Alma/Primo, digital asset management systems, BitCurator, OpenRefine, Oxygen, MarcEdit);
• Participate with other staff in the iterative development and implementation of accessioning and processing policies, procedures, workflows, and best practices;
• Participate with other staff in the collaborative management of the local instance of ArchivesSpace;
• Direct and coordinate the work of student employees and assistants;
• On occasion, support curators and acquisitions staff in the field for collection appraisal and packing;
• Collaborate with The Bancroft Library's Digital Collections Unit on metadata creation for digital materials;
• Apply project management strategies to accessioning and processing work;
• Contribute to the work of gathering metrics, tracking progress, and regularly reporting to ensure alignment with Library operational and strategic goals.
• Serve regular shifts on The Bancroft Library's Reading Room desks and collaborate on requests for access to unprocessed collections.
• Move, shelve, and organize archival boxes and record cartons;
• Serve on department, Library, and/or University-wide committees, task forces, or working groups; contribute to the national and international reputation of The Bancroft Library and the UC Berkeley Library through professional research, service, and collaboration with appropriate colleagues and organizations; and maintain up-to-date professional knowledge of current trends and best practices in archives, special collections, and technology to encourage innovation and ensure the excellence of Bancroft Technical Services.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift and move archival boxes and materials weighing up to 35 pounds.
• Ability to push and maneuver fully loaded book trucks.
• Ability to use ladders or step stools to reach materials on shelves.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
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, please see the UC Berkeley Library Statement of Values.
UC professional librarians are academic appointees and are represented by an exclusive bargaining agent, the University Council - American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT). This position is in the bargaining unit. Librarians are entitled to appropriate professional development leave, vacation leave, sick leave, and all other benefits granted to non-faculty academic personnel. The University has an excellent retirement system and sponsors a variety of group health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans in addition to other benefits.
UC Berkeley Library Website: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/
The Bancroft Library Website: https://www.lib.berkeley.edu/visit/bancroft
UC Berkeley Library Statement of Values: https://www.lib.berkeley.edu/about/statement-of-values
Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• Advanced degree

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

• Two or more years of work experience accessioning and/or processing archival materials

Preferred qualifications

• Master's degree from an American Library Association (ALA) accredited institution program or equivalent degree;
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience using archival accessioning and processing standards and principles across a multitude of formats (manuscripts, born-digital, AV, photographs, objects, etc.);
• Demonstrated experience using varying levels of processing and extensible approaches in creating access to archival collections;
• Proven track record of balancing high-volume processing with the oversight of multiple concurrent archival projects;
• Demonstrated experience in managing competing priorities within a technical services environment;
• Demonstrated experience delegating tasks and managing student labor to maintain momentum on multiple processing initiatives;
• Demonstrated project management experience, including managing multiple projects at a time, adjusting priorities, and consistently meeting deadlines;
• Demonstrated ability to work well independently and collaboratively, with the flexibility to manage change and reprioritizations;
• Proven ability to interact with diverse staff and the public and to work collegially and prioritize excellent service;
• Demonstrated experience or familiarity with collection development and archival appraisal;
• Demonstrated experience with using and participating in the development of archival collection management systems (e.g., ArchivesSpace);
• Demonstrated commitment to learning new technologies, including using AI tools for archival work;
• Knowledge of and familiarity with acquiring, preserving, and providing access to born-digital collections;
• Proficiency with XML editors, Text Editors, and MarcEdit.
• Demonstrated commitment to the Library's values .

Application Requirements
Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter

Reference requirements

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

References will only be contacted for individuals under serious consideration.
Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05353
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, consistent with UC Regents Policy 4400 and University of California Academic Personnel policy ( APM 210 1-d ). These values are embedded in our Principles of Community , which reflect our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation, and our deep commitment to contributing to a better world. Every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring and humane environment in which these values can thrive.
The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.
For more information, please refer to the University of California's Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy and the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy .
In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.
As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.
Unless stated otherwise, unambiguously, in the position description, this position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Job location
Berkeley, CA