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Special Collections Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Howard

Special Collections Librarian

Chevy Chase, DC · On-site

$75K - $80K/yr

The Special Collections Librarian reports to the Head of Collection Services and Special Collections. The Special Collections Librarian is responsible for overseeing the School of Law Library ...

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How much do special collections jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for special collections in the United States is $21.46, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.79 and $24.04 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are special collections?

Special collections are unique or rare materials held by libraries, archives, or museums that are distinguished by their age, rarity, condition, or subject matter. These collections often include rare books, manuscripts, photographs, maps, and other primary source materials that are preserved for their historical, cultural, or research value. Access to special collections is usually more restricted compared to general library materials, and users may need to follow specific procedures to view or handle them. Special collections support scholarly research, teaching, and public programming by preserving and providing access to these valuable resources.

What is the difference between Special Collections vs Archivist?

AspectSpecial CollectionsArchivist
Required CredentialsMaster's degree in Library Science or related field, often with specializationMaster's degree in Library Science, Archival Studies, or related field
Work EnvironmentLibraries, museums, academic institutions managing rare and unique materialsArchives, museums, government agencies handling historical records and documents
Employer & Industry UsageAcademic, cultural, and research institutionsGovernment, historical societies, corporate archives
Common Search & ComparisonFocuses on rare collections and special materialsFocuses on preserving and organizing records and documents

Special Collections professionals manage rare and unique materials within libraries or museums, often requiring specialized knowledge. Archivists focus on preserving, organizing, and providing access to historical records and documents. While both roles require similar credentials and work in related environments, Special Collections emphasizes handling rare items, whereas Archivists concentrate on records management and preservation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Special Collections Librarian, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Special Collections Librarian, you need expertise in archival practices, rare books, preservation methods, and typically a master's degree in library science or a related field. Familiarity with collection management systems, digital archiving tools, and metadata standards such as MARC or EAD is important. Attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and effective communication help facilitate research support and community outreach. These skills ensure the proper preservation, accessibility, and promotion of unique and valuable materials within libraries or museums.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in Special Collections, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in Special Collections often encounter challenges such as preserving delicate materials, managing limited access for rare items, and balancing digitization efforts with hands-on stewardship. These challenges can be addressed through ongoing training in preservation techniques, implementing robust environmental controls, and collaborating with archivists, conservation specialists, and IT staff to ensure both physical and digital preservation. Regular communication with researchers and faculty also helps align access policies with institutional goals.
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Special Collections jobs near you
Infographic showing various Special Collections job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, and 18% Part Time. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $44,646 per year, or $21.5 per hour.
Special Collections Assistant

Special Collections Assistant

Augustana College

Rock Island, IL

$15.45/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 20 days ago

Job description

Join Our Mission at Augustana College
At Augustana College, we don’t just educate students - we empower them. As a nationally recognized college of the liberal arts and sciences, we invest in engaged learning, maximizing student potential, and building strong community partnerships—the driving forces of our Bold amp; Boundless Strategic Plan (2024-29).
For our 2,500 students, Augustana offers a collaborative and student-focused environment, in which faculty and staff play an active role in shaping futures through hands-on learning, mentorship and leadership development. Located on a scenic, wooded campus in Rock Island, Illinois, Augustana is part of the vibrant Quad-Cities metropolitan area (pop. 470,000), about a 3-hour drive from Chicago.
We seek mission-driven professionals who are passionate about student success, innovation and making an impact. If you thrive in an environment that values curiosity, collaboration and the power of transformative education, we invite you to bring your talents to Augustana.
Employees at Augustana enjoy an excellent benefit package including medical, retirement, generous paid time off, tuition benefits for employees and their family members, and much more.
Job Title: Special Collections Assistant
Status: Non-exempt Full-time 12-month schedule
Reports To: Special Collections Librarian
Overview: Augustana’s Special Collections, located within the Thomas Tredway Library, collects, preserves, and provides access to the college’s rare books and unique archival materials. The special collections assistant—by participating in the provision of researcher services, management of collections, and mentoring of student employees—forms a key support to the department’s mission of providing active, engaged learning opportunities for students; facilitating original research by students, faculty, staff, and outside researchers; and conducting community outreach on campus and in the Quad Cities area. The assistant’s job duties are carried out under the supervision of the special collections librarian, but with a high degree of accountability and the autonomy to work independently.
Responsibilities:
  • Works collaboratively with the special collections librarian on departmental planning and projects.
  • Provides reference and in-depth research assistance to Augustana students, faculty members, administrative offices, alumni, and members of the public in person or by telephone, email, and/or traditional mail.
  • Mentors and instructs student employees working on projects involving digitization, outreach programming, preservation, collection development, reference, and retrieval/shelving.
  • Supports the department’s teaching and learning efforts by preparing materials for classroom use and serving as a liaison for course-related reference inquiries.
  • Shares responsibility for overseeing the reading room, including scheduling researcher appointments, ensuring policies and procedures are enforced, retrieving collection materials, maintaining statistics for annual reporting, assisting students and patrons with physical and electronic resources, and staffing the reading room desk in the absence of student employees.
  • Manages the fulfillment of reproduction requests and routes publication permission requests and donation inquiries to the special collections librarian.
  • Coordinates shelving materials, shifting collections, cleaning collections, and shelf-reading/inventorying collections as needed.
  • Assists the special collections librarian with organizing, describing, and preserving collection materials of various types (such as photographs, vertical files, books, and/or manuscript materials).
  • Supports the development and stewardship of archival and rare book collections that reflect the diversity of campus and the local community.
  • Other duties as assigned.
Experience amp; Skills:
  • Prior work experience in a library setting; prior work experience in an archives, rare books, or special collections environment is preferred, but not required.
  • Familiarity with local/regional history or a willingness to cultivate such knowledge.
  • Ability to understand and appreciate the mission of a residential liberal arts college and to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and outside researchers.
  • Some supervisory experience and/or experience working with college students.
  • Excellent organizational skills; oral and written communication skills; analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills; attention to detail; and ability to work with minimal supervision.
  • Strong technological skills, especially Microsoft Office and Google Apps; willingness and ability to learn additional library and educational applications—such as ExLibris Alma, ArchivesSpace, and ContentDM—as needed.
  • Strong service orientation with sensitivity to the needs of users at all skill levels.
  • Ability to maintain a positive and welcoming attitude in the face of shifting priorities.
Education: Bachelor’s degree required.
Additional Information:
Pay and Benefits: This position is budgeted to pay $15.45 per hour. We offer a competitive benefits package designed to support the needs of employees. Full-time employees are eligible for a comprehensive range of benefits including:
  • Medical, dental, vision insurance
  • Flexible spending accounts or health savings accounts
  • Life insurance, disability insurance, and supplemental insurance programs
  • Retirement plan with a generous company contribution
  • Excellent paid time off/holiday benefits
  • Tuition benefits for employees and their family members
  • Access to company facilities (gym, pool, health center, etc.)
  • You can learn more about our benefit programs at our Benefits website.
Travel: None
Physical Requirements: Ability to lift 25 pounds on a regular basis. Ability to listen, hear, speak, read, climb stairs, bend, stoop, and stand for intermittently long periods of time.
EEO Statement: Augustana is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is Augustana College’s policy to provide equal opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability and any other category protected by federal, state or local law.
Note: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities are subject to change at any time with or without notice.
Application Instructions:
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and names of 3 references. Review of applications will begin immediately. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States; this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

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