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Special Collections Assistant 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 ... Responsible for directing library specialists and student library research assistants. Reports to ...

Rishabh RPO

Library Project Specialist

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$21 - $27.75/hr

Archive and Special Collections Projects Support digitization projects for historical technical materials and special collections. Assist with projects related to preserving and showcasing historical ...

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How much do special collections assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 3, 2026, the average hourly pay for special collections assistant in the United States is $20.03, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.11 and $23.08 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by Special Collections Assistants when handling rare or fragile materials?

Special Collections Assistants often encounter challenges such as carefully managing delicate or deteriorating items to prevent further damage, adhering to strict handling protocols, and ensuring proper environmental conditions like temperature and humidity. They must balance accessibility for researchers with preservation needs, which can require close collaboration with archivists and conservators. Staying organized while cataloging unique materials and responding to specialized research requests are also key aspects of the role.

What are Special Collections Assistants?

Special Collections Assistants are professionals who support the management, organization, and preservation of rare or unique materials in libraries, archives, or museums. Their responsibilities often include assisting with cataloging, handling rare books or documents, answering researcher queries, and helping maintain the security and proper storage of special collections. They play a crucial role in ensuring that valuable materials are accessible to researchers while also being protected for future generations. Additionally, they may help with exhibitions, digitization projects, and outreach activities related to the special collections.

What is the difference between Special Collections Assistant vs Archivist?

AspectSpecial Collections AssistantArchivist
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor's degree in library science, history, or related fieldOften requires a master's degree in library science, archival studies, or related field
Work EnvironmentLibraries, museums, or academic institutions managing special collectionsArchives, museums, government agencies, or research institutions
ResponsibilitiesAssisting with collection processing, cataloging, and public serviceAppraising, acquiring, preserving, and managing archival records

While both roles involve handling collections and require knowledge of preservation, the Special Collections Assistant typically supports processing and public engagement, whereas the Archivist has a broader responsibility for managing and preserving archival records throughout their lifecycle.

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

To thrive as a Special Collections Assistant, you need a background in library science, archival studies, or a related field, along with attention to detail and organizational skills. Familiarity with cataloging systems, digital archives platforms, and preservation techniques is typically required. Excellent communication, customer service, and problem-solving abilities help you support researchers and collaborate with colleagues. These skills are vital for protecting rare materials, ensuring accurate records, and providing effective access to special collections.
What cities are hiring for Special Collections Assistant jobs? Cities with the most Special Collections Assistant job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Special Collections jobs? The most popular types of Special Collections jobs are:
What states have the most Special Collections Assistant jobs? States with the most job openings for Special Collections Assistant jobs include:
Special Collections Assistant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Special Collections Assistant job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 24% Full Time, 64% Part Time, 3% Temporary, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $41,672 per year, or $20 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 15 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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