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Special Collections Student Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

American

$18.40/hr

AU Archives & Special Collections is seeking applicants for an Archives Student Project Assistant responsible for processing archival collections donated by the USAID Alumni Association. Working ...

Albright College

Library Student Assistant

Reading, PA · On-site

Student assistants help patrons navigate library spaces, services, and resources, including ... Archives and Special Collections * Assist with digitization, preservation, and archival projects as ...

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How much do special collections student assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for special collections student 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 is a special collections student assistant?

Special Collections Student Assistants are students employed by libraries, archives, or museums to help manage, preserve, and provide access to rare or unique materials. Their duties often include assisting patrons, shelving or retrieving items, processing archival collections, and helping with exhibits or digitization projects. They gain hands-on experience working with historical documents, rare books, manuscripts, and other valuable materials while supporting the daily operations of the Special Collections department.

What does a special collections student assistant do?

Special Collections Student Assistants often handle a variety of responsibilities, including assisting patrons with locating rare or archival materials, managing the security and proper handling of delicate items, and supporting collection organization or digitization projects. One common challenge is balancing customer service with the need to enforce strict usage policies to protect valuable resources. Assistants must also quickly learn specialized catalog systems and adapt to a highly detail-oriented environment, working both independently and as part of a small team of librarians and archivists.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a special collections student assistant?

To thrive as a Special Collections Student Assistant, you generally need strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and familiarity with library procedures, often supplemented by enrollment in a college or university. Experience with library management systems, digital archives, and basic cataloging tools is typically required. Excellent communication, discretion, and a customer-service mindset help you interact effectively with patrons and staff while handling rare or fragile materials. These skills ensure the preservation, accessibility, and proper management of valuable collections while providing reliable support to library operations.
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Special Collections Student Assistant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Special Collections Student Assistant job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $41,672 per year, or $20 per hour.

Library - Archives & Special Collections Student Assistant

High Point, NC • On-site

High Point University
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools • 501 - 1,000 employees
Learn more about High Point Universityexternal

$8/hr

Part-time

Posted 9 days ago

High Point University rating

7.0

Company rating: 7.0 out of 10

Based on 12 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Job Title: Archives & Special Collections Student Assistant
Department: Library
Supervisor: Gerald Ward
Starting Rate of Pay: $8.00
Length of Time: Eligible for rehire on a semester basis.
Department Description
Archives & Special Collections is a department of HPU Libraries responsible for preserving, organizing, and providing access to materials documenting the history of High Point University as well as rare books, manuscripts, photographs, publications, and other distinctive collections. The department supports teaching, research, exhibits, outreach, and preservation activities for students, faculty, staff, and visiting researchers.
Job Description
The Archives & Special Collections Student Assistant will support the day-to-day work of Archives & Special Collections through a variety of projects involving archival materials, rare books, digital collections, preservation, and research support. Duties may include organizing and describing collections, scanning and digitizing materials, entering or reviewing descriptive information, assisting with exhibits and outreach, rehousing materials in archival enclosures, and helping maintain orderly collection and work spaces.
Because the position involves working with unique, rare, and sometimes fragile materials, successful candidates must be dependable, detail-oriented, able to follow established procedures, and comfortable performing focused work independently. The position may also involve occasional interaction with students, faculty, staff, and visitors using Archives & Special Collections.
Job Location/Hours Required
The candidate will perform most job duties within Archives & Special Collections and related library work areas. Scheduling will be arranged around the student's academic schedule and departmental needs. Preference may be given to students who can work consistent blocks of approximately 2 to 4 hours at a time. The position is not expected to exceed 10 hours per week, and the total number of hours a student employee may work per week is 20 hours, consistent with the model used in the attached student position description.
Responsibilities:
  • Assists with processing and organizing archival and special collections materials
  • Assists with digitization projects
  • Assists with inventories, shelf reading, and collection management projects
  • Retrieves and returns materials from Archives & Special Collections storage areas
  • Handles rare books, archival materials, and other unique items according to established procedures
  • Assists with preparation of materials for classes, exhibits, displays, and outreach activities
  • Assists with basic preservation and collection-care activities as directed
  • Helps maintain clean, orderly, and secure collections and work spaces
  • Performs other Archives & Special Collections projects and duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:
Applicants must be able to work independently, follow detailed instructions, take initiative, and communicate effectively with library staff, students, faculty, and visitors. Candidates must demonstrate reliability, attention to detail, organization, and care when working with unique or fragile materials.
Applicants should be comfortable performing repetitive or detail-oriented tasks and working for extended periods with books, papers, photographs, and digital files.
Applicant must have a minimum 2.0 overall GPA.
Desired Qualifications:
Students with an interest in history, archives, libraries, museums, public history, English, the humanities, digital humanities, preservation, or related fields are encouraged to apply.
Previous experience is not required. Interest in learning about archival collections, rare books, digitization, historical research, or preservation is preferred.
Familiarity with basic computer applications and comfort working with spreadsheets, databases, scanners, or digital files is helpful.

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