Library Assistant

Reports To: Library Director

Employment Type: Temporary, Project-Based (3-6 months)

FLSA Code: Non-exempt

Organizational Size: 20-35 staff

The Library Assistant will support a time-bound project to process, inventory, and box the print, archival, and object collections of the American Alpine Club Library. This position is 100% on-site and in-person.

The Library Assistant will work in accordance with established professional standards and internal policies to assess materials, create or refine inventory records, and document collection status and needs. The ideal candidate will have strong attention to detail, familiarity with technology, and library, archives, and/or museum experience. This position is well-suited for an experienced librarian who excels at hands-on collections work and structured project execution.

As the Library Assistant, your responsibilities include:

• Conduct a systematic inventory of designated library and archival holdings, including books, periodicals, manuscripts, photographs, and other media.
  • Inventory archives, books, and object collections with attention to detail and sensitive care of items in poor condition
    • Creating appropriate enclosures or otherwise rehousing materials requiring conservation work
  • Arrange and describe archival materials, adhering to preservation, storage, and handling procedures according to professional standards.
• Deliver periodic progress updates and a final project summary
• Assess materials condition and flag items requiring special attention.
• Apply consistent naming conventions, metadata schemas, and organizational structures to improve collection usability.
• Produce clear documentation of workflows, decisions, and standards applied during the project.
• Deliver periodic progress updates and a final project summary.

Qualifications

• Experience in Library Science, Archival Studies, Museum Studies, or a related field; BA or MA preferred. Open to current MLS/MLIS students.
• Experience working with special collections or archives.
• Demonstrated experience with archival inventorying and cataloguing of physical collections.
• Working knowledge of professional archival description and metadata standards.
• High level of accuracy, organization, and attention to detail.
• Subject matter expertise, including knowledge of archival techniques and best practices, digitization, metadata standards, and digital preservation.
• Exceptional project and time management skills.
• Ability to manage project-based work independently while coordinating with a small team.
• Comfort handling historical and potentially fragile materials.
• Bonus: Registrar experience.
• Knowledge of climbing, mountaineering, and outdoor recreation is preferred.

Environment

50% Desk work - Typical office work on a computer utilizing Excel, GSuites, Slack, Zoom, and other computer-based programs.

50% Physical work - This role involves regular handling of physical materials, standing, lifting boxes up to standard archival weights, and extended periods of focused, detail-oriented work. On-site work is required for most phases of the project.

Benefits

The AAC offers limited benefits for temporary part-time positions, including sick leave, pro-deals, and AAC Membership.

How to Apply

All who love the AAC mission are encouraged to apply, including people of color, Black, Indigenous, transgender, and non-binary people. Apply online. No phone calls or emails, please. Cover letters are strongly encouraged. Priority will be given to applicants who apply by March 6, 2026. Candidates will not be contacted prior to the priority deadline.

The AAC is an equal-opportunity employer. Your gender, religion, sex life, skin color, first language, marital status, and size and ability of your body do not factor into employment decisions here.
If you love our mission and are good at what you do, come as you are.

A note about applying: our position descriptions outline general needs for a role, but these are not set rules. If you meet more than two-thirds of the suggested skills, we encourage you to apply. Include any applicable experience, both paid and volunteered, that helped you build these competencies.

About the AAC
Founded in 1902, the American Alpine Club (AAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to providing climbers with resources that advance knowledge, inspiration, and advocacy. Through our rescue benefit and medical expense coverage, climbing and grief grants, campgrounds, and discounts, we are committed to empowering our members. We share knowledge and inspiration through the American Alpine Journal, Accidents in North American Climbing, and preserving climbing history in the AAC Library and Archives. Finally, we advocate for our members and the places we climb by breaking down barriers to climbing and seeking to preserve our climbing landscapes and public lands nationally and locally. At the AAC, we are connected through our passion for climbing. United We Climb.