Details
1091015
University of Edinburgh
17/02/2025
Other - See Job
9 hours per week
Not Applicable
Pay
£13.94
£2.52
Description
Role
The University of Edinburgh are currently offering part-time, temporary, opportunities for two students to join them as Archival Provenance Research Assistants. The students will work on some of the earliest university records (references: “Dc” and “Dk”), using original early-mid-20th century accession catalogues, and an Excel spreadsheet, to enhance the information on the content and source of each archival item. The collections which the students will work on include pre-20th century lecture notes, historical University-related documents, correspondence from prominent academic, literary, and historical figures, essays and papers pertaining to research conducted at the University, and minute books from University of Edinburgh societies.
This is a great opportunity for students interested in a career in archives to work with a variety of materials related to the University, whilst developing their research skills.
The successful students can expect to start work on the week commencing 17th February 2025 and work until the 11th July 2025. The students can expect to work 9 hours per week in the Centre for Research Collections, located on the 6th Floor of the Main Library. The pay for this role is £13.94 per hour plus £2.52 per hour holiday pay. Payment is one month in arrears, meaning your first payment date (should this position start when expected) will be 28th March 2025.
Duties and responsibilities
- Creating and enhancing the scope and contents, custodial history, and immediate source of acquisition for each item;
- Compiling a list of all the items present in the manual catalogue which are not recorded on the spreadsheet;
- Creating and enhancing authority file records for individuals, subjects, and organisations (“agent” and “subject” records);
- Writing two blog posts to be shared on the library blog, and presenting on your work.
Skills and experience
Essential criteria:
- A current University of Edinburgh Student (this post is designated for UoE student employment; therefore, you must be a matriculated student for the duration of your employment). You also must not hold the position of ‘Resident Assistant’;
- Based in the UK for the duration of the work, able to work on campus when required (we cannot accommodate individuals working overseas due to tax and legal implications), and able to attend a Right to Work Check in person if needed;
- Proven ability to conduct effective research, such as locating accurate and relevant information on archived material;
- Evidence of good palaeography skills (ability to read 20th century handwriting);
- Proven ability to follow detailed instructions consistently;
- Comfortable using an Excel template.
Desirable Criteria:
- Proven interest in the history of the University;
- Demonstrable interest in an archives career;
- Proven experience of working in an archives or library environment.
Location
Centre for Research Collections, 6th Floor, Main Library
Benefits
- Being part of a welcoming community of over 150 ISG Student Workers with opportunities to network, whilst working in a supportive and nurturing environment with a strong emphasis on work/life balance;
- Pay rate and holiday entitlement equivalent to that of UE04 permanent staff, access to NEST pension scheme if applicable;
- As a staff member, you can join the University's Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Groups (Staff Networks);
- Access to a range of excellent staff training content and resources from the Digital Skills Team.
Additional information
To apply for this role, please upload a CV and covering letter, clearly stating how you meet the criteria for the role. Please ensure you've read the top bullet points in the criteria: you must be a University of Edinburgh Student, and you must not hold the position of 'Resident Assistant' (Res Life) during your employment. If you encounter any issues when applying, please e-mail unitemps@ed.ac.uk well in advance of the deadline, as we will only respond within office hours (9-5, Monday to Friday). Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. We recommend reading our short application tips document for guidance on creating a strong cover letter and CV.
Interviews will take place on the week commencing 27th January.
The University of Edinburgh is committed to providing a positive employment experience for all students. To support students in combining work with studies, we strongly advise you do not exceed the University’s recommended number of working hours per week:
- 15 hours for undergraduate students (up to 35 hours during vacation).
- 15 hours for postgraduate taught students (all year round).
- 9 hours for postgraduate research students (all year round).
PLEASE NOTE: This advert may close early if sufficient applications are received prior to the closing date which is 23:59pm on the 14th January 2025.
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