Librarian, Reference and Cataloging Job at Letterform Archive in San Francisco

About Letterform Archive

Letterform Archive is a nonprofit center for design inspiration, education, and community. We offer hands-on access to a curated collection of more than 100,000 items related to lettering, typography, calligraphy, and graphic design. Every year, we welcome thousands of visitors from across the world, including students, practitioners, and design admirers from every creative background.

In addition to hosting visits and public events, the Archive serves a global community through social media, web content featuring state-of-the-art photography, and a book program that draws from the collection as well as publishes new work from its contributors. We offer courses and workshops in type design, calligraphy, and typography. We also curate exhibitions for our gallery in San Francisco and organize lectures by visiting artists and designers.

About Letterform Archive Books

Distributed in the international book trade by D.A.P., Letterform Archive Books publishes exquisite books and gift products on graphic design, typography, and lettering, drawing from the collection and its talented community to tell rich stories with exceptional reproduction and unique design. Sample titles include Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr. : Citizen Printer, Die Fläche : Design and Lettering of the Vienna Secession 1902–1911, The Complete Commercial Artist : Making Modern Design in Japan, 1928–1930, Bauhaus Typography at 100, and Emigre Fonts : Type Specimens, 1986–2024.

About the Letterform Archive Website

Edited by the editorial director and associate curator, letterformarchive.org hosts in-depth and accessible content that elucidates the unique collection at Letterform Archive and aims to inspire creative people of all backgrounds. Blog posts and topic pages guide an international audience through artifacts of graphic design, describing how it was made, how it changed over time, and why it matters today. Besides the collection and curatorial content, the site also provides information about the organization as a whole and its other programs, including education, exhibitions, fundraising, and programming.

Responsibilities Research Visits and Reference EST. TIME ALLOCATION : 80% Schedule and monitor or assign monitors for research visits

Answer in-person and remote questions from researchers or direct them to other appropriate parties (Collection Director, other Collections Team members, or Curatorial team members)

Help with retrieval and shelving of materials for research, reference and imaging requests

Assist with internal requests from other domains, including but not limited to Type West instructors and students, Publishing, and Exhibitions

Collaborate with other domains on programming that requires public access to collections materials

Cataloging and Acquisitions Records EST. TIME ALLOCATION : 20% Original cataloging using (slightly modified) VRA Core and copy cataloging in our bespoke catalog records manager

Work collaboratively to create and maintain documentation on metadata standards and guidelines

Create acquisition records for incoming collections material

Other duties as assigned

Physical Requirements

Ability to stand or sit for extended periods of time

Ability to lift or shift boxes up to 30 lbs and push book trucks weighing up to 80 lbs

Collections retrieval and shelving requires bending, reaching, and stretching

Fine motor skills to handle fragile material

Working with collections often exposes individuals to dust and other allergens

Ideal Qualifications and Characteristics

MLS, MLIS, or MARA from accredited school or equivalent experience

3+ years in public facing reference position

Demonstrated experience with design archives or interest in / study of graphic design, type, or lettering arts

Strong research and communication skills

Cataloging experience, rare and special materials preferred

Excellent customer service skills

Proactive communicator; ability to anticipate needs, prevent issues before they arise, and creatively solve problems

Highly organized

Flexible and adaptable to change

Ability to work collaboratively and independently

Art, archival, or rare book handling experience

COVID-19 Vaccination Policy To ensure the health and safety of the Archive’s community, all newly hired employees of Letterform Archive are required to be fully-vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment, absent qualifying exemptions for medical, religious, or other reasons in accordance with all applicable laws.

You Are Welcome Here Fair Chance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination

Letterform Archive is an equal opportunity workplace, community, and place of learning. The Archive does not discriminate in employment or in offering educational services and programs.

Position Type and Work Schedule This is a full-time, non-exempt position working 40 hours per week during the Archive’s business hours on Tuesday through Saturdays, with occasional evening events.

Location This is an on-site position based in San Francisco. Due to the hands-on nature of the work and access to the collection, this is not a remote role.

Compensation and Benefits Salary range is commensurate with experience.

Letterform Archive offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package including :

Medical, dental, and vision coverage with subsidized dependent coverage

Three weeks of Paid Time Off each year

10 paid holidays per year

Sick leave

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

401(k) retirement plan

Pre-tax commuter benefit

Annual professional development budget

Waived tuition to Archive workshops

Complimentary Archive membership

Eligibility This position is open to all candidates who are currently authorized to work in the United States. Letterform Archive is unable to sponsor work visas at this time.

How to Apply Please apply by submitting a résumé, a short cover letter explaining your interest in this position and what you might hope to bring to the role, and a link to your LinkedIn or website at letterformarchive.org / careers by Sunday, October 19th.

You may address your cover letter to the “hiring committee” and it should be no more than one page. The most effective cover letters explain your interest in the Archive and this position, and make clear how your qualifications match this role’s responsibilities.

Letterform Archive is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance applying or have questions about accommodation during the hiring process, please email hiring@letterformarchive.org.

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