University of Colorado Boulder Libraries
Job Announcement
Music & Recorded Sound Archivist
The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) Libraries invites applications from collaborative and innovative candidates for the position of Music & Recorded Sound Archivist! The University Libraries’ Archives were established in 1918 and hold internationally renowned manuscript, photograph, records and media collections relating to the history of CU Boulder, the state of Colorado, the Rocky Mountain West, and transnational subjects, including American popular and classical music.
The Music and Recorded Sound Archivist is a non-tenure track, Teaching Professor track faculty position. Working in a highly-collaborative team environment, this individual prioritizes activities that appraise, process, and provide access to the extensive archival music and recorded sound collections held by the University Libraries and the American Music Research Center. This position actively amplifies under-represented voices in order to tell more inclusive stories that feature the Libraries’ unique and growing archival collections. The Music and Recorded Sound Archivist independently prioritizes and completes archival processing in coordination with library personnel and established processes. They develop and implement plans for the continued evaluation and augmentation of workflows impacting access to these materials.
As a member of the University Libraries faculty, the Music & Recorded Sound Archivist will be expected to maintain a record of scholarly research/creative work, participate in professional service activities, and actively engage in faculty governance. This position has the opportunity to work in a hybrid capacity. This is a non-tenure track, Teaching Professor faculty position that will be hired at the Teaching Assistant or Teaching Associate Professor rank and reports to the Section Head of Archival and Metadata Processing (AMP). A typical annual merit formula for teaching professor-track faculty may be 70% librarianship, 10% scholarly and creative work, and 20% service. The Archival and Metadata Processing Section is part of the Resource Description Services (RDS) Team at the University of Colorado Boulder Libraries which is part of the Research & Innovation Strategies Chapter. Please see the Libraries’ organizational chart.
What We Require
Please address each of these qualifications in your application materials:
- ALA-accredited Master’s degree in Library and Information Science, or a degree in Archival Studies, or Public History with a focus or concentration in archives management;
- Degree in music or strong academic background in musicology, music composition, or music performance. 2 years of processing, preserving and assessing music-related archival materials and music manuscript collections that demonstrates understanding of music archiving practice may be substituted for degree and academic requirements;
- Minimum of 1 year of experience in accessioning, arrangement, processing, description, and preservation of archives, manuscripts, and multi-format collections;
- Demonstrated ability to support a welcoming and inclusive environment;
- Demonstrated understanding of and experience with archival theory and practice, national standards, relevant legal and ethical regulations, and best practices that govern the accessioning, arrangement, description, and use of archival materials, including EAD, DACS and MPLP;
- Demonstrated knowledge of confidentiality, U.S. copyright law, and other policy, legal, and ethical aspects of managing and providing access to archival materials;
- Demonstrated ability to project manage and identify processing priorities in archival contexts.
What You Will Need
- Demonstrated experience using archival descriptive systems (such as ArchivesSpace, Archivists’ Toolkit, or Archon);
- Demonstrated experience managing donor relations and managing various aspects of the acquisition of collections, including appraisal and gift agreements;
- Demonstrated experience contributing constructively to team efforts;
- Demonstrated capability to provide reference services using library or archival collections;
- Potential for research, scholarly work, and professional service.
What We Would Like You to Have
Evidence of any of the following will enhance a candidacy:
- Experience managing archival music or recorded sound collections;
- Demonstrated capability to provide outreach for library or archival collections;
- Experience addressing preservation issues for recorded sound collections;
- Experience with grant-writing;
- Experience with instruction; and
- Supervisory experience.
Who We Are
Mission
We are a knowledge catalyst. We fuel inquiry, discovery, collaboration, creation, and the dissemination of knowledge. We welcome everyone, wherever they are on their educational journey.
Vision
An information-empowered world.
Values
Empower | Connect | Learn | Inspire
Our values define our interactions within the Libraries and radiate outwardly. This means that we develop a culture that compassionately and authentically embodies our values in all aspects of our work.
What We Can Offer
The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit, and an ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment.
The successful candidate will be appointed as a full-time (12-month) teaching professor-track faculty member at the Assistant Teaching Professor rank. The salary range for Assistant Teaching Professor is $73,000-$84,000. A candidate with seven or more years of professional experience may be eligible for the rank of Associate Teaching Professor with a starting salary range of $84,000-$88,000.
Relocation assistance may be available within University Libraries guidelines.
Faculty receive limited professional development funds annually.
What You Should Know
This position is offered in a hybrid capacity. There will be an information session on March 24, 2026 from 11:00-11:45 am. At this information session, the search committee will share information about the Music & Recorded Sound Archivist job search, working at CU Boulder, the teaching professor track, and answer attendee questions. A webinar link will be provided to registrants via email.
Application Process
Review of applications will begin immediately. It is recommended that applications be submitted by 11:59pm March 29, 2026 in order to receive full consideration. The application must be made online at CU Boulder Jobs (posting 70317) and must include the following:
- A cover letter of application specifically addressing qualifications for the position
- CV/Resume
References will be requested at a later stage in the search process.
Questions may be directed to George Karpoff, Search Coordinator, at [email protected].
Direct Link to Apply: https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/?jobId=70317
The candidate selected for this position must be able to meet eligibility requirements to work in the United States at the time the appointment is scheduled to begin. The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community. To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include reference checks, a criminal history record check, and, when appropriate, a financial and/or motor vehicle history.
About the University, Libraries and Collections of Distinction:
As the flagship University of a multi-campus system in the State of Colorado, CU Boulder is a dynamic community of scholars and learners situated on one of the most beautiful college campuses in the country. As one of 35 U.S. public institutions belonging to the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU) we have a proud tradition of academic excellence, with five Nobel laureates and more than 50 members of prestigious academic academies.
CU Boulder is committed to Colorado communities through collaborative research, innovation and entrepreneurship. Our faculty, staff and students work with the broader community to establish unique connections that have lasting outcomes—both across Colorado and around the world. Today, with our sights set on becoming the standard for the outstanding comprehensive public research universities of the new century, we strive to serve the people of Colorado and to engage with the world through excellence in our teaching, research, creative work, and service. The CU Systemwide Lands Recognition Statement, arrived at after connecting with Native American groups on all CU campuses, as well as with campus chief diversity officers, chancellors and system leadership, is available at https://president.cu.edu/statements/cu-systemwide-lands-recognition-statement.
The University Libraries faculty and staff are diverse, dedicated, and hardworking people who share this vision and mission. Librarians participate at all levels of the campus and hold full faculty status and rank. Our organization employs professionals of various academic tracks and ranks as well as university and classified staff, and all work is valued and appreciated regardless of position type. The Libraries are a member of the Association of Research Libraries and hold the largest collection in the Rocky Mountain region with over 12 million books, periodicals, government publications, audiovisual materials, microforms, maps, manuscripts, papers, and computer-based resources. The Libraries are a long-standing member of the Program for Cooperative Cataloging Program. The Libraries faculty and staff collaborate internally, with colleagues beyond the campus and with our clients to advance information literacy, intellectual freedom, lifelong learning, the disciplinary growth of information, and the amplification of knowledge.
The University of Colorado Boulder Collections of Distinction hold more than 1,800 collections and 50,000 linear feet of materials. This includes manuscripts, correspondence, files, diaries, photographs, posters, newspapers and published works! Selected collecting foci include the Atomic West, Post-Holocaust American Judaism, labor in the Rocky Mountain West, the history of natural science and the environment, film studies, and of University of Colorado Boulder campus and its faculty and students.
About Boulder, Colorado
Boulder and the surrounding area are known as one of the best places to live because of the spectacular setting, acres of open space, and vibrant atmosphere. At 5,430 feet above sea level, acres of vast open space entwine into Boulder's cityscape nestled into the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Home to approximately 90,000 residents, Boulder has a mild, dry climate with more than 300 days of sunshine per year. Boulder offers activities for every interest.
External Job Ad
https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/?jobId=70317