CENTRO’s Rooted & Relational Archives Fellowship will expose early career archivists to the work and projects of CENTRO’s Archives. The fellowship will present a pathway into Ethnic Studies Libraries and Archives in order to provide scholars with practical work experience in areas commonly discussed in archival scholarship such as reparatory and bilingual description, community-oriented practices and spaces, and enrichment and diversification of the archival record. 

The CENTRO Rooted & Relational Archives Fellow will develop and implement a project in collaboration with CENTRO’s Archival Collections Manager based on the needs of the Archives as well as the Fellow’s experience and interests. Fellows will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of projects and participate in the day-to-day activities of the Archives. These activities include researching and organizing displays, assisting patrons, pulling and reshelving materials, and participating in events and workshops. Through these experiences, fellows will learn collection management skills, immerse themselves in CENTRO’s archival collections and communities, and become familiar with preservation techniques. Fellows will also be expected to participate in the weekly Rooted & Relational seminars (every Wednesday) as part of the larger CENTRO research cohort. Fellows will be in residence for the 2024-2025 academic year and they will receive a $20,000 stipend paid in four installments.

The ideal candidate will be an advanced graduate student or recent graduate with experience in archives and/or special collections, experience conducting the type of work expected for the project, or experience managing small-scale projects. Transferable skills such as customer service, clerical skills, and project management will be considered valuable. The fellow will be expected to work 20 hours a week in person as part of the fellowship. 

The fellow will receive support and mentorship from CENTRO Archives & Library staff and will be responsible for the tracking, implementation, reporting, and dissemination of their designated project. They will also be provided with professional development support and opportunities to develop skills in various areas of interest to information professionals, independent of the fellowship project. Fellows will be encouraged to participate in professional organizations and present their work at conferences and symposia.

Potential projects and areas of interest include

• Collection assessment
• Identification, assessment, and rehousing of art assets
• Development of access and outreach tools, including LibGuides, instruction plans, and events
• Digital preservation
• Development of policies and strategies for A/V archiving
• Reparatory and bilingual description
• Community-oriented practices and spaces

Eligibility

• Current student or recent graduate (within the last 2 years) in a Master of Library Science program or related program with archival coursework (archival experience may substitute for coursework)
• Reading comprehension in Spanish
• Interest in working with Puerto Rican collections or ethnic studies Archives

Application Guidelines

• All documents below must be submitted in PDF 
• CV or  Resume 
• Submit a cover letter in English or Spanish describing your interest in working at the CENTRO Archives, the type(s) of projects you would be interested in working on, and how this fellowship will benefit your career trajectory. 

Overview of Submission Process

• Complete the form ensuring all mandatory fields are filled
• Review and confirm your submission.
• We will email you to confirm receipt of your form.
• We will email you with our decision and, if applicable, further steps.

Compensation for Selected Fellow

• $20,000 stipend (paid in four installments)

Deadline

Monday, August 19th, 2024 at 11:59pm ET

Contact Information

If you encounter any issues or have questions about the submission process, please don’t hesitate to contact Cristina Fontánez Rodríguez at cf3285@hunter.cuny.edu.

About Rooted & Relational 

Rooted & Relational, is a Mellon-funded initiative that seeks to reimagine the research agenda and scholarly and community impact of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies (CENTRO) in the US and beyond. This series of projects aims to make CENTRO a public facing, horizontal, decolonial feminist institute that opens new paths in academia and expands community-driven research that expands beyond the walls of the academy. This proposed project strategically links the center’s research agenda, data hub projects, media, arts and culture output, scholarly mentoring initiatives, and community partnerships by creating annual thematic structures that will address some of the most pressing social, political, and economic issues facing Puerto Rico and the diaspora. The goal is to create a unifying higher learning community at CENTRO that tends to the intellectual and cultural needs of our committed and diverse public.