Graduate Student Research Assistant - ALQ - FOCAS

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Archives Lesbiennes du Quebec (ALQ)-FOCAS Community Archives Research Assistant

DESCRIPTION OF HOST ORGANIZATION:

Since 1983, the Archives Lesbiennes du Québec (ALQ, Quebec’s Lesbian Archives) have been dedicated to recovering, preserving, and bringing to life the traces left by lesbians in Quebec. Their mission is to acquire, preserve, process, and disseminate all information—regardless of format—related to lesbianism, lesbians, gay women, or queer people, and lesbian or broader queer histories. They prioritize materials produced in or connected to Quebec, regardless of language, as well as those originating from or relating to Canadian and international francophone communities.
 

In addition to offering regular access hours to make their collections available to the public, the ALQ organizes and participates in conferences, workshops, and exhibitions. They also collaborate on research projects, public programs, and initiatives focused on lesbian, queer, and feminist history. In 2025, for example, in partnership with MEM  (Centre des mémoires montréalaises), they organized the exhibition Pour que nos mémoires vivent! Sur les traces d'une histoire lesbienne à Montréal (Keeping Our Memories Alive! Tracing Lesbian History in Montréal).

ABOUT FOCAS:

Faculty Organizing for Community Archives Support (FOCAS) is a collaborative of faculty from 9 universities in the U.S. and Canada funded by the Mellon Foundation’s Public Knowledge program that formed to support paid internships at community archives. Through internship activities this program aims to preserve, make accessible, and steward the histories and stories of underrepresented communities throughout North America.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The ALQ will be working on various projects in the next academic year. Below are 3 projects to which the Research Assistant could contribute (based on the candidate’s preference):
 

Highlighting the Archives Lesbiennes du Québec Book Collection

The Archives Lesbiennes du Québec hold a significant collection of lesbian literature that we hope to make more accessible. The first step will be to conduct an inventory to ensure that each title is accurately described in our database. We are also considering the implementation of a classification system—possibly inspired by that of the Glasgow Women’s Library—to better showcase the collection. Finally, we envision organizing activities to promote this resource, such as a participatory annotated bibliography on the ALQ website, a reading club, and other community‑focused initiatives.
 

Updating the Index of Canadian Lesbian Magazines

An index of Canadian lesbian magazines was published in the early 1990s; unfortunately, it currently exists only in print form. We would like to convert it back into a database and update it by indexing publications released since its original publication. This project may also involve revising and expanding the list of topics and themes to reflect contemporary terminology and research needs.
 

Systematizing the Collection and Organization of Digital Newsletters

Given that community organizations and collectives now communicate primarily through social media and digital platforms, we need to reflect on how to gather, organize, and preserve these born‑digital materials—particularly newsletters. This project involves developing a more systematic collection process and establishing a consistent classification scheme to ensure long‑term accessibility and preservation.
 

Main tasks will include:

• Researching the ALQ’s operations and collection management practices
• Sorting and repairing books
• Cataloguing books
• Designing a classification system for the book collection
• Designing and organizing outreach activities around the book collection
• Creating a database from the Index of Canadian Lesbian Magazines
• Digitizing the printed version of the Index of Canadian Lesbian Magazines
• Analyzing and indexing the contents of periodicals published after the Index of Canadian Lesbian Magazines was issued
• Creating a procedure for collecting and preserving digital content
• Designing a classification system for digital content
 

      Learning opportunities:

• Evaluating, describing, and analyzing published documents
• Designing and adapting existing classification and indexing systems
• Planning and carrying out outreach and mediation activities
• Researching, organizing, and archiving digital content

The Research Assistant will work independently with the support of a small dedicated team and volunteers. They will become familiar with the needs of the community served by the ALQ and will demonstrate openness and creativity in understanding and responding to its interests and needs. They will use traditional library and archival standards, procedures, and processes while adapting them to the specific context of the ALQ. They will also develop skills in event organization—from planning to implementation—while working with limited resources.

RESEARCH ASSISTANT'S RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work 8 hours / week for both Fall and Winter semesters
• Attend orientation between August 31, 2026, and September 4, 2026
• Attend Community Archives Reading Group/Workshop Series (5 hours/semester) where students will learn more about community archives processes and literature, gain more hands-on experience with processes, and have the opportunity to reflect on and ask questions that are emerging during the duration of their appointment
• Write 1 brief research paper (500-1,000 words) on experiences with ALQ to be published on the FOCAS website

ELIGIBILITY:

• Must be a Full-time, 2nd year Master of Information (MISt) student at McGill University
• Must be authorized to legally work in Canada on and off campus.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:

• Field of study: primarily library science, with an archival component—particularly related to organizing and preserving digital materials
• Interest in the design and development of information systems
• Basic knowledge of cataloguing and indexing published documents
• Good written and spoken proficiency in both French and English
• Familiarity with the lesbian community or LGBTQ+ communities is considered an asset

HOW TO APPLY:

To successfully submit your application, the following documents are required:

• A cover letter (1 page maximum)
• an explanation of why the student is interested in an internship at the Archives Lesbiennes du Quebec (ALQ) and what the student hopes to gain from such an internship
• a description of the skills that the student would bring to the internship, including specific archival skills (description, cataloging, digital preservation, etc.), language skills, and cultural competencies
• curriculum vitae

Please Note:

If you have any questions about this posting and/or if you require accommodations during the application process, please email Gracen Brilmyer, Assistant Professor, SIS: [email protected] and Axelle Demus, Postdoctoral Fellow Community Archives & Accessibility, SIS: [email protected]. After you submit your application, we will transmit the selected applications to the ALQ, who will ultimately be responsible for the selection of the candidate. We will get back to you if you are selected for an interview. Students who do not receive offers will be notified on a rolling basis as decisions are made.

LOCATION:

251 Avenue des Pins Ouest, local 291, Montréal, H2W 1R6
archiveslesbiennesduquebec.ca

In-person: The student is expected to work at the host organization’s office location
 

Accessibility: The building where the ALQ is located is technically accessible (there is an alternate entrance for people with low mobility, separate from the main entrance), but the space is not user‑friendly on a daily basis for someone using a wheelchair. The main entrance has a few steps before the door. The building is equipped with an elevator.

DATES:
Between 08/31/26 and 04/30/27. Schedule to be determined between the student and the ALQ. By accepting the position, the selected candidate commits to being in Montréal for an orientation day at the site the week of August 31st.

HOURS:
Approximately 8 hours per week for both Fall and Winter semesters (99 hours per semester, 198 hours total) will be spent in the archives.

In addition, as part of their paid hours, the student will spend 10 hours (5 hours per semester) participating in a mandatory reading and workshop series that aims to prepare and support them in their position.
 

REMUNERATION: $30/hour

Before applying, please note that to work at McGill University, you must be both authorized to work in Canada and willing to work in the province of Quebec at the campus where the position is based / located.

McGill University is an English-language university where most teaching and research activities are conducted in the English language, thereby requiring English communication both verbally and in writing.

Hourly Salary:

$30.00

Hours per Week:

8 (Part time)

Location:

Various

Supervisor:

Assistant Professor

Position Start Date:

2026-08-31

Position End Date:

2027-04-30

Deadline to Apply:

2026-05-15

This position is covered by the Association of McGill University Research Employees (AMURE) collective agreement.

McGill University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, [email protected].