The Medieval Academy Blog

DIRECTOR OF THE JOHN HAY LIBRARY AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

The Brown University Library is seeking a creative, energetic, and forward-looking leader for the John Hay Library. Home to the University’s outstanding special collections, rare books, manuscripts, and University Archives, the newly renovated John Hay Library offers updated research and study spaces along with expanded exhibition galleries and three seminar rooms.

Reporting to the University Librarian, the new Director will have a strong background in supervision and management, a solid knowledge of special collections, along with the ability to provide exemplary leadership for and administration of the John Hay Library’s resources, services, operations, and personnel. In defining priorities for the John Hay Library, the new Director will work closely with other departments and units throughout the Library system to ensure that directions, practices, and processes in the Hay Library are consonant with those of the University Library.

The incumbent will work with other librarians and faculty to promote the integration of special collections materials in teaching, research, and educational public programs across the disciplines at both graduate and undergraduate levels, and will initiate and manage a variety of educational programs and services that showcase Brown’s special collections. He or she will lead the curators in developing and implementing effective collection management guidelines and practices which emphasize future areas of growth, strength, and sustainability. In addition, the Director will have an understanding of the management of digital records and objects as well as experience in the development of digital library collections and initiatives in order to enhance the delivery of special collections content and services to a broad audience.

The incumbent will directly supervise 5 FTE professional staff (the University Archivist, Reader Services Librarian, and three curators) and will have oversight for a total of 14 FTE, as well as student assistants. The successful candidate will represent the Brown University Library in local, regional, and national professional organizations. As part of the University Library’s senior administrative team, the Director of the John Hay Library and Special Collections will play a major role in library-wide planning and evaluation and in setting the Library’s strategic directions as they relate to Brown’s academic mission.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in library /information science or graduate degree in a relevant discipline.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in managing or leading special collections services and operations.
• Demonstrated ability to articulate vision, set direction, and accomplish initiatives in changing environments.
• Demonstrated knowledge of rare books, manuscripts, archives, or special collections.
• Experience in working with curatorial, technical services, conservation, and digital library staff to develop goals for acquiring, processing, and making special collections fully accessible.
• Demonstrated understanding of and receptiveness to the uses of emerging technologies in archival and special collections.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills with experience in working collaboratively with others.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated understanding of key issues and current trends in higher education and how they relate to the use of libraries and primary resources.
• Evidence of success in fundraising and/or obtaining grants.
• Evidence of scholarly engagement and active participation within the profession.

To Apply: please visit Brown University’s career opportunities website at: https://brown.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/staff-careers-brown/jobs and reference REQ114492. Complete an application online, attach documents, and submit for immediate consideration. Documents should include cover letter, resume, and the names and e-mail addresses of three references. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

Brown University is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic global community; as an EEO/AA employer, Brown considers applicants for employment without regard to, and does not discriminate on the basis of, gender, race, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Rare Book School is pleased to announce the following job opening:

Position: Assistant Curator and Special Assistant to the Associate Director of Rare Book School

Rare Book School (RBS) seeks a full-time Assistant Curator, who will also serve as Special Assistant to the Associate Director of Rare Book School. He or she will work closely with RBS’s Curator of Collections and Associate Director to steward and build RBS’s 80,000-item teaching collection. Primary duties include: acquisitions processing; cataloging; collections maintenance (including preservation, shelving, and shelf moves); liaising with RBS faculty and Special Collections staff; and maintaining collections finding aids and other collections-related files. Additional duties include: assisting with exhibitions, collections presentations, and special events; reference assistance for visitors to the collections; and support for projects undertaken by the Associate Director, which range from publications to grant-related research. Over time, duties could be expanded to include: management of part-time collections staff; selection of items for purchase; and donor cultivation and stewardship.

Located on central Grounds at the University of Virginia, RBS offers a close-knit, highly collaborative, mission-centered work environment with an abundance of engaging, bookish people and fascinating historical objects. This position requires a service-oriented, systematic, analytical thinker possessing: excellent communication skills; reading knowledge of Latin, French, German, or Spanish; an interest in technology, craft, and design; and a passion for researching and organizing historical objects.

Other desirable qualifications include: a degree in the humanities or social sciences, with an emphasis on books or prints as historical objects; especially desirable would be anALA-accredited master’s degree in library or information science, or an advanced degree with a concentration or specialization in bibliography and/or book history; hand skills (e.g., printmaking, bookbinding, letterpress printing, conservation); knowledge of the antiquarian book or print trade; experience with organizing exhibitions and teaching with historical objects; training in photography; experience working with both Macintosh and Windows operating systems, and applications such as MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access, Adobe Acrobat Pro, and WordPress/BuddyPress; a long-term interest in the humanities, special collections librarianship, conservation, and/or the antiquarian book trade.

This is a full-time, two-year position with the possibility of renewal or promotion. Starting salary ranges from $32,000 to $42,000, depending upon experience and academic/professional attainment. Benefits include annual leave, sick leave, health insurance, an RBS course each year, and contributions toward retirement. We hope to have someone fill this position as soon as May 2015, to overlap with current curatorial staff; however, the start date is somewhat flexible.

Applicants should submit the following materials:

1) A cover letter discussing: a) your interest in RBS; b) the various strengths you could bring to RBS’s collections and staff; c) the skills you hope to cultivate at RBS and the areas in which you hope to grow; and d) the ways in which this position would help you meet your longer-term professional goals.

2) A c.v., including at least three references.

3) A writing sample of at least 1,000 words.

Please send electronic copies of materials to rarebookschool@virginia.edu, or to

Rare Book School
Attn: Barbara Heritage
114 Alderman Library
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4103

Application deadline: March 1, 2015