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Special Collections Librarian, Boston Historical Society, Boston

Filed under GSLIS Jobs and Opportunities
Posted by GSLIS, May 01, 2008
View all posts for May 2008

The Boston Historical Society seeks candidates for the position of Special Collections Librarian, who will have primary responsibility for the operation of a small research library and archives devoted to Boston’s history.

Summary:
The Special Collections Librarian is the public face of the Society in its contacts with scholars, researchers and other local cultural institutions. The position encompasses library and archival work, and includes reference assistance, historical research, collection development, cataloging, preservation, access facilitation, and outreach. The library and archives comprise a wide range of textual and visual media, including books, photographs, architectural drawings, maps, manuscripts, ephemera, and scrapbooks. They complement materials maintained elsewhere in the Society’s collections by staff with which the Librarian must maintain a close working relationship. The Librarian also oversees the management of institutional records management schedules, and is responsible for its institutional record collections.

Primary responsibilities - The Special Collections Librarian:

• Ensures timely responses to each research request, by using efficient reference methods;
• Schedules appointments and provides support for on-site researchers and for research fellows using the library and archives;
• Manages the research, selection, payment, and permission process for the use of reproductions of images from the Society’s collections;
• Manages the use of technology to preserve and to increase accessibility to the collections;
• Champions digitization collections, and the on-going preservation of digital records.
• Manages the preservation and conservation needs of book and archival materials;
• Supervises volunteers and interns, as needed;
• Manages the accession and deaccession of materials in the library and archives;
• Serves as staff representative for the Library Committee of the Society’s board of directors;
• Conducts research and provides material for efforts in other parts of the institution, including the historic markers program, exhibitions, and the newsletter;
• Supports the efforts of the Director of Development in securing funding for the library and archives.

Qualifications: The Special Collections Librarian should have:

• An ALA-accredited MLS;
• A knowledge of archival standards and best practices in the care of rare books and special collections;
• A familiarity with methods of historical scholarly research;
• Strong organizational, writing, interpersonal, and communications skills;
• A commitment to service and to professional growth and development;
• A minimum of one year professional experience with increased responsibility in library or archives administration;
• A proficiency in dealing with digital technologies, as well as web design and development;
• A knowledge of American and Boston history (strongly preferred).

Salary range: (commensurate with experience)

Starting: May 2007

Contact: Send a letter, resume, and the names and contact information for three references to: Linda Atlas, Director of Human Resources and Finance, at latlas@bostonhistory.org. No telephone calls, please.