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Curator of Print Culture (Librarian)

Curator of Print Culture (Librarian)

University of Virginia Library Job Location: Virginia Apply By: Open until filled Date Created: 11-11-2022

The Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia, seeks an academic general faculty member for the position of Librarian, to serve as the Curator of Print Culture. This is a tenure-ineligible position. We seek an individual who is eager to build collections that support the University’s “founding vision of discovery, innovation, and development of students from all walks of life” while focusing on integrating inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility into every aspect of this position.   This curator will join a team of committed cultural heritage memory employees who are dedicated to access, instruction, preservation, and reparative collection development. While they may support other collecting strengths, the Librarian will have a strong vision and understanding of print culture and will take primary responsibility for this important area, which includes book history, bibliography, rare books, and literary collections without regard to time or format of material. The Librarian curator works with a robust set of endowments and an active donor community to enhance our extraordinary collections.   As Librarian, a collaborative, partnership approach is expected to develop a strategic vision for collection development within Special Collections and is responsible for implementing that vision for their core subject areas. The Librarian may propose and/or evaluate proposals for new areas for collection building, and be an active participant and contributor to reference, access, and outreach activities including primary source instruction, support for scholarly research, development of exhibitions and research for publication and presentations.   Faculty and staff in the Small Special Collections Library steward an extraordinary collection documenting American history, particularly early American; American and English literature; bibliography, book history, and book arts; African American studies; the built environment; history of the state of Virginia and the University of Virginia; and material culture. As significant as our collections are, we recognize that there are silences and gaps in the documentary record. In support of our library’s reparative work, we seek an individual who understands archival and print silences and who brings a commitment to collection development, exhibition curation, and instruction that surfaces underdocumented and marginalized voices and who will lead students to see collections in new ways. The ideal candidate for this position is an intellectually curious individual, who is eager to learn the stories revealed in our collections, to build upon them, and to share them widely.   We welcome candidates whose values align with those set forth in the Library’s Inclusive Excellence Plan, which sets the tone for our evolving workplace. We are committed to hiring and retaining a racially diverse, culturally competent staff at all levels of the organization who not only reflect our mission and values but also continue to deepen their skills and competencies to serve the full range of the UVA Community. We look forward to working with a Librarian colleague who supports our Collection Development Strategy and incorporates a reparative framework in all areas of work responsibility.   Qualifications At the University of Virginia Library, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and dynamic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every preferred qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. Required Qualifications:
  • Graduate degree in library science or terminal degree in a humanities field.
  • Experience working with individuals and groups to acquire collection material and stewarding the acquisitions process.
  • Minimum of nine years of work experience in a special collections or academic research library, archives
  • Demonstrated commitment to the principles of Inclusive Excellence and IDEA and experience imbedding those into all areas of job responsibilities
  • Experience with primary source instruction
  • Experience supporting research and reference services
  • Subject knowledge in one or more of the key areas of focus for this position
  • Proven ability to work with rare materials, and familiarity with current best practices and standards
  • Proven ability to contribute toward and participate in a team environment
  • Strong organizational and project management skills
  • Demonstrated commitment and ability to develop strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders
  Preferred Qualifications:
  • Familiarity with copyright law and the rights, permissions, and privacy issues relevant to contemporary literary archives
  • Experience curating exhibitions and creating supplemental materials, such as narrative item labels, overview panels, and other text-based interpretations
  Anticipated starting salary at $80,000 - $90,000  

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