Special Collections Librarian

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Job Description:

Position Overview :
This position is a member of the Department of Special Collections and Archives and reports to the head of that department. The incumbent is responsible for the development, promotion, and curricular use of the College's Special Collections.

With strengths in the traditional areas of history, culture, and literature, Carleton's Special Collections is curriculum-driven and includes over 12,000 titles and more than 800 artists' books. Recent acquisitions have focused on expanding the breadth and depth of the collection to include more works from under-represented peoples, geographical areas, and disciplines.

Our holdings are actively used across a variety of disciplines for courses in history, languages, Asian Studies, studio arts and art history, English, and religion among many others. The Special Collections Librarian will serve as the primary contact for students, faculty, classes, and other researchers interested in Special Collections, and they will actively contribute to the overall functioning of the Department of Special Collections and Archives and Gould Library.

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities :

• Manage collection development activities and oversee the collections budget for rare books and artists' books including the cultivation and maintenance of relations with donors, book dealers, and faculty to acquire unique materials that support the curriculum.
• Continue work to expand and enhance the collection to increase representation of under-represented voices, broaden its geographical scope, and collect beyond the traditional humanities disciplines.
• In conjunction with faculty from across the curriculum, develop and lead instruction sessions utilizing materials from special collections and archives.
• Schedule and conduct individual and group research appointments with students, faculty, staff, and community members.
• Collaborate with Carleton faculty, librarians, and others to develop, promote, and expand the use of rare books and archival collections in both teaching and research including an active program of events, exhibits, and presentations.
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Special Collections including the recording and compiling of statistics, the provision of access to materials, the scheduling and running of class sessions and researcher visits, and the organization of the rare book room.
• Maintain and revise Special Collections policies and procedures regarding the use of materials, donations, purchasing, statistics gathering, and user policies.
• As part of the College and Gould Library's Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (IDE) efforts, commit to building a strong and inclusive community among students, faculty, and staff, by respecting and making space for diverse backgrounds, values, and points of view.
• Keep abreast of developments in special collections standards and trends applying new approaches, rules, and techniques as appropriate.
• Collaborate closely with library colleagues in cataloging, preservation, and library exhibitions to facilitate access, maintenance, and exposure of Special Collections holdings.
• Work collaboratively with peers at St. Olaf College as a member of the Bridge Consortium participating on Bridge teams, task forces, and working groups as appropriate.
• Participate in national, regional and/or local professional groups.
• Other duties as assigned.

Additional Job Responsibilities :

• Oversee the development and maintenance of the Special Collections website.
• Ensure the security and appropriate use and handling of the Special Collections materials.
• Actively participate in departmental, library, and college-wide meetings, committees, and events as appropriate.
• Supervise student workers.

Carleton College Library is a member of the Bridge Consortium, a highly collaborative partnership with the St. Olaf College Libraries. As a member of the Bridge Consortium, the Special Collections Librarian will work collaboratively and in tandem with peers at the St. Olaf College Libraries to ensure that work is not duplicated and that costs are contained or reduced. Additionally, the incumbent may be asked to provide services to the St. Olaf College Libraries, and is responsible for participating in all appropriate Bridge working groups, meetings, and functions.

Education/Experience/Skills (supported by job duties) :

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of 1-3 years of experience with the curricular use of special collections materials.
• An ALA-accredited Master's degree in library or information science, with second Master's preferred; or an equivalent level of education and experience.
• Demonstrated understanding of issues and trends in curricular use of rare books, manuscripts, and archival collections.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to build and sustain relationships and work collaboratively with faculty, students, staff, donors, and other professional colleagues.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Basic understanding of metadata standards for describing rare books.
• Experience in collection development including managing a collections budget and developing and maintaining relationships with rare book dealers and other vendors.
• Experience working with an integrated library system.
• Demonstrated understanding of the mission of an undergraduate liberal arts college.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Salary and Benefits:

This is an exempt level position. The selected finalist's salary will be based on the candidate's qualifications, internal pay structure, and our overall compensation package. Carleton offers a generous benefits package, including comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, 403(b) retirement plans with a 10% employer contribution with immediate vesting, a health savings account with college contribution, a generous paid time off, as well as access to many other campus amenities.

Carleton College is a AA/EEO employer:

We are committed to developing our staff to better reflect the diversity of our student body and American society. Members of underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

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