Collection Development Librarian
Fine Arts Library, Harvard University
Req. 44840BR
SUMMARY
Harvard University seeks an innovative, collaborative, and user-centered
Collection Development Librarian to build and manage collections for one of
the leading libraries in the world for the study of art, architecture, and
visual culture from antiquity to the present. Reporting to the Herman and Joan
Suit Librarian of the Fine Arts Library, the incumbent will select library
materials in all formats and work collaboratively with colleagues in the Fine
Arts Library, across Harvard Library, and beyond to implement collection
development strategies and operations. The incumbent will proactively partner
with Harvard Library colleagues to develop creative solutions and efficient
workflows for managing, acquiring, processing, preserving, and providing
access to library materials. He/she will actively engage with the visual arts
community at Harvard to support innovative use of library collections in their
teaching, research, and learning activities. To expand access to the Fine Arts
Library’s unparalleled holdings to a wider global audience, the Collection
Development Librarian will participate in local, national, and international
digital initiatives and collaborative collection development partnerships.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Perform collection development processes in the Fine Arts Library for
the Americas, Western Europe and portions of Eastern Europe (from antiquity to
1900), Africa, Australasia, Oceania, and other southern Pacific nations in
traditional and emerging formats.
• Work together with the Librarian and other Fine Arts Library selectors
for Islamic, East Asian, Modern and Contemporary, Visual Resources, and
Special Collections to build distinctive collections by acquiring and
preserving antiquarian materials, primary sources, born digital collections,
and electronic resources.
• Ensure effective stewardship of the materials budget, including
monitoring acquisition budgets and fund assignments for 8,000-10,000 titles
annually.
• Actively contribute to relevant Harvard Library collection development
working groups, committees, councils, and innovative projects.
• Maintain and update Fine Arts Library collection policy in
consultation with FAL selectors and collection development colleagues across
the Harvard Libraries.
• Continuously evaluate print and digital publication trends in art
history, architectural history, and the fine and applied arts and select rare
and unique materials for digitization and wider dissemination to support
digital scholarship.
• Develop a wide and robust network of faculty, graduate and
undergraduate students, museum curators and educators, fellows, and visiting
scholars in order to exchange information related to FAL collections and
current and emerging research areas and interests
• Exchange information and best practices proactively with selectors
across the Harvard Libraries for shared purchases, purchase recommendations,
and de-duplication.
• Contribute to collaborative collection development and digital
projects with external partners, e.g., Ivies Art and Architecture Group.
• Create and maintain in-depth and relevant content for multiple web
presences for Fine Arts Library collections and collection-related events and
news.
• Assess collection strengths and correct weaknesses for curricular and
research support and create routine and customized acquisitions and
collections reports using COGNOS and other tools.
• Establish and maintain effective and efficient relationships with
approval, firm order, and antiquarian vendors and booksellers.
• Work together with the Librarian and other Fine Arts Library selectors
to negotiate and acknowledge gifts of materials and funds.
• Work proactively and collaboratively with Information Technology
Services staff to insure consistent and efficient vendor relations and
processing routines.
• Work proactively and collaboratively with Access Services collection
management staff to plan for collection care, stacks space planning, and
ongoing transfer of materials to off-site storage.
• Work proactively and collaboratively with Preservation Services on
disaster planning, collections care guidelines, and environmental concerns, as
well as Digital Imaging staff on reformatting and digital preservation
projects.
• Engage in research services and activities, including contributing to
regular hours of support for special collections researchers in collaboration
with other librarians. Provide in-depth research consultations and resolve
complex reference questions for library patrons.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
• Master's degree in library and/or information science or equivalent
professional experience
• At least 4 years of work experience with research collections in the
visual arts
• Demonstrated experience or research in the fields of Art and
Architectural History
• Working knowledge of at least one Western European languages
ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
• Advanced degree in Art History, or equivalent, preferred.
• Evidence of a strong service orientation and demonstrated ability to
work effectively with faculty, students, library users, and library
colleagues.
• Expert level experience with arts and humanities databases and other
digital research tools.
• Experience working with the scholarly publishing market and the book
trade.
• Knowledge of trends in scholarly communication and digital scholarship
and commitment to principles of open access.
• Knowledge of intellectual property issues related to art library
collections and services.
• Strong technical skills and an enthusiasm for adopting new
technologies and systems that expand access to collections and facilitate
their use in research and teaching.
• Record of engagement with professional groups and activities and/or
contributions to professional or scholarly literature.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills to
work effectively with culturally diverse library users and colleagues
SALARY GRADE 057
Position will remain posted until filled, however applications will be
reviewed beginning March 30, 2018.
For more information or to apply to the position please visit:
https://hr.harvard.edu/search-jobs. Select Administrative / Staff Jobs, then
enter 44840BR in the Search Jobs Field.
Received on Sat Mar 03 2018 - 17:47:56 EST