Special Collections Librarian - Watkinson Library, Trinity College. Full Time, 40 Hours Per Week, 52 Weeks Per Year. Full Time, Exempt.
Position Summary: The Watkinson Library, special collections and
archives of Trinity College (Hartford, CT) seeks an innovative,
forward-thinking librarian to provide a variety of technical,
preservation, and public service duties in the Watkinson Library. The
special collections librarian is responsible for cataloging and
processing all print materials, including antiquarian books and recent
publications, provides reference service to students, faculty, and
visiting researchers, as well as instructional sessions about special
collections. The Special Collections Librarian reports to the Director
of Special Collections and Archives and plans, manages and coordinates
physical and digital preservation activities for the Watkinson Library.
The Watkinson Library serves as a public research library, the rare
book and special collections of the Trinity College Library, and the
repository of the College archives. The Watkinson contains over 175,000
printed volumes ranging in date from the thirteenth century to the
present; 4,000 linear feet of manuscript and archival material; 25,000
pieces of sheet music (1720-1950); over 5,000 sound recordings; and
thousands of pieces of ephemera (postcards, greeting cards, trade cards,
ballad sheets, prints, maps, playbills, posters, and broadsides). Our
vision is to create a welcoming space for the community to encounter and
interact with the cultural materials we hold, and to facilitate
creative and intellectual production based on or inspired by our
collections.
Responsibilities include:
Cataloging: Catalogs all special collections material as well as
recent acquisitions for the Watkinson. Coordinates with the cataloging
department on projects for the Watkinson Library. Supervises processing
of cataloged materials by student assistants. Oversees shelflist
maintenance & management of the stacks in coordination with special
collections assistant. Acts as point person for Alma/ExLibris integrated
library system for special collections.
Public Service: Provides reference service to students, scholars,
and visiting researchers. Maintains the security and proper handling of
materials in the reading room. Answers reference inquiries in person and
online. Trains and supervises student assistants in the daily
operations of the library, particularly in the processing of materials,
reading room procedures, and basic handling and preservation tasks.
Outreach: Prepares and hosts class sessions in use and
interpretation of collections. Creates and installs physical and digital
exhibitions to highlight collections. Prepares bibliographies and
guides to various subject areas of the collection. Participates in
planning, promoting, and hosting programming for the Watkinson. Helps
maintain the Watkinson website and social media presence.
Preservation: Plans and manages the physical and digital
preservation program for the Watkinson Library. Oversees all care and
housing of special collections materials. Assesses materials for
conservation treatment. Coordinates with consulting conservators.
Performs environmental monitoring. Oversees reformatting efforts,
including scanning of print materials. Coordinates emergency response
planning in conjunction with other library staff. Manages physical
processing, including the construction of protective enclosures &
ordering of phase boxes. Responsible for long term digital preservation
of digital and born digital.
Collections: Educates and trains student assistants in basic
preservation tasks. Provides support and information for preservation
concerns to the main library.
Other duties: Oversees the scanning of materials for publication
& research. Participates in collection development for materials
related to select subject areas. Maintains currency of knowledge through
participation in professional activities. Initiates and carries out
special projects relating to the collections and/or facilities of the
Watkinson Library. Participates in task forces for the whole library as
needed. Should be capable of handling large and heavy volumes.
Required Qualifications: Master’s degree in library/information
science, history, or other relevant field from an accredited program.
Minimum two years professional experience and demonstrated expertise in
cataloging rare books and special collections materials. Experience
working with integrated library systems. Knowledge of the principles of
bibliographic description and the characteristics of early printed
books. Experience or training in providing reference service.
Familiarity with preservation and conservation standards for special
collections materials as well as OAIS standards for digital and born
digital materials. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team.
Desirable Qualifications: Experience with long-term digital
preservation. Fluency or Reading knowledge of French, German, Italian or
Spanish. Experience working with electronic content and a range of AV
materials. Experience designing and installing exhibits, both physical
and digital. Comfort with and interest in learning new technologies.
Special Instructions to Applicants: Ability to lift cartons
weighing up to 40 lbs, to move heavily-laden library carts. Salary is
commensurate with qualifications and experience. Review of applications
will begin around mid-June.
For more information and to apply, visit https://trincoll.peopleadmin.com/postings/1928. Open until filled.
