Thursday, January 23, 2020

Assistant Librarian/Archivist - Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art

As Connecticut’s flagship art institution, the Wadsworth prides itself on being a place where contemporary culture meets great masterpieces; a forum of ideas and experiences built around the visual arts. As the oldest continually operating public art museum in the country, we are renowned for the breadth of our collection, vibrant exhibitions and engaging programming.
     Inspiring everyone to experience and appreciate excellence in art and culture requires a team effort and the talents of a diverse, highly motivated group of people. The quality of this institution emanates from the collective work and talent of our staff.
Reporting to the Head of Library and Archives, the Assistant Librarian/Archivist performs a wide-range of tasks associated with the physical and intellectual organization of the Auerbach Art Library and Museum Archives. The Assistant Librarian and Archivist provides reference and research assistance to the museum’s staff, docents, external patrons and community partners. The primary responsibilities include cataloging, organizing, processing and preserving library and historical resources, preparing guides and finding aides, reference services, and participation in all aspects of library and archival work. The regular work schedule for this position is Tuesday through Saturday.
     MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS, Education and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree in art history, history or studio art; and Master of Library Science from an ALA-accredited institution with coursework or concentration in archives management. Three (3) years’ experience in an art library, museum, or academic library, cataloging (both original and copy cataloging) and fielding reference questions. Plus, one (1) to two (2) years’ experience in archival management and special collections required.
     MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of current archival description standards, including experience in creating finding aids, and knowledge of MARC21 cataloging formats. Proficiency with integrated library systems and database management systems. Ability to inventory and assess collections and deaccession resources when appropriate. Understanding of appropriate preservation practices for rare books and other special collections materials. Reading knowledge of art historical French and/or German desirable. Superior verbal and written skills; and dedication to providing excellent customer service. Strong attention to detail and excellent organizational skills. Ability to respond quickly to unexpected challenges and shifting priorities. Aptitude in MS Office programs including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
     HOW TO APPLY: We are a progressive, equal opportunity employer and all candidates are encouraged to apply. You can do so by sending a cover letter (noting the reason for your interest) plus your resume to: staffing.admin@wadsworthatheneum.org. Submissions will be evaluated as received and the position will remain open until filled. A complete position description can be found here.