Brooklyn Historical Society’s Othmer Library invites applications for the position of Director of LIbrary & Archives. The position reports to BHS’ President and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of BHS’ library and archives program. The Director of Library & Archives supervises library and collections staff, including the Special Collection Librarian and Photographic Archivist and various grant-funded full and part time staff. The successful candidate will be a creative, experienced and forward-looking librarian dedicated to serving a diverse range of patrons and supporting BHS mission to connect the past to the present and make the vibrant history of Brooklyn tangible, relevant and meaningful for today's diverse communities, and for generations to come.
The Director is responsible for providing leadership, vision, planning and management for the library, including overseeing staff; maintaining budgets, policies and procedures; planning and managing grant projects; and with Senior Library Staff, developing long-range planning and priorities for collection development, management, preservation, description, and access to library and archives. The position plays a key role in the senior staff of the larger institution, participating in institutional planning; working with the Director of Development to identify funding opportunities and write grants; and collaborating with education, exhibition and oral history staff on integrating library and archives work with the activities of the larger institution.
In addition to management and planning functions, the position plays an active role in the day-to-day work of the archives and manuscript collections, including acquisitions and appraisal; overseeing arrangement and description work; reference and outreach activities; and administering and overseeing Archivists’ Toolkit and Emma, the WordPress-based BHS catablog of archives and special collections.
Required Qualifications:
Masters in Library and Information Science, or equivalent degree, with a specialization in archival studies or special collections.
Minimum of four years successful experience in special collections and/or archives
Evidence of effective oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills
Flexibility in adapting to organizational change and growth and to ever-changing technological environments
Evidence of strong leadership, budgeting, project management and organizational skills.
Strong customer service orientation, with a commitment to serving a diverse patron base.
Supervisory experience; demonstrated ability to foster teamwork and collaboration.
Demonstrable experience in seeking and administering grant funding
Experience in soliciting, acquiring, organizing, and maintaining collections
Knowledge of current practices related to the identification, access, control, organization and digitization of primary source materials, including metadata schemas, digital processes and trends in delivering collections electronically
Computer/technology competence; aptitude for learning and applying new technologies and information tools to library operations
Preferred qualifications:
Advanced degree in History, American Studies, or relevant academic field.
Experience working in a museum setting or in supporting exhibit development and design
Experience with records management in print and electronic formats
Experience with WordPress content management system
Experience with Archivists’ Toolkit
Knowledge of preservation issues and best practices
Salary: Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience, with full benefits including medical and dental.
To Apply: Please send resume, cover letter, salary requirements, and name and contact information for three references to Deborah Schwartz, President, at apply@brooklynhistory.org. Subject line of the email should read: Library Director Application [your last name]. No phone inquiries, please.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled; priority will be given to those applications received by May 8th.
Brooklyn Historical Society is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
The Brooklyn Historical Society is dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, the presence of any mental, physical, or sensory disability, sexual orientation, or any other basis prohibited by federal or state law
See: http://brooklynhistory.org/about/job.html#bdla
