Public Services Librarian for Tamiment Library and Wagner Labor Archives
The Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives at New York University seek a dynamic and forward-thinking individual to manage its public services function and to work as part of a team to support research, teaching, and learning in the library. Working in a collaborative environment, this three-year position (with possibility of renewal) is responsible for: overseeing Tamiment’s public services program including reading room operations, on-site and remote reference, and outreach; maintaining and updating website content and overseeing the social media presence; and continuously assessing user research needs and improving the library’s physical and virtual research environment. Librarians are expected to serve as partners in the educational mission of NYU by establishing strong relationships with faculty and students and providing responsive and innovative information services. In addition, the responsibilities include taking the lead in ongoing planning and cross-training for the merger of Tamiment’s and the University Archives reading rooms.The Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives at New York University is one of the oldest special collections in the United States devoted to the history of left politics, labor, and social protest movements. Its holdings include oral histories, film, and more than 75,000 monographs, 20,000 linear feet of archives and manuscripts, 15,000 periodical titles, an 850,000 item pamphlet and Ephemera collection, and a million photographs. Its collections document the history of labor with an emphasis on the New York area, and the history of radical politics: socialism, communism, anarchism, utopian experiments, the cultural left, the New Left, the post-New Left, the struggle for civil rights and civil liberties as well as the social and cultural contexts in which these movements functioned. It is the repository for the Archives of Irish America, the Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives, and a growing Asian American labor collection.
Under the general supervision of the Head of Tamiment, the successful candidate will:
- Provide exceptional instruction and reference services, including developing in-depth knowledge of collections in order to assist researchers (students, faculty, staff and external visiting scholars) in discovering, accessing and effectively using the full range of resources available to meet teaching, learning and research needs, with particular emphasis on Tamiment’s holdings of archives and special collections; work with Tamiment staff, liaison librarians and academic faculty to provide instruction in use of primary sources and Tamiment collections; design, teach and evaluate instruction sessions, including working with faculty to develop curriculum-specific instruction programs as well as coordinating research support for large classroom assignments.
- Develop, implement, and oversee Tamiment reference and research public services, including management of workflow for email reference, and response to remote reference inquiries directly and in collaboration with Tamiment colleagues; manage the operations of the reading room, provide documentation and training for policies and operations; coordinate the library’s reproduction services and administers policies governing use, reproduction and preservation of materials; coordinate use of library space for classes, programs and events; collect, maintain and analyze reference-related statistics.
- Develop responsive and innovative information and outreach services, including management of the department web presence and development of web content; set social media strategy and oversee its implementation; promote and market Tamiment initiatives, collections and services through tours and presentations, physical and online exhibitions, social media, and identify new opportunities and technologies to enhance outreach and instruction.
- Oversee the printed materials collections, including books, serials, and pamphlets. Duties will include acquisitions and budget management, coordinating with Knowledge Access and Resource Management staff on the prioritization and flow of materials to be cataloged; supervising the physical processing, shelving, and reading room use of the book collections; collaborating with the Conservation Lab to identify candidates for treatment; and overseeing the flow of materials to and from offsite storage.
- As a member of the senior staff and in close collaboration with the Head, assist in implementing professional standards and best practices for collections security and preservation and setting priorities for collection processing, cataloging, and digitization; participate in general planning and policy development in the support of Tamiment and University Libraries strategic directions; assist in fundraising and development activities as appropriate; serves on library-wide committees as necessary.
Required:
- MLIS from an ALA-accredited institution, with a subject master’s (in a field which aligns with Tamiment collecting focus); knowledgeable in subjects related to Tamiment’s collecting focus (e.g. organized labor, civil liberties, the radical left) via a combination of formal education and/or experience; 3-5 years’ experience in a special collections or archives department in a research library;
- Strong familiarity with scholarly research processes and providing reference in support of scholarly research, and experience providing excellent public services and/or instruction.
- Knowledge of trends and current best practices in delivering special collections, archival materials and digital collections to users; experience with relevant technologies for patron request and materials management (Aeon), web editing/content management systems (HTML, CSS, LibGuides) and electronic reference.
- Strong public service orientation; a strong commitment to team-based management and successful experience supervising, training, and mentoring other staff members and/or student employees; excellent analytical, interpersonal and communication skills, and an ability to embrace change.
- Excellent project management skills, with a demonstrated ability to drive multiple projects simultaneously and keep researcher needs at the front of project planning and execution.
- Knowledge of basic preservation and conservation issues, and rights administration and management issues, as they relate to archives and special collections.
New York University Libraries:
Libraries at New York University serve the school’s 40,000 students and faculty and contain more than 5 million volumes. The Libraries supports NYU’s vision to become the first true Global Network University by collaborating and providing services to our 11 global academic centers and our first “portal campus”, in NYU Abu Dhabi. New York University Libraries is a member of the Association of Research Libraries, the OCLC Research Library Partnership, and the Digital Library Federation. The Libraries participates in a variety of consortia and collaborates closely with the New-York Historical Society and the Brooklyn Historical Society. View NYU Libraries Mission and Strategic Plan.
To Apply: To ensure consideration, send resume and letter of application, including the name, address, and telephone number of three references to: Enrique Yanez, Assistant Dean for Human Resources, New York University Libraries, 70 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012 or via email to libraries.careers@nyu.edu. Resumes will be considered until the position is filled.
NYU’s Division of Libraries embraces diversity and is committed to attracting qualified candidates who also embrace and value diversity and inclusivity.
EOE/AA/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disabled/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
