F/T - Ref Svcs Lib & Instr Coordinator, Ctr for Jewish History (NY)

Reference Services Librarian & Instructional Coordinator

The Center for Jewish History seeks a full-time professional librarian to assist researchers in the
Lillian Goldman Reading Room and to help coordinate the Center’s academic outreach. This is an
excellent opportunity for individuals interested in special collections, reference, and outreach, with
an emphasis on primary source literacy and collection-based instruction.

The Center for Jewish History provides a collaborative home for five partner organizations:
American Jewish Historical Society, American Sephardi Federation, Leo Baeck Institute, Yeshiva
University Museum, and YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. The partners’ archives comprise the
world’s largest and most comprehensive archive of the modern Jewish experience outside of Israel.
The successful applicant will join a dynamic team of forward-thinking and professionally engaged
Center staff who provide access-oriented services for the collections held by the five partner
institutions.

The Reference Services Librarian & Instructional Coordinator will report to both the Senior
Manager for Public Services and the Director of Academic Programs. As a member of the Reading
Room team, the Reference Services Librarian will provide a high standard of patron service and
ensure the seamless delivery to researchers of the rich physical and digital holdings of the five
Partner institutions. As Instructional Coordinator, this staff member will assist with the
development and implementation of innovative pedagogical programs and lesson plans that draw
upon the partners’ unique historical collections, helping to coordinate teacher training workshops,
school visits, and collaborations with local colleges and universities.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Learning all aspects of reference services at CJH, including finding aids, digital collections,
electronic resources, and Aeon, a special collections workflow software.
• Greeting and supervising researchers in the Reading Room.
• Disseminating and enforcing Reading Room and partner policies and procedures.
• Assisting patrons with research.
• Providing instruction in the handling of archival, manuscript, and rare materials.
• Paging material from the stacks.
• Utilizing archival collections to assist in the development of K-12 curricula.
• Curating online educational resources.
• Managing outreach efforts and professional development workshops for K-12 educators.
• Designing and co-leading collection-based instructional sessions for K-12, undergraduate,
and graduate students.

Required qualifications:
• Masters in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited library school, or similar
graduate-level training, such as archival science.
• Comfortable interacting with the public and presenting to groups.
• Organized and detail-oriented.
• Ability to work flexibly, independently, and collaboratively in a complex organizational
environment comprised of diverse constituencies.
• Capacity to communicate effectively and diplomatically, both verbally and in writing.

Preferred qualifications:
• Experience or coursework in special collections.
• Experience or coursework in instruction and/or curriculum development, including
Common Core standards.
• Background in Jewish history.
• Reading knowledge of Yiddish, German, Hebrew, Russian, or other relevant languages.

Company Benefits:
• 15-21 Federal and religious holidays off each year in addition to generous vacation, sick,
and personal days.
• Full health benefits (medical, dental and vision) with minimal employee contributions.
• Free Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability coverage.
• Flexible Spending Account and Commuter Benefits.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Generous 403b retirement benefits.

Review of applications will begin immediately. Applications will be accepted until the position is
filled. Send cover letter, resume, and three references to Lauren Gilbert, Senior Manager for Public
Services, at lgilbert@cjh.org. No phone calls please.

The Center for Jewish History is committed to diversity and inclusion. Qualified individuals who bring
diverse perspectives to the workplace are especially encouraged to apply.