Under the direction of the AHTL Librarian, the Curator of Special Collections bears primary responsibility for cataloging, preserving, and facilitating access to the printed materials classified by the library into special or restricted collections and for related strategic planning. The Curator of Special Collections also represents AHTL special collections in collaborative work within and beyond the Harvard Library and in appropriate professional associations, collaborates with AHTL Research Librarians in the interpretation and promotion of special collections, and assists the AHTL Librarian in the development of the collections.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES Cataloging * Catalogs rare materials in accordance with DCRM(B) and other appropriate standards, with associated authority work * Works with the Curator of Manuscripts and Archives to describe "hybrid" collections of printed and manuscript material * Uses technology to identify and implement scalable solutions for providing temporary or final description of materials Preservation *Ensures that the materials are stored and arranged in an appropriate manner *Works with HDS Operations to monitor the environment in which the materials are housed *Works with HL Conservation staff to identify conservation needs and prioritize treatments *Identifies and recommends discrete collections or selected materials for systematic preservation Access *Works with the Librarian and the Curator of Manuscripts and Archives to develop and implement policies and procedures governing patron access to the materials *Maintains documentation regarding the use and handling of the materials *Works with the Curator of Digital Collections to identify materials to digitize for enhanced access Planning *Provides technical planning, implementation, project management, problem-solving, and quality control for special collections projects *Works with the Librarian to establish cataloging priorities for special collections material and to set priorities for processing collections in the backlog, including determining appropriate levels of treatment for groups of materials *Maintains and analyzes statistics related to special collections in the interest of continuous improvement of services *Maintains awareness of best practices and policies as established by HL Shared Services groups with the goal of aligning local practices wherever possible *Maintains awareness of trends and standards related to special collections librarianship, including cataloging and other metadata creation, preservation and digitization of rare materials, and integrating these into departmental practices Representation *Serves as liaison between AHTL and other Harvard special collections units *Participates in University-wide committees and work groups and advises the Librarian on special collections matters *Seeks opportunities for collaboration with other libraries both within and beyond Harvard *Represents AHTL at conferences, such as ATLA, RBMS, ACRL, and ALA Interpretation and Promotion *Promotes special collections within HDS and externally, especially encouraging collaboration with faculty in the use of special collections to support research and teaching *Answers questions related to special collections and serves as a resource for the Research Librarians and other staff regarding special collections *Develops and maintains an attractive, functional online presence for AHTL special collections *Collaborates with the Curator of Manuscripts and Archives and the Research Librarians in the development of library exhibits that feature unique HDS collections Collection Development *Works with the Librarian and HDS Development staff to develop potential sources of funding for special collections projects *Maintains awareness of materials on offer that lie within the scope of AHTL's development policy for special collections and alerts the Librarian to potential acquisitions Basic Qualifications * Master's degree in library/information science from an ALA-approved institution * Working knowledge of Latin, German, and French * Minimum of five years' experience as a professional librarian with strong experience in both copy and original cataloging * Training and experience in the description, care, and promotion of scholarly and educational use of rare materials * Experience in collection management activities, such as inventory, reclassification, and off-site transfer projects * Experience with digitization projects Additional Qualifications * Graduate degree in religion, theology, or history * Advanced knowledge of Aleph, OCLC Connexion, and the Cognos reporting system * Excellent oral and written communication skills * Commitment to communication, collaboration, and professional growth Additional Information Please be aware that there is a Strong Internal Candidate. Drawing on its historical strength in Christian studies and its significant resources in global religious studies, Harvard Divinity School educates scholars, teachers, ministers, and other professionals for leadership and service both nationally and internationally. To help in building a world in which people can live and work together across religious and cultural divides, we strive to be a primary resource in religious and theological studies for the academy, for religious communities, and in the public sphere. Brought to you by code4lib jobs: http://jobs.code4lib.org/job/4841/
