What are the responsibilities and job description for the Special Collections Librarian position at SUNY Geneseo?
Position Summary
The College Archives and Special Collections aim to tell the rich story of the intellectual and cultural history of the College and the surrounding region. The Special Collections are made up of the College Archives, Genesee Valley Historical Collection, Rare Book “X” Collection, Carl Schmidt Collection in Historic Architecture, and Wadsworth Family Papers and Maps. Each collection is distinct in scope and offers a different perspective on the history of the College, Geneseo, Livingston County, and the Genesee Valley.
We are seeking a Special Collections Librarian who is dedicated to student and faculty success in a liberal arts environment. The Special Collections Librarian is responsible for curating and managing the College Archives and Special Collections, providing research support, consultation and instructional services to students and faculty who make use of the collections for their research and scholarship, and engaging in outreach activities to promote the Special Collections and encourage student interaction with materials in the collections. The Special Collections Librarian develops and communicates policies and procedures. The successful candidate should have a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, belonging, and inclusive professional and interpersonal practices.
The successful applicant will enter a full-time tenure-track position at the Senior Assistant Librarian rank. The initial appointment for this position is two years with the potential for renewal.
Responsibilities:
SUNY Geneseo is pleased to accept applications for a Special Collections Librarian. Milne Library has a well-established culture of innovation and excellence in library services. The Library is committed to robust and meaningful engagement with the campus community and puts a high value on cultural inclusivity, diversity, collaboration, and creativity. Winner of the 2021 RRLC Library of the Year and the 2018 ACRL Excellence in Academic Libraries Award, Milne Library is proud of its high achieving team. The Library is currently celebrating the opening of the renovated Milne Library building which includes a dedicated Reading Room for Special Collections and a climate-controlled, secure space for the College Archives and Special Collections.
The College Archives and Special Collections aim to tell the rich story of the intellectual and cultural history of the College and the surrounding region. The Special Collections are made up of the College Archives, Genesee Valley Historical Collection, Rare Book “X” Collection, Carl Schmidt Collection in Historic Architecture, and Wadsworth Family Papers and Maps. Each collection is distinct in scope and offers a different perspective on the history of the College, Geneseo, Livingston County, and the Genesee Valley.
We are seeking a Special Collections Librarian who is dedicated to student and faculty success in a liberal arts environment. The Special Collections Librarian is responsible for curating and managing the College Archives and Special Collections, providing research support, consultation and instructional services to students and faculty who make use of the collections for their research and scholarship, and engaging in outreach activities to promote the Special Collections and encourage student interaction with materials in the collections. The Special Collections Librarian develops and communicates policies and procedures. The successful candidate should have a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, belonging, and inclusive professional and interpersonal practices.
The successful applicant will enter a full-time tenure-track position at the Senior Assistant Librarian rank. The initial appointment for this position is two years with the potential for renewal.
Responsibilities:
- Curate and manage the College Archives and Special Collections through thoughtful selection and processing of materials.
- Develop policies and procedures for the processing, description, access, and use of Special Collections.
- Provide research support services to SUNY Geneseo students and faculty using the Special Collections for their scholarship, as well as community members pursuing local and genealogical research.
- Teach classroom instruction sessions to prepare students for assignments or projects that require research and use of materials in the College Archives and Special Collections.
- Create finding aids and learning objects to facilitate the discovery and access of materials in the College Archives and Special Collections.
- Design physical exhibits and seek outreach opportunities to showcase materials in the College Archives and Special Collections and research support services.
- Liaise both with College Advancement and the College Alumni Office to support programs, fundraising efforts, and to build and maintain relationships with current and potential donors.
- Liaise with the Livingston County Historian’s Office and local historical societies and museums to further support research and scholarship about Geneseo and Livingston County.
- Perform original cataloging and processing of newly added print and physical materials to the College Archives and Special Collections.
- Work closely with the Digital Collections and Metadata Librarian to select collections for digitization and inclusion in the Milne Library Digital Collections.
- Participate on library teams or committees in support of the Library’s mission.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s degree in information and/or library science from an ALA-accredited school or an ALA-approved foreign equivalent
- Demonstrated professional experience in managing and processing Special Collections and archival materials
- Demonstrated commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive working and teaching environment
- Demonstrated capacity to both work independently and to collaborate with others
- Knowledge of collection development for archives, rare books and special collections; of archival principles and preservation techniques; and of contemporary and emerging digital and archival standards
- Experience in teaching and providing research support to undergraduate students.
- Knowledge of cataloging metadata standards and principles
- Experience with digital repositories
- Experience with integrated library systems like OCLC WorldShare (Record Manager) and Ex Libris Alma/Primo.
