Emory University is a leading research university that fosters excellence and attracts world-class talent to innovate today and prepare leaders for the future. We welcome candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of our academic community.

 

Interested candidates should review the applications requirements and apply online at http://apply.interfolio.com/125952.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Collection Development, the Curator of African American Collections is responsible for the development, management, and promotion of the Rose Library’s significant collection of materials related to African American history and culture. The Librarian directly supervises 1 FTE. Success in this role will require excellent relationship building skills, to ensure that the collections align with institutional priorities, and programmatic offerings have an impact on the Emory campus and in the communities served through these collections.  

 

The incumbent will select materials for acquisition in all appropriate formats through donation or purchase in alignment with the priorities of the Rose Library, Emory Libraries, and Emory University. The librarian will attend to both the big picture goal of building the collection, and the day-to-day administrative details required to successfully realize acquisitions. The incumbent will build long-term relationships with donors to help support the library’s financial capacity to acquire and care for the collections. The Curator will actively promote engagement with the collections, in collaboration with Public Services, Campus and Community Relations, academic departments and academic centers, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and allied divisions, through outreach that includes public programming, exhibitions and displays, social media, updated Lib Guides and websites, and innovative forms of engagement. A key responsibility of the curator is to directly contribute to the instruction and researcher services, creating a direct and vital connection to researcher, faculty, student, and community interests and demonstrating a commitment to teamwork. In this position, the incumbent collaborates with Collection Services to consider and ensure the library’s ability to steward collections responsibly. The librarian participates as a member of the library and university community by maintaining visibility on campus, serving on various committees, and incorporating African American collections in the cultural life of the university. The Curator of African American Collections is expected to contribute to the library and professional community through committee service, conference presentations, and/or scholarship.

 

Emory Libraries requires that our employees recognize diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential core values to achieving our mission to enrich the quality of life in an inclusive work environment through competency training, reassurance of personal growth, restorative communication practices, and embrace our diverse identities of patrons within the Emory community. 

 

Essential Responsibilities & Duties

 

Collection Development and Stewardship

1. Develops library collections in accordance with current collection development strategies by selecting materials in all appropriate formats.
2. Develop and maintain relationships with donors and potential donors of collections.
3. Steward donors and sellers through the acquisitions process, including sharing information about the process, negotiating terms of acquisition, acquiring appropriate paperwork including deeds of gift or sale, and managing the relationships over time.
4. Oversees collections budgets, as allocated by the Director of the Rose Library, and uses Alma to monitor budgets.
5. Engages Rose library staff, faculty, students, and institutional stakeholders from across disciplines to develop, articulate, and promote collecting priorities for African American collections in alignment with the university’s curricular and diversity, equity and inclusion goals.
6. Reports on collection development activities to ensure that colleagues throughout the libraries and campus are aware of priorities and new acquisitions, as well as contributing data to library assessment and reporting activities.

Engagement and Outreach

1. Collaborates with Research Services, Campus and Community Relations, to promote the Rose Library collections through events, exhibitions, digital scholarship projects, presentations, publications, articles, announcements, and other means to engage Emory students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, scholars, and the community with the Rose Library’s African American collections.
2. Leads Rose Library tours and show-and-tell sessions for individuals or small groups as requested.
3. Develops up-to-date information about African American collections for LibGuides, the Rose Library website, and digital scholarship projects.
4. Works with the Rose Library’s Operations Manager to help recruit applicants for annual research awards in African American history and culture, selects award recipients, and meets with recipients during their visits to Rose Library to connect recipients with resources.
5. Responsible for featuring student, faculty and researcher award recipients in library web announcements, blog posts, news stories and other channels.

Reference and Instruction

1. Collaborates with Public Services, librarians, and faculty to plan, implement, and assess instruction sessions.
2. Consults with faculty, students, and researchers about instruction sessions, assignments, and research projects.
3. Serves on the Rose Library reading room and reference desks.
4. Provides reference assistance in person and by phone to Emory students and faculty, visiting scholars, and the public as needed and assigned.

Managerial Responsibilities

1. Directly supervises one librarian (1 FTE).
2. Conducts annual performance evaluation of direct report.
3. Coaches, mentors, and counsels in order to develop staff in a positive and proactive manner ensuring individuals have opportunity to develop broad knowledge of library operations and services as well specialized skills.

Fundraising Duties

1. Work closely with the Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement to develop and maintain relationships with donors to build financial support for further acquisitions, collection processing, and engagement programs for African American collections.
2. Support or lead grant writing aligned with African American collection initiatives in the Rose Library.

Professional Responsibilities

1. Participates in appropriate professional and scholarly associations and organizations including maintaining membership and/or accreditation; attending meetings, conferences, workshops; and serving in appointed or elected positions.
2. Maintains up-to-date professional knowledge and skills in areas related to primary job assignment as well as maintains general knowledge of current trends in higher education, academic libraries, and information and educational technology.
3. Adheres to guidelines outlined in the Handbook Governing the Librarian series for Faculty-Equivalent Librariansto ensure appointment, appointment renewal and promotion-in-rank.
4. Participates in library and campus committees as appropriate for service purposes.

Required Qualifications

• ALA-accredited master’s degree in library and information Science OR equivalent education and relevant library experience.
• Minimum of four years of experience.
• Ability to build and sustain generative relationships with donors, cultural institutions, state, regional, and federal agencies, and foundations to support and extend the impact of African American collections.
• Ability to build and sustain effective interpersonal relationships with library staff, faculty, and students, off campus faculty and administrators, campus administrators, etc.
• Evidence of analytical, organizational, communication, project, and time management skills and demonstrated ability to set priorities, meet deadlines, and complete tasks and projects on time and within budget and in accordance with task/project parameters.
• Demonstrated proficiency and capabilities with personal computers and software, the Web, and library-relevant information technology applications. Working knowledge of standard computer office applications such as Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, or other productivity software.
• Commitment to fostering a diverse educational environment and workplace and an ability to work effectively with a diverse faculty and student population.
• Capacity to thrive in an ambiguous, future-oriented environment of a major research institution and to respond effectively to changing needs and priorities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current trends and issues in academic libraries, higher education, and relevant subject disciplines.
• Evidence of active participation, involvement, and leadership in local, state, regional, national, or international professional or scholarly associations.
• Sophisticated interpersonal skills and ability to convey and attract support for the library’s mission.
• Excellent attention to detail, administrative experience, and ability to manage and track budgets and expenses.
• Strong teamwork skills and a commitment to promoting a collaborative environment of trust, inclusion, and transparency.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in African American history and culture.
• Experience promoting engagement with African American archival and historic collections.
• Knowledge of issues related to archives and manuscript collections in academic institutions.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience providing and managing library services with evidence of progressively increasing scope of responsibility in an academic, cultural heritage organization, and evidence of successful record of leadership and ability to foster an organization-wide perspective that ensures effective stewardship of available resources.
• Evidence of competence in strategic planning and in introducing and managing change in complex environments along with budget planning and administration, human resources management, and facilities and space planning and management in complex organizations.

Application Procedures

 

Interested candidates should review the applications requirements and apply online at {Link to iCIMS}, http://apply.interfolio.com/125952

 

Applications may be submitted as Word or PDF attachments and must include:

 

1) Cover letter of application describing qualifications and experience;

2) Current resume/vita detailing education and relevant experience; and

3) Curator of African American Collections: Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are a central focus of our work at Emory Libraries and across campus, and DEI is an important responsibility of the Curator of African American Collections. In a separate statement please reflect upon your experience in furthering social justice and equity so far in your career and share how you would advance and foster these principles at Emory University Libraries as a colleague.

4) On a separate document list the names, relationships, email addresses, and telephone numbers of 3 professional references including a current or previous supervisor.  

 

Review of applications will begin the week of June 19, 2023.  Review of applications will continue until position is successfully filled. Emory is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer that welcomes and encourages diversity and seeks applications and nominations from women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans. 

Emory University is dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, genetic information, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and veteran's status. Emory University does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment on the basis of any factor stated above or prohibited under applicable law. Students, faculty, and staff are assured of participation in University programs and in the use of facilities without such discrimination. Emory University complies with Executive Order 11246, as amended, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veteran's Readjustment Assistance Act, and applicable executive orders, federal and state regulations regarding nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action. Emory University is committed to achieving a diverse workforce through application of its affirmative action, equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policy in all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotions, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training. Inquiries regarding this policy should be directed to the Emory University Department of Equity and Inclusion, 201 Dowman Drive, Administration Building, Atlanta, GA 30322.

Emory University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the Department of Accessibility Services at 404-727-9877 (V) | 404-712-2049 (TDD). Please note that one week advance notice is preferred.