Assistant Curator for Special Collections
Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey
Department of Rare Books and Special Collections
Requisition # 0800154

The Princeton University Library, one of the world's most respected research institutions, serves a diverse community of 6,600 students and 1,100 faculty members with more than 6 million printed volumes, 5 million manuscripts, and 2 million nonprint items. The holdings in its central library and 15 specialized libraries range from ancient papyri and incunabula to the most advanced electronic databases and digital collections. The Library employs a dedicated and knowledgeable staff of more than 300 professional and support personnel, complemented by a large student and hourly workforce. More information can be found at the Library's Web site:  http://libweb.princeton.edu

Available: Immediately. Three-year professional position.

Search Committee: (Princeton access only)

Description: The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections has created a three-year professional position for an Assistant Curator for Special Collections, whose work with two senior curators on a broad array of rare and unique materials at Princeton will provide training and mentoring relationships to allow the individual selected to pursue a curatorial career in special collections at a major American research library. The Assistant Curator will divide his/her time in the Manuscripts and Rare Books divisions, both located in Firestone Library. The Assistant Curator will work under the direct supervision of the Curator of Manuscripts and the Curator of Rare Books and will participate in the ongoing activities of these areas, as well as in special projects related to several of the following aspects of special collections work: reference, instruction and curriculum support, outreach, collection development, cataloging, bibliography, physical description, arrangement and description, preservation, digitization (especially metadata), and exhibitions.
Approximately 20 percent of the Assistant Curator’s time will be devoted to public services for the Firestone units of the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections. Special assignments and projects under the supervision of the curators of Manuscripts and Rare Books will depend on departmental needs. There will be opportunities for working with donors, interacting with dealers, reviewing auction catalogs, and participating in the difficult decision of what to purchase given limited resources. It is assumed that the Assistant Curator will have strong subject background, research experience, and appropriate languages to work in areas of comparable strength in both the Manuscripts and Rare Books divisions, such as pre-1800 European books, including manuscripts, printed books, and annotated books; or modern literature and publishing history, especially relating to British and American authors, 18th-20th century. For more information about holdings, go to the homepage of the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections: http://www.princeton.edu/~rbsc/index.shtml

Qualifications: Required qualifications include a MLS from ALA-accredited school and/or a graduate degree (PhD or equivalent preferred) in English literature, comparative literature, classical or modern languages, history, art history, or another humanistic discipline supported by the holdings of the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections; evidence of research and hands-on experience working with rare books, manuscripts, or other special collections materials; good working knowledge of at least one Western European language other than English.

Term and Appointment: This is a three-year term position. The successful candidate will be appointed to an appropriate professional specialist rank for the term.   

Compensation and Benefits: Compensation will be competitive and commensurate with experience and accomplishments. Twenty-four (24) vacation days a year, plus eleven (11) paid holidays. Annuity program (TIAA/CREF), group life insurance, health coverage insurance, disability insurance, and other benefits are available.

Nominations and Applications: Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Nominations and applications (cover letter, resume and the names, titles, addresses and phone numbers of three references) will be accepted only from the Jobs at Princeton website: http://www.princeton.edu/jobs

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER.
For information about applying to Princeton, please link to
 http://www.princeton.edu/dof/about_us/dof_job_openings/

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