Specialist II - Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books 

(October 30, 2024)

Position Title - Specialist II - Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books

Supervisor Title (All entry and mid-level position supervisors should be qualified, professional archivists.)- Senior Manager of Public Services, Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books

Position Type - Full-time, permanent

Benefits - Yes

Salary Range - $66,000 - $75,000

With a collection that exceeds 46 million items, and a mission to advance knowledge and inspire lifelong learning, the New York Public Library stands as one of the world’s great public research libraries. The Library’s Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books divisions, situated in the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, hold over 30,000 linear feet of manuscripts and archives in over 5,700 collections, as well as more than 350,000 rare books and 20,000 broadsides. The collections contain some of the Library’s greatest treasures, ranging from cuneiform tablets, incunabula, and illuminated manuscripts to founding documents of the United States. The collection is particularly strong in books printed in the Americas prior to 1801 and the history of the New York region. Collecting areas of focus include the American Revolution, U.S. Civil War, 19th-century U.S. literature, colonial Latin America, New York City social history, the history of publishing and journalism, and LGBTQ+ history. The Division also oversees the Library’s institutional archives and records.

The Specialist II position will play a key role in supporting research in the Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books divisions, which welcomes thousands of special collections patrons each year. The Specialist II will provide excellent public service via reference work, collection description and writing, program and outreach, and instruction. The optimal candidate will be collaborative, service oriented, and committed to equitable access to collections for all researchers.

Key Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Senior Manager of Public Services, the Specialist II will:

Provide research and reference assistance to scholarly and general users, in the reading room and remotely

Assess and process collection requests and coordinate communications with researchers prior to their arrival at the Library

Develop and maintain content for research guides and blogs

Participate in programming and instruction activities

Assist the Manager of Public Services in outreach initiatives

Facilitate new scholarship drawing on the division’s collections, and track outcomes of this research, including articles, books, dissertations, and other digital projects

Support internal use of divisional holdings in programs, exhibitions, curricula, and other initiatives

Help prepare collections for transfer between Digital Imaging Services, Special Collections Processing, Registrar, ReCAP, and other units

Retrieve and shelve collection material as needed

Perform other related duties as required

Required Education & Experience

(Minimum education and work experience required to successfully perform the principal responsibilities)

ALA accredited Master’s degree in Library and Information Science

Undergraduate degree in the Humanities or Social Sciences

1-3 years of research library experience

Required Skills

Commitment to public service and a thorough understanding of the role of special collections within a public library system

Ability to work with a broad range of humanities scholars, students, and independent researchers with varying levels of experience

Demonstrated commitment to promoting the use of special collections among diverse audiences and learners

Ability to work well in a fast-paced environment, and to work as part of a team

Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to deal effectively and tactfully with patrons and staff

Ability to communicate clearly and confidently both in writing and in person

Current understanding of themes, debates, and trends in the field of special collections, especially archives, manuscripts, and rare books

Strong organization, time management, and planning skills, including the ability to perform multiple projects or tasks simultaneously

Preferred Qualifications:

Knowledge of American history

Experience developing and conducting a variety of research focused classes and programs

Experience creating research guides

NYPL Core Values:

All team members are expected and encouraged to embody the NYPL Core Values:

Be Helpful to patrons and colleagues

Be Resourceful in solving problems

Be Curious in all aspects of your work

Physical Duties:

Light lifting up to 15lbs required

Sitting and standing for periods of time

Daily use of a computer

Physical Required?

No

Schedule:

35 hours per week to be scheduled during regular building hours, some Saturday hours required.

Division is open Tuesday through Friday, 11AM to 5PM, Saturdays 1PM to 5 PM.

https://nypl.pinpointhq.com/postings/48df8692-6d4b-4cf8-9a9b-43cfe14b5f65