Curator, Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature

AST/ASO UNIV LIBRARIAN

JOB SUMMARY

The George A. Smathers Libraries at the University of Florida seek a collaborative, curious and knowledgeable colleague to lead the Baldwin Library of Historical Children's Literature. The Curator of the Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature is a year-round (12 month) tenure track library faculty position, which will lead a preeminent collection known for its exceptional breadth and depth in Anglo-American holdings. The Baldwin Library supports emerging scholarship by actively diversifying its holdings and applying a critical lens to collections and activities. The Curator oversees major endowment funds supporting collection development and programming, including speaker series and research fellowships.

The Curator manages materials and access, from acquisition to cataloging and digitization, and engages the UF campus and beyond through instruction, exhibits, collection promotion, and collaboration on projects and work groups. The Curator deepens and expands support for the study of children’s literature and interdisciplinary topics, and engages with faculty, students, and the Center for Children’s Literature and Culture . The Curator oversees fellowship programs which support the research of scholars, librarians and educators in the Baldwin Library, and serves as a bridge between public and academic librarians through the Louise Seaman Bechtel Fellowship .

The Libraries encourage faculty and staff participation in reaching management decisions, and consequently the Curator of the Baldwin Library will serve on various committees and teams. The Curator will pursue professional development opportunities, including research, publication, and professional service activities to meet library-wide criteria for tenure and promotion. The Smathers Libraries is committed to creating a thoughtful, equitable, and inclusive culture that provides space for innovation and creativity. We support that commitment by offering a fulfilling work experience that allows for collaboration, growth, and development as well as shared perspectives.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Curator will establish an inclusive vision for the Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature, skillfully managing and developing collections, services and programs, with support from colleagues and resources in the department and across the Libraries.

• Vision: Provide strategic direction for the Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature, skillfully managing and developing collections, services and programs. Create and update collection policies, and provide curatorial leadership.
• Knowledge/Selection: Acquire materials to meet emerging needs and to maintain strengths of the collection, staying current in areas of expertise required for best practices in field and for collection priorities. Establish and maintain vendor relationships.
• Management: Manage all aspects of the Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature holdings, support and services. Evaluate needs for and plan processing of materials, space and location, preservation and conservation, coordinating activities in collaboration with technical services staff and others.
• Administration: Manage personnel, projects, materials, and space allocations effectively, with sound stewardship of assets (funds, data, holdings). Report regularly on these activities, with efforts in seeking external funding through grants coordinated with Libraries grants staff. Maintain and cultivate relations with donors, in coordination with Libraries’ administration and development staff.
• Access: Facilitate access to the Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature by providing research assistance, consultations, and orientations; availability for general public services as needed by Department; and general knowledge and promotion of Department collections and activities.
• Instruction & Support: Seek out and respond to requests for course-integrated instruction and specialized sessions for academic courses, with time commitments for co-teaching or teaching a course approved by Department Chair.
• Creation of Library Knowledge: With a priority for digital access, create structure and access to relevant research tools such as bibliographies or other descriptive guides in support of research and teaching.  Design exhibitions, catalogs or interpretive writings to promote access in and outside UF.
• Outreach: Promote awareness of the collection through programs and events related to the collection and associated academic programs, tours.
• Professional Development and Scholarship: Acquire and maintain personal knowledge in children’s literature and culture, with dissemination appropriate to work role and the mission of the University, and external recognition of expertise. Presentation, publication and creative outcomes are marked by originality, innovation, impact, peer evaluation and/or national or international distinction. Primary assignment activities that meet several of these criteria and comprise distinct research or creative endeavors are scholarship.
• Service Activities: Contribute to and participate in planning, policy development and departmental decision making related to services and collections in the Department of Special and Area Studies Collections, the George A. Smathers Libraries, and to the University. Contribute to and participate in appropriate professional and library organizations in a manner that has an impact on the profession and contributes to the diffusion of knowledge. Contribute to the public good through engagement with communities, consistent with work role and assignment at the University.

Minimum salary $59,219 at the Assistant University Librarian rank

Minimum salary $68,495 at the Associate University Librarian rank

Actual salary will reflect selected professional’s experience and credentials

• Master’s degree in library science from an ALA accredited library school or advanced degree in a field relevant to children’s literature or historical childhood studies.
• Minimum two (2) years of relevant experience for appointment as Assistant University Librarian. Minimum eight (8) years of relevant experience required for appointment as Associate University Librarian. 

• Evidence of creative and innovative approaches to access and use of library materials.
• Experience with instruction, exhibitions, and/or engagement relevant to a learning or knowledge environment.
• Record of creating and maintaining strong collaborations.
• Familiarity with information and digital-based technologies for office and library systems.
• Experience creating and maintaining online content.
• Experience relevant to managing budgets.
• Supervisory experience.
• Knowledge of and experience working with children’s literature or historical childhood studies as an academic discipline. 
• Experience curating or providing access to library, archival or other collections. 
• Demonstrated experience with making libraries more accessible, and welcoming through teaching, research, or service.
• Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively in teams and individually with faculty, staff and students.
• Initiative, flexibility, and the ability to seek out opportunities in a complex, dynamic academic environment.
• Demonstrated organizational and planning skills.
• Strong potential for meeting the requirements of tenure and promotion.
• Evidence of excellent interpersonal skills including oral and written communication.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with faculty, students, administrators, and the general public.
• Initiative, flexibility, and the ability to adapt and work creatively in a complex, rapidly changing academic environment.
• Strong potential to meet the requirements for tenure and promotion outlined in the departmental by-laws.

To apply, submit

• a cover letter detailing your interest in, and qualifications for this position
• your current resume or CV
• a list of three references including their contact information (telephone number and email address)
• a written statement regarding “How would you engage diverse audiences with this preeminent collection of historical children's literature?”. (250 words)

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.