[DCRM-L] One-year job in Boston

Sat Dec 14 12:49:39 MST 2013

A friend alerted me to this 1-year position for a Rare Books and Manuscripts Librarian, Boston Public Library Rare Books. (Web page contents copied after link.)

https://recruit.cityofboston.gov:8443/psc/prdcg/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_CE.GBL?Page=HRS_CE_JOB_DTL&Action=A&JobOpeningId=346899&SiteId=1&PostingSeq=1

Job Description

Job Title:

Rare Books and Manuscripts Librarian (Temporary Position)

Job ID:

346899

Location:

BPL Rare Books

Full/Part Time:

Full-Time

Regular/Temporary:

Regular

Library - Other

This is a temporary one-year position

The Organization
A leading American historian has called the Boston Public Library (BPL) one of the five great libraries of the world. Over 3.5 million people visit the Boston Public Library every year to use its collection of twenty two million books, maps, manuscripts, photographs, prints, drawings and other items. Another eight million people connect with the BPL through its website www.bpl.org to use its services and the growing collection of electronic resources, downloadable media and digitized rare books, maps and manuscripts.

Among its preeminent collections, the BPL holds a First Folio by William Shakespeare; original music scores by Mozart, Prokofiev and others; and the personal library of President John Adams.  In addition, the BPL is home to the renowned Norman B. Leventhal Map Center, which includes over 200,000 historic maps and 5,000 atlases from all over the world.  Over 10,000 programs and classes attract thousands of residents from across diverse neighborhoods and cultural groups. Award winning online and in-library homework assistance sessions, literacy classes, author programs and computer training sessions are also a popular draw.

The BPL is a department of the municipal government of Boston and a statutory charitable organization governed by a board of nine Trustees appointed by the Mayor.

Position Overview
Is responsible for providing specialized and complex reference services, performing complex and original cataloging and classifying of rare books and manuscripts, and promoting the use, care, and servicing of the Rare Books and Manuscripts collections.

Reports to
Keeper of Special Collections in consultation with the Chief of Technical and Digital Services for  matters pertaining to cataloging and database quality control.

Supervises
Professional and support staff as assigned.

Scope of Responsibility
1. Provides reference service which often includes difficult and complex queries; takes responsibility for developing and maintaining quality reference service within the Department.
2. In coordination with the Chief of Technical and Digital Services and according to the cataloging policies of the Library, performs original and complex descriptive and subject cataloging, classification, and authority work for rare books, manuscripts.  This work will require special language, subject, and technical knowledge.
3. Establishes new personal and corporate names and uniform titles, with appropriate cross-references, for inclusion in the name authority file.  Where appropriate, revises existing authority records
4. Assists in retrospective conversion projects, including digitization projects, by facilitating an accurate conversion of data into appropriate machine readable forms, including MARC21, XML, or other formats as required.
5. Remains current with existing and emerging cataloging policies, practices, standards, schema and procedures including, but not limited to, MARC 21, DCRM(B), FRBR, AACR2r, LC Rule Interpretations, OCLC bibliographic standards, Dublin Core, MODS, EAD, TEI, CDWA, GILS, and CORC.
6. Works collaboratively with Technical Services staff in order to resolve problems relating to item and bibliographic records.
7. Assumes responsibility for implementing the policies of the Library as they pertain to the Rare Books and Manuscripts Department.
8. Keep abreast of current trends in scholarship in order to match research needs with collection holdings.
9. Alternates with other staff members in supervising the reading room in such a way as to maintain an atmosphere conducive to research at the same time as preserving and protecting materials.
10. Contributes to cultivation and stewardship of prospective donors and identification of potential collections for acquisition.
11. Increases visibility of the collections through presentations, web-based projects, exhibitions, and public programs.
12. Suggests items or collections in need of conservation, makes recommendations for reformatting of materials, and instructs patrons and other staff in the proper handling of rare books and manuscripts.
13. Prepares statistical and other reports and analyses, as assigned.
14. Performs other related and comparable duties as assigned.

Competencies
- Proven familiarity with standard rare book and manuscript reference sources and databases.
- Knowledge of current conservation principles and practices.
- Demonstrated experience and superior knowledge of DCRM(B), FRBR, AACR2, LCSH, LC classification, and MARC 21 coding (all formats).
- Demonstrated working knowledge and recent hands-on experience cataloging on OCLC.
- Working knowledge of current and emerging library catalogs, online and print cataloging resources and bibliographic tools.
- Ability to carry out detailed procedures with accuracy.
- Ability to work with minimal supervision.
- Ability to plan and prioritize job responsibilities and tasks.
- Demonstrates initiative and appropriate independent decision making skills.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.  Communicates effectively and presents ideas clearly.
- Ability to execute library policy.

Qualifications

1. Education
A bachelor's degree from a recognized college or university and a master's degree in Library Science from an ALA accredited library school.
A second master's degree in the Humanities or  advanced coursework that would increase the knowledge of rare books is desirable.
2. Experience
Four years recent professional experience in a Rare Book /Manuscript Dept.
Four years recent experience performing original cataloging using DCRM(B), FRBR, AACR2, LCSH, LC classification, and MARC 21 coding.
One year recent experience maintaining name, subject, and uniform title authority control MARC records.
Reading knowledge of Latin and fluency in at least one additional language other than English.  Ability to deal with other unfamiliar foreign languages.

Requirements:
1. Ability to exercise good judgment and focus on detail as required by the job.
2. Residency - Must be a resident of the City of Boston upon the first day of hire.
3. CORI - Must successfully clear a Criminal Offenders Record Information check with the City of Boston.

Terms:

Union/Salary Plan/Grade:  PSA/P-3
Hours per week:  35
Please refer to the Salary Information section on the Boston Career Center site for more information on compensation.  For each Salary Plan, salaries are listed by Grade and Step.

________________________________

__________
Deborah J. Leslie, M.A., M.L.S. | Folger Shakespeare Library | djleslie at folger.edu<mailto:djleslie at folger.edu> | 202.675-0369 | www.folger.edu

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