Assistant Curator of Collections, Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, DC
Folger Shakespeare Library -
Washington, DC,
US
Assistant Curator of Collections
Date Posted: 2024-06-09
Job description
The Folger Shakespeare Library knows that an exceptional staff is the backbone of any great organization. We hire exceptionally qualified individuals who are committed to the mission, vision, and values of our organization. Our recruitment process strives to be interactive, accessible, and responsive. Once employed, the Folger provides a generous compensation, leave, and benefits package, as well as many opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Job Description:
The Folger Shakespeare Library, located on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, is seeking an Assistant Curator to join the curatorial team. This individual, under the supervision of the Associate Librarian for Collection Care and Development/Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Early Modern Books and Prints, will work collaboratively with the curatorial team to build, steward, interpret, and promote the Folger's special collections holdings, and will work with colleagues across the Folger to connect the collection to all aspects of institution-wide programming. They will work alongside a wide range of internal and external researchers, teachers, students, and Folger staff to engage with under-utilized parts of the collection and to promote use of the collection in innovative ways. In accordance with our collection development policy, they will help identify acquisitions that foreground diverse voices and perspectives. They will work across Collections teams to set priorities for cataloging, conservation, and digitization and will be a key member of the exhibition team. They will uphold and demonstrate the highest professional ethical standards for curatorship and work collaboratively with all staff to nourish a positive and healthy workplace.
The schedule for this role is Monday-Friday 8:45 am-4:45 pm. This position will be primarily on-site with the possibility of hybrid modality. The selected candidate must be within a commutable distance to the DC office (DC, MD, VA) by their start date.
Health & safety: The health and well-being of all staff, contractors, and visitors is our top priority. While the Folger no longer requires masks or vaccinations (except for AEA spaces), we support and encourage individuals to take the safety precautions they are most comfortable with, and we ask that individual choices are respected. The Folger offers organization-funded healthcare plans for full-time staff and extensive leave options to all staff in the case of any health issues that arise.
Compensation:
Duties:
Education and Experience:
Skills and Knowledge:
Working Conditions:
This job operates in a professional office environment. The employee may be exposed to various components of an office environment such as fluorescent lighting, pollen, dust, recycled air, cooling fans, semi-enclosed areas, central heating, seasonal warmer temperatures, and office noise. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Interested individuals should submit their cover letter and resume. Incomplete applications cannot be accepted. No phone calls please.
The Folger is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
To learn more about our benefits, please click here.
Job Description:
The Folger Shakespeare Library, located on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, is seeking an Assistant Curator to join the curatorial team. This individual, under the supervision of the Associate Librarian for Collection Care and Development/Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Early Modern Books and Prints, will work collaboratively with the curatorial team to build, steward, interpret, and promote the Folger's special collections holdings, and will work with colleagues across the Folger to connect the collection to all aspects of institution-wide programming. They will work alongside a wide range of internal and external researchers, teachers, students, and Folger staff to engage with under-utilized parts of the collection and to promote use of the collection in innovative ways. In accordance with our collection development policy, they will help identify acquisitions that foreground diverse voices and perspectives. They will work across Collections teams to set priorities for cataloging, conservation, and digitization and will be a key member of the exhibition team. They will uphold and demonstrate the highest professional ethical standards for curatorship and work collaboratively with all staff to nourish a positive and healthy workplace.
The schedule for this role is Monday-Friday 8:45 am-4:45 pm. This position will be primarily on-site with the possibility of hybrid modality. The selected candidate must be within a commutable distance to the DC office (DC, MD, VA) by their start date.
Health & safety: The health and well-being of all staff, contractors, and visitors is our top priority. While the Folger no longer requires masks or vaccinations (except for AEA spaces), we support and encourage individuals to take the safety precautions they are most comfortable with, and we ask that individual choices are respected. The Folger offers organization-funded healthcare plans for full-time staff and extensive leave options to all staff in the case of any health issues that arise.
Compensation:
- This is a monthly-paid salary position, with a salary of $72,000-75,000.
- Total compensation includes an extensive benefits plan, with a generous 403(b) contribution and match, outlined at
Duties:
- Serves as a liaison between the curatorial team and other Collections units.
- Collaborates with curatorial team and Researcher Services staff to provide reference support for staff, researchers, and the public.
- In conjunction with Folger-wide programming and events, provides engagement and outreach opportunities such as demonstrations, pop-up exhibitions and instruction for visitors, donors, and student groups. Works closely with Collections and Folger Institute staff in arranging rare materials presentations.
- Assists in collection development by working with curators, committees, and Acquisitions staff to review, research, and evaluate potential purchases or gifts while considering the real cost of acquisitions. Reviews newly acquired items for accession as needed.
- Actively participates in the care of the collections. Assists in the conservation and preservation review of collection items. Takes part in conservation, preservation, and stack management initiatives, including plans for movement or storage of collection items and collection disaster preparedness efforts.
- Collaborates with the Exhibitions and Conservation and Preservation teams on exhibitions preparation. Works on selection of items for exhibition rotations and temporary exhibitions; researches, writes, and proofs exhibition labels as needed.
- Contributes regularly to The Collation blog and other Folger online outreach opportunities; contributes content and documentation to internal and external wikis.
- Participates in Reading Room desk coverage rotation.
- Participates in grant-funded initiatives.
- Maintains contact with professional peers in the USA and abroad and may serve as a liaison between the Folger and other institutions in cooperative research projects.
- Pursues scholarship related to the collections and helps disseminate this information outside the library, nationally and internationally.
- Demonstrates a commitment to applying, promoting, and enhancing the Folger's DEIA values within curatorial work.
- Helps train curatorial interns and oversees their work, as directed.
Education and Experience:
- Master's in library and information science (MLIS) or equivalent education/experience required.
- Graduate-level education in a subject relevant to the Folger collections: theater and performance studies, early modern history or literature, book history, Shakespeare or equivalent experience required.
- Minimum of 2 years of experience in a research library or special collections setting, preferably in a similar role that includes handling rare materials, providing reference services, and performing administrative responsibilities.
- Experience processing and describing large collections of archival modern theatrical material desired.
- Experience working with born digital material desired.
- Record of participation in relevant library, archival, and/or scholarly professional associations desired.
Skills and Knowledge:
- Knowledge of early modern text technologies, including analytical bibliography, and/or knowledge of art, realia, and theatrical ephemera.
- Excellent writing and public speaking skills, as demonstrated through publications, blog posts, public programming, exhibitions, talks, and/or teaching.
- Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
- Familiarity with standard office software applications, web editing, collaborative online editing, and social media.
- Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, with Folger staff, researchers, and the public, with awareness and attention to the differing communication styles and needs of these diverse communities.
- Ability to manage assorted projects, be flexible, and work collaboratively.
- Bibliographic and/or reading knowledge of at least one language other than English desired.
- Familiarity with best practices and ethical standards in Curatorship, Acquisitions, Conservation and Preservation, and Cataloging desired.
- Knowledge of copyright and confidentiality issues as they impact work in special collections desired.
Working Conditions:
This job operates in a professional office environment. The employee may be exposed to various components of an office environment such as fluorescent lighting, pollen, dust, recycled air, cooling fans, semi-enclosed areas, central heating, seasonal warmer temperatures, and office noise. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Normal work week is Monday-Friday, 8:45 am to 4:45 pm. Ability to work varying and additional hours as program demands arise (including evenings and weekends as necessary).
- Ability to work at a computer for a long time, with accuracy.
- Willingness and capacity to work in an office environment at a workstation, and to come and go repeatedly throughout the day as is necessary, to perform various responsibilities.
- Capacity to communicate, in person, or using video, phone, or electronic communication methods, in a manner which can be understood by others.
Interested individuals should submit their cover letter and resume. Incomplete applications cannot be accepted. No phone calls please.
The Folger is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
To learn more about our benefits, please click here.