The Frick Art Research Library

A critical component of the institution is the Frick Art Research Library, founded in 1920 by Helen Clay Frick, daughter of the museum’s founder. Recognized as one of the world’s top art history research centers, it has served students, scholars, and members of the public free of charge for generations.

Responding to the interest shown by Henry Clay Frick in learning more about the artists whose works he had purchased, Helen Clay Frick conducted research on her father’s behalf.  The data and documents that she shared with him would provide the nucleus for the Frick Art Research Library. After her father’s death, Miss Frick founded the Library to further his goals for The Frick Collection: “to encourage and develop the study of the fine arts, and to advance the general knowledge of kindred subjects.” Until her death, Miss Frick was steadfast in her devotion to the Frick Art Research Library and continued to attend to every detail of its development and management.  More on the library’s history can be found here.

Today, the library serves an international research community and supports scholarly and programmatic initiatives throughout The Frick Collection.

The mission of the Frick Art Research Library is to provide public access to materials and programs focused on the study of fine and decorative arts created in the European tradition from the fourth through the twentieth century, as well as art from around the world that has been influenced by or had an influence on this tradition.  In addition, European decorative arts of the fifteenth to the nineteenth century are covered.

Collections:

Over the years, the Library’s collections have expanded to include digital resources—from databases to scanned photographs, publications, and other materials—in addition to print books and periodicals.  More on the collections can be found here.

Archives:

The Archives Department was founded in 1997 and, while based in the library, serves all Frick departments. The archives holdings consist of institutional archives for both the museum and library, records of the Frick family and many manuscript collections and archives of outside galleries, artists and art historians.

The team’s responsibilities include processing archival collections and responding to internal and external research requests.

Preservation, Imaging, and Conservation Services:

For more than 40 years, the Preservation, Imaging, and Conservation Services Department has led the long-term care, documentation, and accessibility of the collections of The Frick Collection and the Frick Art Reference Library. Originally established to conserve and steward the Library’s physical collections, the department expanded in the early 2000s to include DAMS administration, digitization, and digital preservation. Today, it oversees the creation, management, and long-term stewardship of nearly three million digital assets.

The team creates and stewards high-quality digital surrogates; cares for and performs conservation treatments on all library and archival materials, including unique and rare items; collaborates with Objects Conservation on the care of works of art on paper; and administers institution-wide digital preservation workflows and the Digital Asset Management System.

The Role

Location:               New York, NY

Reports to:          Anna-Maria & Stephen Kellen Director (Axel Rüger)

Overview:            The Andrew W. Mellon Chief Librarian serves as a member of the Frick Collection’s leadership team, providing strategic direction to the Library team and overseeing the administration of all Library operations including: print and digital collection development and management, high quality public services, special collections, conservation and preservation, and digital initiatives.

They are additionally externally-facing, responsible for the promotion of the Library’s significant collection of materials in collaboration with the Frick Collection Curators, Development, Social Media and Marketing teams.

Success in this role will require a passion for research, art history and public access, combined with excellent people management and relationship-building skills, to ensure that the Library aligns with institutional priorities.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Strategy:

• Develop the vision and strategic direction for the Library as part of the Frick Collection, and guide its implementation.
• As a member of the Leadership Team, serve as an active participant in the Museum’s long-term financial and strategic planning.
• Attend and participate in Board of Trustee meetings, as appropriate.

Library Operations & Administration:

• Expand user base and continuously improve effective and efficient access to the Library’s collections and services.
• Ensure the continual improvement of library services, both for physical and digital access, for internal and external researchers, scholars and the public.
• Strategically advance the Library through the ongoing adoption of current digital practices.
• Develop and oversee the Library’s annual budget projections for library operations and monitor annual spending.
• Implement current and emerging library systems and information management standards, keeping abreast of relevant resources and technology to support the work of a 21st century research library.
• Oversee and participate in the development of Library policies and procedures.
• Ensure the highest level of legal, ethical and safety standards.

External Relations:

• Build and maintain relationships nationally and internationally to further the Library’s reputation.
• Collaborate closely with the Frick Collection’s Development team to develop and steward gifts, including grants, made in support of the Library and Collection.
• Collaborate with Collection curators in the strategic development of in-house exhibitions and/or loan of Library materials to external exhibitions.
• Foster synergies between Library teams and Collection staff in the collaborative development of programming and other institutional initiatives.
• Communicate library initiatives to key stakeholders (Board of Trustees, donors, media, Library staff, Collection team etc.)
• Participate in industry associations and seminars, present at professional conferences to actively promote the Library’s collections and programs.

Team Management:

• Hire, mentor, develop, empower and supervise Library staff. 
• Establish performance goals, conduct formal and informal evaluations, assess training needs and make recommendations for further staff development.
• Serve as the voice representing the Library team as part of the Frick Collection leadership team

Collection Management & Development:

• With the Associate Directors and team, formulate the Library’s acquisitions strategy.
• Oversee collection development budget, set priorities for resource allocation across Library collecting areas.
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to proactively research and recommend acquisitions in alignment with collections policies.

The Leader:

The ideal leader for this role will be a mission-driven and collaborative executive with a dedication to research, providing excellent customer service, and implementing programs aligned with the Frick’s mission and vision.

Strong candidates for this role will possess a majority of the following experiences and attributes:

Experience:

• Ten (10) or more years of progressively increasing responsibility in a library management setting, including five (5) or more years of administrative management experience.
• Leadership experience gained directly in a museum, academic, special collections, or art research library/archive is beneficial.
• Knowledge and understanding of library operations, policies, procedures, techniques, and ability to develop and plan library programs.
• Ability to demonstrate digital literacy from the end-user, administrative and strategic perspective, to enhance public access to the Library’s collections and research resources.
• Demonstrated experience in working with and managing library collection, archive and digital asset management systems.
• Knowledge of rights and reproductions policies and legal precedents for works in private collections.
• Awareness of current issues and trends in library and information science relevant to art libraries, special collections, and archives, including emerging technologies and scholarly communications.
• Experience managing change, developing strategic plans and managing their implementation.

Skills & Attributes:

• Confident leader who can pivot between long-term vision and day-to-day execution.
• Excellent relationship-builder, compelling communicator and advocate.
• Superior public-speaking and presentation skills; enjoys effectively engaging with board members, donors, staff, and other constituents.
• Thrives in a workplace with a high degree of transparency and communication.
• Strong cross-functional collaborator with the ability to effectively plan and direct the work of a multidisciplinary professional and administrative staff, to work effectively on common projects and goals.
• Excellent people leadership skills with a track record of empowering and amplifying a diverse group of professionals, including planning, and monitoring work assignments, evaluating work performance, and providing feedback on performance.
• Known for listening and building trust.
• Ability to prepare, justify, and/or administer a program budget to ensure cost-effective support of programs and policies.
• Makes timely decisions based on solid information.
• Strong results-driven project management skills with the ability to effectively set priorities, monitor performance, execute on time, and multi-task.
• Respects and exemplifies the values of the Frick Collection in all interactions with colleagues, staff, volunteers, and the public.
• Ability to travel as needed.

Education:

• Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited program
• Graduate or undergraduate study in field(s) related to the Museum’s/Library’s collections is desired.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Salary range is $145,000 – $160,000 per annum, commensurate with experience
• Benefits package that includes:
• Generous vacation leave (25 days year one, 32 days thereafter)
• Paid Family Leave
• Health and dental insurance
• FSA accounts for commuting expenses
• Employer paid life insurance, short term disability and long term disability Tax deferred retirement savings plan – 403(b)
• Defined benefit pension plan: vesting achieved at 5 years of service.
• Retiree health benefits for those having achieved age 55 with 10 or more years of service.
• Employee Amenities
• Seamless dining benefit/discount for employees working on-site.
• Discount on Frick museum shop purchases.
• Discounted Citi Bike membership plus discount on Fend brand bike helmets.