The Library seeks an Associate Director who can think strategically and work collaboratively to make The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs an indispensable and accessible hub for all users of fine and visual arts materials, a model of excellence in library service and operations, and an exemplar of community engagement and extension of world-class collections and staff expertise. With oversight for the Wallach Division’s staff, services, and collection development, the Associate Director of Art, Prints and Photographs will model strong leadership, inspiration, and support of the Library staff in their work and ongoing development. This is particularly important at a time of significant evolution in the use of visual materials and the very nature of research itself. The Associate Director of Art, Prints and Photographs will participate in the creative use and reuse of Library spaces, supporting the seamless integration of study, learning, and research with library collections and services across disciplines.

We are looking for someone we can count on to:

Own:

• Provide sustaining leadership and inspire, guide and direct the Wallach Division’s curators, public service management, librarian and technical assistant staff 

Teach:

• Provide a model of excellence in library service and operations, and be an exemplar of community engagement and the extension of world-class collections and staff expertise

Learn:

• From the Director Special Collections and Exhibitions how to share the Wallach Division’s mission and values
• Develop knowledge of the Wallach Division’s collections and content areas

Improve:

• Collaboration and build supportive relationships with colleagues within the Wallach Division and across the Research Libraries to increase discovery, access, and collection use

Some expectations for this role are that within:

1 month, this person will:

• Become familiar with the strategic priorities and goals of the Wallach Division
• Connect with curators and public service management, librarian and technical assistant staff 

3 months, this person will:

• Become familiar with the collection strengths, storage facilities, governing policies and procedures 
• Promote strategies and planning service enhancements to increase access to research collections 
• Contribute to departmental and institution-wide initiatives

6 months and beyond, this person will:

• Collaborate with Preservation and Collection Processing to determine priorities for processing to increase access and use, care and maintenance of the collection
• Partner with fundraising professionals to pursue and manage grants for supporting acquisitions and conservation, while also building relationships with private donors and funding agencies
• Become familiar with members of staff across NYPL

Responsibilities
Collection Development and Engagement:

In close coordination with the Director of Special Collections, provides strategic vision for collection development, acquire extraordinary collection materials, and prioritize acquisitions that advance the institution’s DEIA goals by:

• Developing collections through gift and purchase aligned within a holistic and institution-wide strategic framework and within space and capacity constraints, and through an understanding of the collection’s strengths, their use, and scholarly trends
• Raising awareness of the collections and cultivate new communities of users, including a supportive donor base to address collection needs and new initiatives; strategically enhancing the visibility of the Wallach Division
• Providing expertise on collections and collaborate with Exhibitions staff on research to culminate in exhibitions that cut across research collections and engage broad audiences, and supporting exhibition website and publications

Public Service and Programming:

In close coordination with the Director of Exhibitions and Special Collections, oversees the work of reference and public service staff and works with leadership to develop best practices by:

• Developing and promoting the cross-departmental and cross-institutional collaboration needed to provide a seamless and successful user experience
• Integrating the public service activities of Wallach units to promote deeper connections and understanding of user needs, collection strengths, and staff expertise
• Promoting strategies and planning service enhancements to increase access to research collections and contribute to departmental and institution-wide initiatives
• Liaising with the public service staff to support research and reference services to on-site and remote patrons
• Supporting teaching, outreach, and scholarly initiatives by contextualizing Wallach Division collections through presentations, publications, seminars, class instruction and public programs
• Work collaboratively and build supportive relationships with colleagues across the Research Libraries to increase discovery, access, and collection use

General Management:

Actively contributes to the Library’s organizational strategy, planning, and resource development, including:

• Participating in Library-wide initiatives through participation on committees, task forces, research library meetings, and other relevant groups 
• Working within established budgets and with senior staff to set spending priorities.
• Managing an integral, dynamic team of curators, librarians, technical assistants, and support staff, including recruiting, motivating, mentoring, and retaining a highly-skilled professional staff
• Collaborating with Preservation and Collection Processing on priorities for processing to increase access and use, care and maintenance of the collection, and the facilitation of internal and external loan requests.
• Partnering with fundraising professionals to pursue and manage grants for supporting acquisitions and conservation, while also building relationships with private donors and funding agencies
• Being an outward-facing advocate and spokesperson for the importance of:
  • the fine and visual arts in American life and human culture
  • the role of libraries in supporting scholarship and other investigations in these fields
  • the significant contributions that Wallach collections, staff, and space have made in the past, currently make, and will make in the future in support of this work
• Maintaining a personal program of continuous education and professional development, and keep current on trends in the field, digital publishing, and scholarly communication
• Performing related duties as required

Apply online here