We are excited to announce that we have an opening for a term-limited 0.75 FTE position (with benefits) as the Special Collections & Archives Instruction & Reference Librarian at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. Position is open until filled. For full consideration please apply by November 7, 2022 when first review of applications will begin.

Located in Middletown, Connecticut, Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts colleges with 3,000 undergraduates and 200 graduates. Established in 1831, Wesleyan is known for its rich, open, and interdisciplinary curriculum. We have a long-standing commitment to creating a dynamically diverse campus comprised of students from all racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Within this intellectually stimulating environment, the Wesleyan University Libraries play an important role. Wesleyan’s Special Collections & Archives (SC&A) is the home of the University’s archives, local history, manuscript, and rare book collections. The Special Collections is made up of over 45,000 volumes of rare books ranging from medieval manuscript codices and early printed books to 21st century fine press books, and covers numerous formats, including books, pamphlets, broadsides, and maps. It also holds a strong collection of over 1,000 artists’ books with one strength of the artists’ books being social issues and social justice.

Reporting to the Acting Dietrich Family Director of Special Collections & Archives (SC&A), this term limited position (January 2023-December 2023), will collaborate with faculty, librarians, and students to provide innovative instruction and research services using SC&A holdings in the areas of rare books, the history of the book, manuscripts, artists’ books, and primary source literacy.

This position will split the instruction load with the Acting Dietrich Family Director. In a typical academic year, the Instruction & Reference Librarian would teach 35-50 class sessions. They will also help provide effective reference/research consultation both in-person and virtually.

Responsibilites:

• Develops and conducts instruction sessions using Special Collections & Archives resources for a diverse community and student body, working across a range of arts and humanities disciplines. Primarily sessions will relate to one or more of the following: rare books, history of the book, manuscripts, and artists’ books.
• Works closely with faculty to select materials for classroom instruction, prepares multimodal context for these materials, and creates instructional materials such as lesson plans, assignments, and handouts to integrate Special Collections materials into the curriculum.
• Assesses and adjusts instruction strategies and techniques based on learning objectives, student outcomes, and faculty feedback.
• Provides reference services in the SC&A reading room, online, and by telephone, and staffs the reading room 6-8 hours per week.
• Collaborates with SC&A colleagues on collection development decisions for rare books and manuscripts in order to support the curriculum and research needs of the university.
• Assists with staffing events, open houses, and additional outreach activities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduate degree in library/information science or an advanced degree in a relevant subject and relevant experience in Special Collections and Archives or with rare books; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
• Experience (professional or graduate school experience will be considered) providing instruction in the use of rare books and primary source literacy
• Experience (professional or graduate student experience will be considered) in providing library and/or archives research support
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Effective communications skills with the ability to present publicly
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team-based environment
• Demonstrated commitment to work within a diverse environment and interact collegially with individuals of different backgrounds
• Strong user-service orientation and desire to work with constituents in an academic environment
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends
• Ability to physically engage with the collection, including climbing, lifting, and use of ladders/step stools with or without accommodation.
  Ability to lift up to 40 pounds with or without accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• In-depth knowledge of the history of printing, book collecting, and the book trade
• Experience supporting research needs of undergraduate and graduate students
• Experience in developing collaborative outreach programming for special collections and archives in person and/or through online channels

Benefits: Wesleyan offers a broad range of employee benefits and development opportunities, including comprehensive group insurance plans, wellness programs and incentives, generous paid time off and retirement plans. We also offer flexible work schedules, employee and dependent tuition programs, as well as access to Wesleyan’s BLS & GLS programs for those who qualify (tuition is waived for up to 2 courses a term; some fees and taxes may apply). Detailed information on the benefits of working at Wesleyan is located at: https://wesleyan.edu/hr/careers/prospective-resources.html.

To learn more, please see the full job description and application information here: https://careers.wesleyan.edu/postings/9219