Job Description

Job Summary

Although this position will remain posted until filled, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by end of day on July 1, 2024.

Houghton Library seeks an Assistant Curator to support building, managing, and promoting use of the Harvard Theatre Collection. Reporting to the Curator of the Harvard Theatre Collection, the Assistant Curator performs a range of collection-development, administrative, and outreach functions. Part of a highly visible and active department, the Assistant Curator collaborates with all areas of the Library including other curatorial departments, Public and Scholarly Programs, and Public Services and Technical Services for Archives and Special Collections.

The successful candidate will need to possess either a strong library background or a well-developed subject knowledge of the performing arts, preferably both. The successful candidate will also possess the capacity to master over time the broad range of formats, subjects, and time periods represented in the Theatre Collection, and the flexibility required to develop facility in the numerous skillsets used in curatorial work.

The Harvard Theatre Collection was founded in 1901 and has grown to encompass a wide range of documentary material on the history of the performing arts. The collection reflects the long and varied history of live performance, with notable strengths in Anglo-American theater, ballet, and opera as well as sundry forms of popular entertainment such as the circus and blackface minstrelsy. The Theatre Collection is committed to enriching the diversity of our established holdings and collecting in a fashion that is responsive to the broader research, teaching, and learning mission of Harvard University.

Alongside the Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library, Fine Arts Library, Harvard Film Archive, and Harvard University Archives, Houghton Library is part of the Archives, Arts, and Special Collections of Harvard Library, a new administrative unit currently integrating approaches to public services and technical services for archives and special collections.

Position Description

• Assists the acquisitions program of the Harvard Theatre Collection, working with the curator to review, research, and evaluate potential purchases and gifts.

• Provides general administrative support for the department, including managing gift paperwork and maintaining collection and administrative files.

• Provides expert assistance to researchers, on site and remotely, with reference, digitization, and permission requests, including working in the Houghton reading room.

• Collaborates with faculty and instructors, and with staff in the Public Services unit, to provide instruction for undergraduate and graduate classes, orientation sessions, and other related educational activities using Houghton collections.

• Promotes the Harvard Theatre Collection by organizing and presenting outreach events for Harvard affiliates and the public; developing content for Library webpages; providing tours and public presentations; and contributing to the Library's social media, in collaboration with Scholarly and Public Programs staff.

• Organizes exhibitions and programs in conjunction with Scholarly and Public Programs staff; supports visiting fellowship program.

• Represents the Harvard Theatre Collection in selected collaborative projects with the Technical Services unit in areas such as accessioning, cataloging, processing, and digitization.

• Serves on Library and University committees as appropriate; contributes actively to professional organizations and shares research performed in the collection through presentations and publication.

• Actively contributes to the Library's efforts to improve equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism (EDIBA) in all areas of work.

• Performs other duties, as assigned, consistent with the functions of the work unit and level of responsibilities.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for recruiting, training, and supervising a student assistant

Basic Qualifications

• Advanced degree relevant to working with a performing arts collection.

• Minimum two years of work experience, preferably in a research library or other cultural heritage setting.

• Experience working hands-on with rare books, archives, and varied media in a library, museum, or academic environment.

• Reading knowledge of at least one foreign language.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• A demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion and to serving the needs of a diverse population.

• Evidence of a strong service orientation and demonstrated ability to work effectively with faculty, students, library colleagues, and the public.

• Experience in classroom instruction, particularly involving special collections materials.

• Knowledge of copyright, privacy, confidentiality, and ownership as they impact work in rare book, manuscript, and archival collections.

• Strong technology skills and an enthusiasm for adopting new technologies and systems that expand access to collections and facilitate their use in research and teaching.

• Experience with a variety of library systems and applications.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Attention to and appreciation for detail.

• Ability to thrive within a complex and changing work environment.

• Knowledge of scholarly communication trends.

Physical Requirements

• This position includes lifting and moving materials weighing up to 40 pounds and pushing heavily loaded book trucks.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in an area with library materials that may contain allergens or irritants such as dust and mold, and requires working with lead type and solvents.

• This position is based on-site in Cambridge, MA. There may be an opportunity for a flexible or hybrid work model compliant with Harvard University flexwork policies.

• Work location is responsive and subject to change based on business needs.

• Support of departmental and library programs and teaching may require some weekend or evening hours.

Benefits

We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website ( Create a Job Alert for Similar Jobs

Job Tags

Similar Jobs