Working under the direction of the Curator of Literary Collections, the Assistant Curator participates in the development and interpretation of The Huntington’s collections of literature in English in both manuscript and print. The Huntington Library’s literary collections span from the late medieval period to the present and are always among the most heavily requested by researchers: www.huntington.org/collections/literature-english. In addition to answering a high volume of reference inquiries, the Assistant Curator is also involved with coordinating these collection’s cataloguing, processing, conservation, and digitization, as well as their interdepartmental and external loan.

S/he/they will demonstrate a background of working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds, using a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible approach.

Essential Duties

• Assists in the development of the Library’s rare and special collections in literature in English through gift and purchase, as well as the supporting general reference collections in this area, as directed by the Curator of Literary Collections.

• Surveys literary collections (print and manuscript) for possible addition to the collection, particularly addenda to existing collections, as directed by the Curator of Literary Collections.

• Creates lists and summaries of literary collections, particularly addenda received, and works closely with Access, Cataloging, and Metadata (ACMe) staff to arrange for the delivery and accessioning of material. Collaborates with ACMe staff to establish processing and cataloguing priorities and plans.

• Provides in-person and remote research and reference assistance for the collection to scholarly users and participates in the annual review of Huntington fellowship applications for appropriateness to the literary collections.

• Interprets collections to scholarly users and the wider public through talks, exhibitions, tours, seminars, conferences, publications, digital initiatives, and outreach activities, as directed by the Curator of Literary Collections.

• Works with colleagues in Digital Collections and Imaging Services on digitization projects and the imaging of

• literary holdings, integrating selected materials with the Huntington Digital Library (HDL) and DAMS.

• Coordinates with colleagues in Preservation for standard collection care.

• Coordinates object loans for interdepartmental and external use.

• Contributes to departmental, divisional, and institution-wide activities and initiatives.

• Oversees the work of library assistants and interns, as available.

• Other duties as assigned.

Candidate Requirements and Experience

Required

• Graduate degree in either library science or English or Comparative Literature, or the equivalent experience and coursework.

• Minimum of two years work experience in a special collections or academic research library, archives, or similar organization, including reference support and work with modern archives.

• Subject knowledge of English and American literature.

• Proven ability to work with rare materials, and familiarity with current best practices and standards.

• Proven ability to thrive in a team environment.

• Strong organizational and project management skills. Ability to work independently and negotiate multiple priorities.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

• Ability to learn an array of software programs used within the library and across departments.

• Demonstrated background of working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds, using a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible approach.

Preferred

• Graduate degrees in both library science or English or Comparative Literature, or the equivalent experience and coursework.

• Familiarity with copyright law and the rights, permissions, and privacy issues relevant to contemporary literary archives.

• Experience working with born-digital archives, including word-processed drafts, photographs, and email

• Experience giving presentations and preparing exhibitions.

• Enthusiasm for working at an institution that supports advanced research in the humanities and a program of events, resources, and exhibitions for the general public, families, and students. Enthusiasm for working at an organization with art and botanical as well as library collections, and an interest in working with colleagues across the institution.

The Perks

We provide competitive compensation, generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees including:

• Medical, Dental, Vision

• 403(b) basic retirement plan and optional matching retirement plan with an outstanding employer match

• Hybrid remote work schedule available for applicable positions

• Considerable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and holidays

• Commuter benefits (pre-tax income for mass transit expenses and free parking)

• Discounts for staff in The Huntington Store and restaurants

• Access to the Museums Council pass, which grants free admission to various museums and cultural institutions

• Free passes each month to welcome family and friends to visit the grounds

The Application Process

Visit us at https://www.huntington.org/employment to apply directly by August 1, 2022.

Please submit a cover letter and CV/resume as a single PDF attachment. 

You will have the opportunity to submit additional documents on the “My Experience” section of the application