CURATOR AND EXHIBITIONS COORDINATOR
Campus/Location: University Park Campus
Date Announced: 02/22/2017
Date Closing: 02/28/2017
Job Number: 69392
Classification: Exempt
Work Unit: University Libraries
Department: Eberly Family Special Collections Library
DESCRIPTION
The Pennsylvania State University Libraries seek applications and nominations for the position of Curator and Exhibitions Coordinator. Under the direction of the Dorothy Foehr Huck Chair and Head of the Eberly Family Special Collections Library, the person appointed to this three year fixed term faculty position will be responsible for creative exhibition planning, project management, coordinating related programming, and other associated activities to support our overall exhibition engagement with local and online audiences. She/he will have an opportunity to assume responsibility for developing collections in one or more topical area of strategic importance to the Special Collections Library. The University Libraries values diversity of thought, perspective, experience and people, and is actively committed to a culture of inclusion and respect. We encourage candidates to apply who thrive in a welcoming multicultural environment. More information on Penn State’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusive Excellence, can be found by visiting http://equity.psu.edu/psu-diversity-statement. For additional information about the Libraries’ diversity efforts, please visit https://libraries.psu.edu/about/diversity. The Curator and Exhibitions Coordinator: Oversees the Special Collections Library’s overall exhibitions program such that exhibitions encompass the rich resources held in the collections; are exhibited in engaging, educational, and varied ways; and, promote the collections’ historical significance, diversity of thought and voices, and institutional memory; Chairs the Special Collections Library Exhibits Committee to review proposed and develop new exhibition ideas, to coordinate and schedule Special Collections exhibits, and to work closely with curator(s) and related Libraries’ staff on planning, installing, and programming exhibitions; Serves as the Special Collections liaison to other library and university units engaged in exhibitions including, but not limited to, the Libraries’ Public Relations and Marketing department and the Palmer Museum of Art to support Penn State’s learning and teaching mission, faculty’s research, and land-grant status; Works with the Instruction & Outreach Archivist and Head of Research Services to use social media and perform other outreach activities as related to exhibitions; Plans and/or participates in events promoting the Special Collections Library’s exhibitions, such as tours or programs; Creates Special Collections Library promotional materials for exhibitions, such as brochures and catalogs; Serves on the Special Collections Library’s Collections Review Committee and assumes responsibility for developing collections in one or more topical area of strategic importance. General Duties: Provides reference service to faculty, students, and other researchers on a rotating basis, including occasional weekend duty; Supervises project staff, students, and interns as required; Completes special projects as assigned/directed; Participates in local, regional, or national professional organizations and enriches professional expertise by attending conferences and continuing education opportunities; Represents the Special Collections Library on relevant library committees, task forces. Qualifications: Required: MLS/MLIS from an ALA-accredited program, or a Master's degree in Information Science, Archival Science, or a related field, or applicable education and experience; Experience with special collections, ideally gained in an academic library setting; Familiarity and experience with current trends and practice for exhibitions with primary source materials; Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills; Experience working with websites, blogs, and social media; Experience with cataloging systems and archival discovery tools; Ability to work effectively, both independently and collaboratively, in a collegial environment Desirable Qualifications: Subject knowledge in one or more of the Special Collections Library’s primary collecting areas, such as modern American literature and history, labor history, women’s studies, or university history and experience curating and developing new collecting areas; 2-5 years experience curating dynamic exhibitions with special collections materials, including the management of exhibition workflows and related work. Special Collections Library: Consisting of over 225,000 volumes, strengths of the Library include Rare Book collections of English and American literature; art and architectural history; emblem books; the history of photography; works of Joseph Priestley; African-Americana and the African Diaspora; art education; utopian literature; and German literature in English translation. Literary manuscript collections include the papers of John O’Hara, Chip Kidd, and Kenneth Burke. Historical collections and labor archives document Pennsylvania social, political, and economic history with special emphasis devoted to labor, business, and the evolution of nineteenth and twentieth century industrial society. Core archival research collections include: the United Steelworkers of America, the United Mine Workers of America, the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, Pennsylvania railroad records, and business ledgers documenting the early iron industry in central Pennsylvania. The papers of Pennsylvania political figures such as Governors William W. Scranton and Robert P. Casey, as well as Civil War era diaries and letter collections are also part of the Library. The official records maintained by the University Archives document the University’s 160+ year history and include university business records (paper and electronic), papers of Penn State presidents, faculty, and alumni, papers of numerous scholarly and professional associations and documentation of student organizations. The Library also manages an extensive sports archives, wide-ranging photograph and audio-visual collections, as well as the archives of choral music pioneer and entrepreneur, Fred Waring. For more information about the Special Collections Library visit https://libraries.psu.edu/specialcollections. University Libraries: The Penn State University Libraries are a strategic asset to Penn State, advancing intellectual discovery, information literacy, and lifelong learning, all in support of the University’s strategic goals in teaching, research, service, and outreach. The University Libraries is ranked among the top 10 research libraries in North America, according to the Association for Research Libraries investment rankings, and provides services at University Park and 22 other campus locations throughout Pennsylvania as well as online. We serve more than 6,400 faculty and 46,800 students at University Park, and approximately 97,500 students university-wide. More than 120 faculty librarians in the University Libraries benefit from extensive technological resources and research support services. Penn State, a land-grant institution, is a member of the Big Ten Academic Alliance and the Association of American Universities. The University Libraries is a member of the Association of Research Libraries, the Association of College and Research Libraries, and the international Center for Research Libraries. The University Park campus is set in the State College metropolitan area, a university town located in central Pennsylvania. State College offers a vibrant community with outstanding recreational facilities, a low crime rate, and excellent public schools. The campus is within a half-day`s drive to Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, or Pittsburgh. The University Park Airport is served by three major carriers with flights to Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Chicago and Detroit. For more information, please visit http://www.libraries.psu.edu and http://www.cbicc.org. Compensation and Benefits: This is a three year fixed-term faculty position. Rank and salary are dependent upon qualifications and experience. Fringe benefits include liberal vacation, excellent insurance and health care coverage, state or TIAA retirement options, and educational privileges. In addition, faculty in the University Libraries are afforded funds for professional development travel annually. Faculty may be asked to travel as official representatives of the Libraries to certain events and those trips are reimbursed at full cost within limits established by the University. Applications and all supporting materials must be submitted online. To be considered for the position, interested candidates should upload a resume or C.V. and the names and contact information of three professional references (including email addresses). Review of applications will begin March 1, 2017 and continue until position is filled. Questions may be addressed to Lindsey Harter, Faculty Search Coordinator, at lap225@psu.edu.