Assistant Curator for South Asia Collection (1-year position): Yale University, New Haven, CT

Assistant Curator for South Asia Collection (1-year position): Yale University, New Haven, CT

Posted: 11 Jan 2011 12:27 PM PST

Assistant Curator for South Asia Collection
South Asia Collection

Sterling Memorial Library
Yale University
New Haven, CT
Rank: Librarian I-II
http://www.yale.edu/jobs

Fixed Duration: One (1) year from date of hire

Schedule: Full-time (37.5 hours per week); Standard Work Week (M-F, 8:30-5:00)

Yale University offers exciting opportunities for achievement and growth in New Haven, Connecticut. Conveniently located between Boston and New York, New Haven is the creative capital of Connecticut with cultural resources that include two major art museums, a critically-acclaimed repertory theater, state-of-the-art concert hall, and world-renowned schools of Architecture, Art, Drama, and Music.

THE UNIVERSITY AND THE LIBRARY

One of the world's leading research libraries, Yale University Library is a full partner in teaching, research, and learning at Yale and is visited by scholars from around the world. A distinctive strength is its rich spectrum of resources, including approximately thirteen million volumes and information in all media, ranging from ancient papyri to early printed books to electronic databases. The Library is engaging in numerous projects to expand access to its physical and digital collections. Housed in twenty-two buildings including the Sterling Memorial Library, the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the new Bass Library, it employs a dynamic and diverse staff of nearly six hundred who offer innovative and flexible services to library readers. To learn more about Yale University Library and its collections and services, visit http://www.library.yale.edu/.

SOUTH ASIA COLLECTION

The South Asia Collection is made of monographs, and serials, as well as visual, archival and manuscript collections that can be found throughout the Yale University Library system. Holding libraries include the Sterling Memorial Library, the Social Science Library, the Divinity Library, Manuscripts and Archives Department as well as the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. The Library’s strongest holdings of material on South Asia are in the English language and for the following disciplines: the history of western involvement in South Asia, modern India (from 1947), literature in English, and religion (especially Buddhism and Christianity). The South Asia Collection’s holdings in Sanskrit and the classical languages of South Asia contain some of the oldest printed holdings among North American libraries. Current South Asian language collections include literature, linguistics and humanities material in Hindi, Tamil, and Urdu.

Concerted and combined library collecting and research service efforts over the past 10 years have been conducted to support the graduate and undergraduate teaching and research needs of the faculty and students affiliated with the South Asian Studies Council of the MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies its current India Initiative (see: http://www.yale.edu/macmillan/southasia/flash.htm) . The South Asia Collection’s assistant curator’s acquisitions and cataloging efforts are supported with one full-time dedicated acquisitions and copy cataloging assistant position whose offices will be housed in the Sterling Memorial Library.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Reporting to the Curator of the South and Southeast Asia Collections, the Assistant Curator for South Asia Collection serves as the subject specialist responsible for library support of research and teaching about South Asia-related topics at Yale. The Assistant Curator for the South Asia Collection develops strong working relationships with faculty, students, and affiliated scholars conducting research in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka across departments and programs, taking initiative to identify and meet their expectations for collections and services. Provides reference, research education, research guides and web pages, and consultation on the effective application of new technologies.

The Assistant Curator for the South Asia Collection partners with departments and programs on projects that further teaching and scholarship, such as digitization, web publishing, workshops, and other initiatives that enhance the academic mission. Provides public services for the South Asia Collection, serves as a member of the South Asian Studies Council of the MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies, and seeks ways to enhance support for Hindi, Tamil, and Urdu language special collections across the Yale University Library.



RESPONSIBILITIES

The Assistant Curator for the South Asia Collection is responsible for selection of materials for the South Asia Collection, including fund management, reporting, and management of the acquisitions and cataloging processes. Supervises and works closely with the South Asia Collection Acquisitions and Cataloging Assistant to insure the effective acquisition, processing, and copy-cataloging of materials in all formats, and interacts with staff in the Preservation department in support of preservation efforts for brittle out-of-print materials in the collection. Provides proactive outreach with the South Asian Studies Council, South Asian Studies faculty, research fellows, language lecturers and students, and collaboration with other library colleagues in relevant departments for selection in this area. Seeks ways to collaborate with South Asia collection colleagues at other institutions to leverage resources and to pursue efforts in cooperative collection development efforts.


The Assistant Curator contributes to goal-setting and strategic planning and manages projects in the South and Southeast Asia Collections as assigned. Seeks opportunities to contribute to the Yale University Library through participation in committees, task forces, working groups, and programs. Expected to be active professionally in organizations such as the Committee on South Asian Libraries and Documentation, the North American professional organization for South Asian Studies librarians.

Engages actively with professional organizations and literature; keeps abreast of subject matter trends and developments. Participates in and contributes to library long-term planning and serves on various committees and task forces. May be required to participate with disaster recovery efforts. May be assigned to work at West Campus location in West Haven, CT.

QUALIFICATIONS

Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited program for library and information science (preferred) and/or graduate degree in a South Asian Studies-related field. Appointment to the rank of Librarian II requires a minimum of two years of professional experience and demonstrated professional accomplishments appropriate to the rank. Experience teaching in a library or academic setting. Experience creating content for web pages (for use in creating a new South Asia Collection page). Experience with public services, reference, and/or collection development.


Excellent communication skills (reading, writing, and speaking) in Hindi, Tamil, or Urdu; Preferred: Ability to read Sanskrit at a high level of proficiency. Ability to communicate in English (reading, writing, and speaking). Broad knowledge of South Asian cultures; Familiarity with the history of and current trends in scholarly research related to South Asian Studies. Knowledge of South Asian book trade is critical. Familiarity with the major bibliographic tools and research methods for South Asian Studies. Familiarity with the sources and approaches in teaching South Asia-related research methods and bibliographic instruction courses. Demonstrated ability to succeed in a collaborative, team-based environment. Demonstrated ability to work collegially and cooperatively within and across organizations. Knowledge of trends in electronic resources and networked access to information, citation management (such as Refworks, EndNote, or Zotero, etc.), and other technologies used by readers and libraries to facilitate information access and management. Demonstrated online outreach skills using key social media sites including, but not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, and WordPress.

Preferred: Supervisory experience. Experience providing training in technical services areas including acquisitions or cataloging software. Demonstrated skills in web site development, RSS, video and audio production, and graphics software; Ability to plan, manage, and coordinate complex projects; demonstrated record of devising and bringing projects to a conclusion in a timely fashion.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

We invite you to discover the excitement, diversity, rewards and excellence of a career at Yale University. One of the country's great workplaces, Yale University offers exciting opportunities for meaningful accomplishment and true growth. Our benefits package is among the best anywhere, with a wide variety of insurance choices, liberal paid time off, fantastic family and educational benefits, a variety of retirement benefits, extensive recreational facilities, and much more.

Applications consisting of a cover letter, resume, and the names of three professional references should be sent by creating an account and applying online at www.yale.edu/jobs for immediate consideration - the STARS req ID for this position is 11999BR. Please be sure to reference #11999BR in your cover letter.BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIREMENTS

All external candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent on successful completion of a background check. Please visit www.yale.edu/hronline/careers/screening/faqs.html for additional information on the background check requirements and process.

Yale University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Yale values diversity in its faculty, staff, and students and strongly encourages applications from women and members of underrepresented minority groups.