Overview
The Boston Public Library Rare Books and Manuscripts Department has reopened its search for an innovative and thoughtful librarian or archivist to fill the newly created Curator of Modern Books and Manuscripts position. Since it was originally posted, the salary for this position has been increased to reflect a recently implemented collective bargaining agreement between the City of Boston and the BPL Professional Staff Association.
This newly established role focuses on the stewardship, development, and promotion of collections dating from approximately 1800 through the present day. The incumbent will join a new and energetic cohort of colleagues across Special Collections working together to meet the unique and rewarding challenges of stewarding special collections within a thriving, community-centered public library setting.
Initial focus on anti-slavery and abolitionism
For the first two years after hire, the incumbent’s stewardship-based work will focus primarily, though not exclusively, on the constellation of materials generally referred to as the BPL’s Anti-Slavery Collection. Long held by the BPL, these materials include archives, collections of books, ephemera, manuscripts, newspapers, photographs, and other formats, many of which were donated by leading figures in the 19th-century American abolitionist movement. Examples include materials from the library of Theodore Parker, the papers of William Lloyd Garrison and the business records of The Liberator; and collections of correspondence to and from Lydia Maria Child, Maria Weston Chapman, Samuel May, and Harriet Martineau, among others.
In this role, the Curator of Modern Books and Manuscripts will work to reconstitute and recontextualize BPL’s anti-slavery holdings. In order to accomplish this, the incumbent will cultivate a thorough understanding of the scope and content of the BPL’s anti-slavery and abolitionist holdings, with a focus on their provenance and processing history. In particular, the incumbent will work closely with the Manager of Rare Books and with archivists and other colleagues to coordinate the creation of accurate, detailed finding aids and other discovery tools.
Additional areas of stewardship focus
In addition to BPL’s anti-slavery holdings, the Curator of Modern Books and Manuscripts will contribute vision, energy, and expertise to stewarding a wide range of collections. These collections include groups of materials focused on the history of Boston, Massachusetts, and New England; British and American literature; general Americana; book arts, typography and graphic design; and small and fine press printing and publishing, among many others.
Qualifications and experience
We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate a combination of relevant subject knowledge and a strong record of success in generalist special collections work.
The successful candidate will not be expected to come to this position with subject expertise in every collecting area relevant to their work. However, applicants should demonstrate an ability to cultivate expertise and develop knowledge across a range of format types, subject areas, and collections. To support ongoing learning and growth in these areas, BPL Special Collections provides generous funding for professional development.
We are particularly interested in candidates who can clearly demonstrate engagement with professional ethics as well as library and archival best practices within the context of collections stewardship.
Recent renovations and new facilities
The BPL recently completed a multi-year renovation of many of its Special Collections spaces. The incoming Curator will be working in the middle of this new, vibrant, state-of-the art facility.
About the BPL Rare Books and Manuscripts Department
The Rare Books and Manuscripts Department is the BPL’s primary repository for rare and historically significant books, manuscripts, and related materials. Strengths of the collection include 19th-century American abolitionism and anti-slavery movements; British and American literature and drama; Boston, New England, and early American history; and early European printed books and manuscripts, among many others.
Situated in the BPL’s Central Library in Copley Square, we work to support the overall mission of BPL Special Collections, facilitating discovery and fostering public engagement with the library’s rare, distinctive, and culturally significant holdings.
Boston Public Library is committed to racial equity and to becoming an anti-racist organization and formed an action plan in 2020 in response to systemic racism, inequity, and injustice prevalent in our society. You can read more about the action plan and the steps BPL is taking to address diversity, equity, and inclusion here.
Residency requirement
Please note that the city of Boston residency requirement applies to this position, which means that the successful candidate must be a resident of the city of Boston on or before the date of hire.
Salary and benefits
Applying
For further information and to apply to this position, please visit the City of Boston employment website. Please combine your cover letter and resume in a single PDF file and attach them together in the resume upload section of the website.
