Special Collections Librarian

Special Collections Librarian

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Position Summary:

The Health Sciences Library (http://hsl.lib.unc.edu/) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill seeks a knowledgeable, innovative, collaborative, user-focused and service-oriented individual for the position of Special Collections Librarian. This position is charged with building health sciences special collections encompassing a wide variety of materials recognized for being unique or having historical value. The individual in this position will lead efforts to ensure these materials are easy to discover and use by users on and off campus, and effectively preserved for the present and future. The Special Collections Librarian will increase awareness of how special collections and related services can better support current and future scholars and students, and will develop the program in response to user interest and needs. The individual in this position works with teams at the Health Sciences Library (HSL) to achieve these goals. Most of UNC’s health sciences special collections are housed at the Health Sciences Library, which maintains the Benson Reid Wilcox Historical Collections Reading Room. The special collections at the Health Sciences Library include not only printed works, such as books, pamphlets, journals, broadsides, posters, and ephemera, but also manuscripts, letters, photographs, student notebooks, drawings, and other documents, as well as medical instruments, artifacts, models, and other objects. These materials range in date from the 1500s to the present day, encompassing the history of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, public health, and the allied medical sciences. The history of the health sciences in North Carolina is strongly represented. Noteworthy items include Vesalius’ 1543 anatomical classic, De Humani Corporis Fabrica; Edward Jenner’s 1798 work on smallpox, An Inquiry into the Causes and Effects of the Variolae Vaccinae; and The Confederate States Medical and Surgical Journal. The Health Sciences Library recently received a donation of 163 rare books to establish the Sheldon Peck Collection on the History of Orthodontics and Dental Medicine, and funding to establish a new endowment to help preserve and grow this collection (http://hsl.lib.unc.edu/news2012/gifts-rare-books-and-endowment-fund-brin...).

Education Requirements:

ALA-accredited master’s degree in library or information science or advanced degree in archives administration or other relevant field.

Qualification and Experience: Required ALA-accredited master’s degree in library or information science or advanced degree in archives administration or other relevant field. Working knowledge of standard special collections library procedures typically acquired through at least one year of relevant experience. Demonstrated knowledge of and interest in history of one or more health sciences areas. Demonstrated commitment to serving information needs of health professionals and the general public. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a broad range of constituencies including students, faculty, researchers, health professionals, donors, library and archive professionals, state and local government officials, and the general public. Demonstrated ability to excel both independently and as a team member in a collaborative working environment. Excellent time management and problem-solving skills. Excellent interpersonal skills and oral and written communication skills. Strong project management skills. Preferred At least four (4) years of experience in a related professional capacity. Prior experience working in an academic research library. Prior experience in the acquisition, storage, and dissemination of historical and archival materials. Knowledge of archival practices. Reading knowledge of Latin, German, or other relevant languages. Demonstrated proficiency in the creation of Web pages, scanning technology, and digital content management. Successful grant writing experience. Experience with exhibits, publications, and or public programming. Experience using social media. Fund-raising and development experience.

Department Contact Name: Tiffany Allen, Director of Library Human Resources

Department Contact Telephone or Email: Tiffany_Allen@unc.edu

For complete job descriptions and to apply, visit: http://hr.unc.edu


The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an Equal Opportunity Employer.


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